Showcase Magazine May 2016

Living Legends

In Southern Virginia

IS THE TIME RIGHT? See page 24

2016

Real Estate DIRECTORY

Stories from the Racing Career of Brice “Spider” Stultz See page 10

We Put Our Heart Into Yours Danville Heart & Vascular Clinic has always been your hometown heart care clinic. With the addition of four local long-time cardiologists and a new cardiothoracic surgeon, patients now have greater access to quality heart care close to home.

Our Duke Health heart specialists provide the latest interventions and treatments, improving heart health - one patient at a time. We offer what matters most: compassion, experience and expertise you can trust.

Schedule your appointment today with our experts at Danville Heart & Vascular by calling 434.791.3009.

201201 South Msin Street, 1100eSuite 1100 1100 • Danville, VA 24541 • 434.791.3009 • dhv.co South MainSuite Street,

Donald Hegland, MD Duke Health Electrophysiologist

James Klena, MD Duke Health Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeon

David Kotlaba, MD Duke Health Cardiologist

Kevin Lingle, MD Duke Health Interventional Cardiologist

Brian Zagol, MD Duke Health Interventional Cardiologist

Boshra Zakhary, MD Duke Health Interventional Cardiologist

Stephanie Crumpton, ANP Duke Health Adult Nurse Practitioner Danville Heart & Vascular Clinic offers an extended range of in-office and hospital services to include: • Open heart surgery including coronary bypass & heart valve surgery • Diagnosis and treatment of aneurysms • Non-invasive and invasive evaluation and treatment of heart failure • Transthoracic and transesophageal echoca echocardiology • Pacemaker and automated defibrillator insertion and management

• General cardiology care including evaluation and treatment of Coronary Artery Disease, Peripheral Vascular Disease and Hypertension • Various forms of stress testing including stress echo and stress nuclear • Vein ablations

201 South Main Street, Suite 1100 • Danville,VA 24541 • 434.791.3009 • dhv.co

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Living

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Sto in Raci ries from ia Brice ng Care the “Spide er of r” Stu ltz See page

An Aerial View of Downton Danville

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Cover Photo by Michelle Dalton 2016 Real E Photography s DIRe cto tate R

by Mark Aron

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FEA TURES LIVING LEGENDS

HE SAID SHE SAID

Stories from the racing career of Brice “Spider” Stultz

By Larry Oldham and Dena Hill

In Southern Virginia

by Ginny Way

BUYING A HOME Is the Time Right?

by Paul Seiple

ARTICLES A GREEN THUMB = GREEN CASH

ALSO INSIDE

DEPARTMENTS

FROM THE EDITOR

Why We Love Each Other

FUN AND GAMES

THE YOUNG PROFESSIONAL

Crossword, Word Seach, & Sudoku

by Lee Vogler

PAWS FOR THE CAUSE

Jay Rigney

By Paulette Dean

BUSINESS MINDED

Matt Trakas Southside Ice Express

AREA EVENTS GUIDE

by Paul Seiple

THE CREATIVE IMPULSE

Mariah Blankenship-Springs

by Paul Seiple

NOT SO COMMON – COMMON SENSE!

follow us @showcasable

by Stan Jones

like us Showcase Magazine

A Perspective on Public Schools

@ 4 SHOWCASE Magazine

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

Come To Your “One Stop”

Home Decorating Center

• Paint and Paint Supplies • Wallpaper • Carpeting • Window Treatments • Vinyl and Hardwood Flooring We have the supplies, paints, and expertise to help with your decorating needs.

And Much More!

“We help make a house YOUR home” www.danvillepaintandsupply.com

434.792.8521 532 Monroe St. Danville, VA

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| MAY 2016 | SHOWCASE Magazine 5

A few days ago I was doing a little editing when Tom Petty’s “Running Down a Dream” came on the 80s station on Spotify. There is no telling how many times I’ve heard the song, but this time I paid close attention to the lyrics. It’s basically a “feel-good, let nothing stand in the way of your dreams” song. I’d never really found inspiration in the song until I took the time to read the lyrics. It’s funny how you can hear, read, or watch something for years, and at some point for some reason you appreciate it in a different way.

I was working on this issue when I heard “Running Down a Dream” which, coincidentally, is about dreams. Having dreams to chase is important. In Walden, Thoreau said, “If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success.” This issue is full of examples of people who have moved in the directions of their dreams and found success.

Jay Rigney of Wilson Lawn & Garden and Matt Trakas of Southside Ice Express are two entrepreneurs who followed their dreams and now operate successful businesses. Mariah Blankenship-Springs has had an eye for capturing a moment through photography most of her life. She’s followed her dream and is one of our area’s most creative photographers. (You can see her work on the cover of the 2016 issue of Our Town as well as throughout the magazine.)

For many, owning a home is one of their biggest dreams. In this issue, you’ll find a comprehensive guide to buying a home along with a directory of local businesses that make the process as seamless as possible.

Having dreams make life interesting, so, go out there and run one down.

Showcase MAY 2016

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 Misty Brooks, Marketing Consultant misty@showcasemagazine.com, 434.728.2905

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 MAY 2016 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Paulette Dean | Dena Hill | Stan Jones | Larry Oldham Paul Seiple | Lee Vogler y | Ginny Wray

Enjoy the issue.

Paul Seiple EDITOR

MAY 2016 CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Mark Aron | Mariah Blankenship-Springs Forest Dalton | Michelle Dalton Photograph Von Wellington Photography | Mike Wray

Evince

to the ADVERTISERS who make this publication possible.

Please be generous in supporting our local businesses.

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22 26 37 5 7 12 29

616 Restaurant American National Bank Barkhouser Ford Lincoln BB&T Home Mortgage Beacon Credit Union Centra Medical Group Commonwealth Home Health Care, Inc. Crystal Clear Window Treatment DCC Educational Foundation Danville Gastroenterology Center, PC Danville Historical Society Danville Paint & Supply Danville Pittsylvania Community Services Danville Pittsylvania Community Services Danville Regional Foundation

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44 39 13

39 30 8 27 40 9

37 5 40 21 14

Danville Regional Medical Center Danville Toyota Scion Blairs Fire & Rescue ERA Holley & Gibson Realty Company First Citizens Bank Four Season Pest Control Hauser Manasco Realty Group - Cindy Zook Excelen Performance Goldstar Mortgage Services Goodwill Industries of South Central Virginia, Inc. Jarrod Brown, DDS DWS KARE Pharmacy & Compounding Martinsville Henry County Michelle Dalton Photography Piedmont Credit Union

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14 Piedmont Pharmacy 13 Piney Forest Health & Rehabilitation Center 26 Shh... Intimacy

on a New Level 21 Southside Ice Express, llc.

5 Southside Urology

& Nephrology 5 Southside Virginia

Wildlife Center 20 Sterling Optical 17 Stratford House 16 TriCor Real Estate 26 United Country Real Estate 30 URW Community

Federal Credit Union 20 Wilkins & Co. Realtors 41 Wilkins & Co. Realtors 14 Wilson Lawn & Garden 14 World of Sports 13 Yates Home Sales

The Wi An Orga ne Spot to Mothenic Toast r Natur e Page 27

The Fe

Meet Anna

stival in

Pickeral

the Park Page 3

’s Bigge

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Don’t miss the May 2016 issue of eVince

Magazin

e Page 1

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WE BOTH SAY...

We run into people all the time who ask us, “Do you guys ever agree on anything and are you getting a divorce?” The answer is yes and no.

Yes, we do occasionally agree on something but we don’t write about it because you, the reader, would miss the banter. No, we are not getting a divorce because we love each other too much. That brings us to our topic today: the gifts we both share and love in our lives and want to include you. Here are some of the things that make us both happy: • When we hear the laughing and merriment of our grandchildren, there is no sweeter sound on earth.

• When our dog follows us from room to room and looks up at us or nudges our leg or hand for a rub. It’s her way of showing us she always loves us and she knows that we’ll always be there for her.

• In the middle of the night when we’re sleeping and one of us reaches out to hold hands; we know how much we mean to each other. No sweeter feeling on earth than that touch. We do it to feel close to one other.

• Waking up in the morning and the birds are chirping and the sun is shining and we know that God has provided us another day with each other and another day to thank Him for giving us his love and a love to share with each other.

• When we go into the kitchen and the fresh smell of breakfast permeates the air, we are thankful for food on the table, a roof over our heads, and a loved one to share with it.

• The phone rings and one of our children is calling to say “No, I don’t need anything, I just called to say hello or to tell you I love you.” Life doesn’t get much better than that moment.

• Round table discussions at church and the freedom of being able to worship with friends and loved ones is one thing we share every week and it makes us both feel thankful.

• Our favorite TV shows like Survivor, Big Bang Theory, The Amazing Race, Downton Abbey, Scorpion, The Voice, Madam Secretary, and of course, HGTV. • We have a big group of high school friends we always enjoy seeing.

• Finally, we can always lean on each other when a family crisis arises.

by Larry Oldham and Dena Hill photo by Michelle Dalton Photography

Relationships are what two people make them and we decided a long time ago to love and respect each other. It isn’t that life is too short; it’s just that death is sooooooo long.

Be good to each other. We both are.

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| MAY 2016 | SHOWCASE Magazine 9

Lifestyle

by

by Ginny Ginny Wray Wray photography photography by

by Mike Mike Wray Wray

Ridgeway. It ran well in Daytona, he recalled. “I was able to pass whoever I came up on and would pass them right and left. We started in the back; slow cars started in the back and my car ran well. I did not have any trouble passing.”

Tucked in a garage in Henry County is a piece of racing history. It is the 1937 two-door Flat Back Ford that Brice “Spider” Stultz drove on the old beach course in Daytona Beach, Florida, on Feb. 25, 1955.

And Stultz, now 87, is believed to be the only beachcourse driver who still owns the car in which he raced. There are some aspects of the race he does not remember, but there others he recalls vividly.

At that time, Stultz was friends with Martinsville Speedway founder Clay Earles and Bill France, founder of NASCAR. In 1955 they asked him to come to Daytona where he had visited but not raced. He towed his Ford with a 1946 Dodge six-cylinder pickup, he recalled in a 2003 interview posted on the Living Legends of Auto Racing (LLOAR) website.

Between that interview and a recent one, Stultz’s experience that February day in Florida can be pieced together. “We drove all night long to get there but arrived too late for the time trials for the Sportsman’s race,” said Stultz, a lifelong resident of Fieldale. So when the cars lined up on the 4.35-mile track that encompassed black-top road and hardpacked beach sand, he was placed in the 83rd position — “almost the last one in line,” he said.

Stultz bought the No. 24x six-cylinder Ford in 1953 in

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His car clocked in at 100 to 110 mph on the black-top part of the track, but it was doing about 55 to 60 mph when it hit the sand going into turn 1. “It got up to No. 12 when I got on soft sand and couldn’t steer out of it,” Stultz said. “Thirty-nine cars passed me while I was sitting there.”

“Those pictures on the wall there are exactly what happened. It was exciting there for a few minutes.

The race was over and it was the last lap that I got hung up,” he added.

Those photographs show Stultz’s No. 24x stuck off the side of the track. The track itself was hardened sand, but the race cars kicked up some of the sand, creating the soft bed on the side that snagged the cars. Once that happened, there was no budging them.

The photos show at least six other cars met the same fate and ran even further off the track. To the right in the photos is Stultz, surveying the scene. He finished the race in the 49th spot.

Stultz fared better in the Modified competition at Daytona, finishing 19th when the race ended early due to a fiery crash, according to a 1994 Martinsville Bulletin article.

The Daytona photos and scores of others surround Stultz in his office and garage. Each tells a story about Stultz’s racing career and the early years of the sport

itself. There is Glen Wood’s first race. Martinsville Speedway’s first race after it was paved. Stultz on the motorcycle he drove in the Army. And many, many more.

THE BEGINNING OF A LEGACY Stultz believes he inherited his passion for cars from his father, Brice M. Stultz III, and shared it with his brother, James.

“They were both Model T men,” recalled “Spider,” who was given that nickname by his grandfather when he first saw the newborn baby. “‘His hands look like spiders,’” his grandfather said, and the name stuck, even through Stultz’s service in the Army and beyond.

Stultz graduated from Fieldale High School and Hargrave Military Academy. He served in the Army from 1950 to 1951, and spent the next 22 years working at Mitchell-Howell Ford in Martinsville, where he was the service manager. He left the dealership in 1972 and opened Motor Imports in Collinsville, which closed recently.

During his youth, Stultz said racing was a fad. He recalled Earles and France coming to see Stultz at the Ford dealership and taking him to the nearby House’s Restaurant for coffee, race talk, and with a visit with the long-time area waitress known as “Red.” Stultz got his driver’s license at age 14 but area tracks wouldn’t let him race until he turned 18. He bought his first race car, a 1939 Ford, for 35 dollars in 1947 and drove in his first race around that time in Danville.

He was off and running. Stultz has lost track of how many races he ran and how many he won. But he quickly names speedways such as Morris, in Henry County, Draper,Bowman Gray in Winston-Salem, Danville, Greensboro Fairgrounds, Lynchburg, and Starkey, outside Roanoke. He also raced on the “big track” at Daytona.

“I went so many places, I don’t know,” Stultz said, searching his memory for even more names. “I stayed broke all the time buying gas. The old car always looked good. It would run good if I could get the brakes working and get up there, but I couldn’t always do it.”

In a shop on Bridge Street, Russell Davis “fixed the transmission so you could go to 90 (mph) before you had to come out of second (gear),” Stultz recalled.

“Everyone else had to shift gears at 60-65 mph. You could pass cars like you wouldn’t believe. It was a big help, but Davis never shared his secret of what he did to the transmission.”

Stultz quit racing after 1955 because he didn’t have the money to race each weekend and because his wife, Alma, wanted him to get out of it, adding that she didn’t want to see him get hurt. The Stultzes have been married for more than 60 years.

But Stultz did not walk away from the sport entirely. He operated the scoreboard in the first Daytona 500 held

at the “big track” in 1959 and did the same at the Martinsville Speedway in the 1960s and 1970s along with his brother, and nephew, Bob Stultz.

Several years later, Bill Magnum returned the 1937 Ford that had run on the beach to Stultz after finding it in a junk yard in Danville. After that, the car sat next to Motor Imports for about 14 years until 1999 when Stultz decided to restore it.

Paint and body work brought the car back to life. The shining black racer with white lettering touts, “Stultz Special; Brice and Alma Racing.” It has the name and date of the Daytona race, and eight stickers on the windshield from the Living Legends of Auto Race Beach Parade held at Daytona Beach, which Stultz took cars to for several years. It also states that the vehicle was built and maintained by Rodney Hatchett and Daniel Morrison.

Stultz added a passenger seat to the car.

“Everywhere we went everyone wanted to ride in it,” he said with a laugh.

He still maintains two Ford Flat Backs in operating condition. One, a 1938 model, is a replica of the ’37 Ford, built because he couldn’t find another 1937 Ford body. It bears the name of his son-in-law, the late Virginia State Trooper Ralph Carroll, who especially treasured the car. The other is a 1940 Ford coupe.

Rodney Hatchett of Snow Creek and the late Benny Arnold helped Stultz build and restore the vehicles. In 1994, Stultz was recognized by the Daytona-based Living Legends of Auto Racing. He was honored with a brick in the Walk of Fame because he raced on the old beach course.

In 2009, Stultz, labeled a “Saturday Night Hero,” was honored during the 17th annual LLOAR reunion with an award bearing his name and likeness in a pencil drawing that hangs in Motor Imports. “It’s in honor of the service and accomplishments one has made over their racing career and more importantly, to preserve the history of racing,” said Jack Anderson, a past recipient of the honor who presented the award to Stultz, according to a 2009 Martinsville Bulletin article. Stultz was remembered with such past honorees as Red Farmer, Bobby Allison, Donny Allison and others.

AND NOW …

These days, Stultz is enjoying his retirement and acknowledges that the sport has changed over the years. “It’s such a different sport, so much faster.”

But back in his day, Stultz’s favorite driver was Curtis Turner, his distant cousin. “There was nobody like Curtis behind the steering wheel,” Stultz said.

Stultz was “too young to be scared” during any of his races, and his favorite memory of racing was at the Danville Speedway. That is because his brother was there, along with a lot of his friends who egged him on. “Things went well,” he added. But, the Daytona beach race is his most memorable, and it created his legacy in the sport of racing. www.showcasemagazine.com

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on Danville!

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Donna Gibson

HOLLEY & GibsOn

Owner

REALTY COMPANY

339 Piney Forest Rd., Danville, VA 24540

Office: (434) 791-2400 • Fax: (434) 791-2122 Visit our website at www.eraholleyandgibson.com

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

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3:31:21 PM 13 | MAY 2016 | 3/16/2016 SHOWCASE Magazine

Looking into a Mortgage or Home Equity Loan?

LaQuita Tarpley-Marsh Real Estate Specialist 434-797-1954 x 330

We’re Your Community Credit Union www.piedmontcu.org

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NMLS #402961

Two things drive Jay Rigney—hard work and a love for his hometown. He was born in Danville and is proud to be a resident. “I have never wanted to leave,” Rigney says.

“Danville is a unique place. It is not too big and not too small.”

After graduating from high school in 2000, Rigney continued his education at Danville Community College. Fascinated with learning the inner workings of machines, Rigney joined the Precision Machine Technology program. Two years later, he received his diploma in the field.

After college, Rigney worked for a company in Lynchburg called Babcock & Wilcox, now known as B&W, for over 8 years. He commuted from Danville the entire time. Rigney gained valuable experience working for B&W which is known for supplying services and products to industries and markets.

During his time at B&W, an entrepreneurial spirit grew within Rigney. Today, He owns and operates Wilson Lawn & Garden, which offers a wide variety of products and services. Wilson Lawn & Garden sells and

services outdoor power equipment, such as Husqvarna, Stihl, and most major brands that are sold at big box stores like Lowes, Home Depot and Sears.

by Lee Vogler photos by Michelle Dalton Photography

When Rigney gets a rare moment of rest, he uses it to enjoy the outdoors. He’s an avid hunter and fisher.

Rigney, while a vital part of the local economy himself, wants to see this region be open and welcoming to new companies and factories looking to locate here. “We already have a great workforce here which makes Danville an attractive spot on the map for new businesses,” says Rigney.

Small businesses are the backbone of a local economy. They are your friends and neighbors. They are the smiling face that greets you when you walk through the door and knows you by name. That’s the kind of service and familiarity you can expect when you come to Wilson Lawn & Garden.

And it all starts with the man who owns it.

A man who has never wanted to leave Danville and continues to do his part to make it a better place. www.showcasemagazine.com

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Matt Trakas learned a lot about ice during the 18 years he spent working in ice-related industries.

“In working with the same distribution areas over the last six years I noticed many retail locations were unhappy with the overall quality of ice product being delivered to them,” Trakas says.

He saw an opportunity as retailers began to look for new vendors. “We felt there was a void in what would be our target delivery market,” Trakas adds.

In April 2015, along with his mother, Kay, Trakas founded Southside Ice Express with the goal of providing premium quality product and delivery

lasts longer which means it doesn’t water down your drink,” Trakas says. with the level of service customers expect. Trakas says, “We also added convenience features previously not provided such as second-shift delivery services for restaurants.”

Ice is considered food and regulated by the FDA. The FDA website states, “Like other foods, packaged ice must be produced according to the FDA’s regulation for Current Good Manufacturing Practices in Manufacturing, Packing, and Holding Human Food.” Trakas adds, “Recently, the US Congress passed the new Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) which demands a major reform of the entire food processing industry in the United States.

Since ‘All Packaged Ice is Not the Same’ shouldn’t you expect your ice to be at least the same quality as ‘Purified Bottled Water’? Some ice available at retail isn’t filtered at all.”

Supplying premium quality product is the mission of Southside Ice Express. “We made the decision to have a product made from water that exceeds bottled water standards. Our stateof- the-art five-stage filtration process which includes reverse osmosis and a UV disinfection filter complies with FDA requirements for ‘Purified Water.’ In addition, our ice making and processing gives our end user a bag of uniform, consistent sized tube-cubes that are packaged frozen and dry which keeps the ice loose as opposed to a frozen mass or clump. Our ice

Southside Ice Express serves a 60-mile radius from Danville with a customer base made up of convenience stores, small grocery stores, restaurants, special events, and other gatherings including weddings, parties, and family reunions.

Trakas adds, “We strive to be aware of events going on in the communities we serve so that we can be ready to provide the ice that will be needed.”

by Paul Seiple photos by Von Wellington Photography

Over the first year of operation, Southside Ice Express has grown to produce 10 tons of ice per day and services 40 to 50 regular clients. Trakas sees those numbers growing in the future. “By the end of our fifth year of operation we hope to be producing 30 tons of ice per day with 120 to 150 regular delivery service customers.

In addition, we plan to pursue membership in the United Packages Ice Company which is comprised of forward thinking, responsive, independent produces who share the same overall concern for service, value, and safety.”

Matt and Kay Trakas chose Danville as home base for Southside Ice Express out of love for the City and its geographical desirability. “Danville is centrally located for our delivery market which includes 2 Virginia counties and 6 North Carolina counties,” Trakas concludes.

For more information on Southside Ice Express call 434.489.1209. www.showcasemagazine.com

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Building futures.

One home at a time.

Melissa Jones Mortgage Loan Officer NMLS# 1020730 125 Collins Dr. Danville, Va 24540 434-797-8131 MPJones@BBandT.com BBT.com/MPJones

B A N K I N G

.

I N S U R A N C E

.

I N V E S T M E N T S

Branch Banking and Trust Company is a Member FDIC and an Equal Housing Lender.

Loans are subject to credit approval. Only deposit products are FDIC insured. Š 2016, Branch Banking and Trust Company. All rights reserved.

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FEATURE

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How do you know you’re ready to buy a home?

It’s a multidimensional question that all first-time buyers and experienced home owners should ask before delving into the process. Purchasing a home isn’t something that should be done on a whim. It requires commitment. “When house hunting, ask yourself, ‘Do I see myself staying in the home five years or more?’”, says John Craddock of First Citizens Bank. If you do not plan on staying in a home for at least five years, you may not recover the expenses of buying the house.

TO IT). Finding a house you can afford should be number one on your “Must Have” list. If you ignore your number the house of your dreams could quickly become a nightmare. To get a solid number, calculate your debt-to-income ratio. Debt-to-income ratio is monthly debt divided by gross monthly income. A general rule is payments shouldn’t exceed 28% of monthly gross income. It’s not a bad to set your target below what you can afford to prepare yourself for any unseen financial speed bumps down the road.

That’s just one of many questions you should ask before digging into the home buying process which should start with a checklist.

Once you’ve got a figure you’re comfortable with CREATE A WANT LIST AND A NEED LIST. It would be wonderful to find your dream home

The first item on your checklist should be to ORGANIZE FINANCIALS. Get reports from the three credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion). Review each report for any reporting errors. Fix any mistakes immediately.

Mortgages are affected by credit scores. A score in the range of 760 should qualify for the lowest rate available. “Credit scores that fall within a 660 to 759 range can still qualify for favorable rate,” says Craddock. Scores that are less than 660 will be hit with higher interest rates.

If you fall into this category, it may be worth it to take the time to strengthen your credit score. In the long run, doing so could save a considerable amount of money.

and under budget, but the truth is you may have to make a few sacrifices. Maybe you need a specific amount of bedrooms. That’s nonnegotiable. Scratching a house of your list that meets all your needs but doesn’t have granite countertops isn’t a good idea. Decorative additions can always be added later.

Speaking of money, you’ll have to account for a down payment and closing costs. Having a minimum 20% down payment makes you more attractive to lenders. There a many options available including a Federal Housing Authority (FHA) loan which requires much less down. There are also organizations like the Department of Veterans and the Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development that offer zerodown payment programs. There are pros and cons to each plan and it’s best to discuss down payment options with a lender.

With your financials in order, the next thing is to PICK A NUMBER YOU CAN AFFORD (AND STICK

by Paul Seiple

Continued to page 28

• Monitor your credit report.

Request yearly reports from the three credit-reporting agencies to catch any inaccuracies early.

• Maintain low credit balances.

Pay close attention to credit limits. The way you use credit accounts for 30% of your score. It’s monitored two ways —how much is charged on individual accounts and how much is used on all account in relation to the total amount of credit available.

• Closing old accounts hurts.

A large amount of a credit

score is based on length of credit history. Closing an account could cut drastically into your credit history.

• Make on-time payments.

According to FICO, 35% of a credit score is payment history.

• Narrow down to one or two cards. Use cards with the best rewards and terms. Using too many cards can be hard to manage and make it forget a payment.

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With a clear picture of what you can afford and what you need it’s time to get PRE-APPROVED for a mortgage. There are several things lenders will need — Photo identification, pay stubs, other proof of income (if you’re self-employed for instance), tax returns, and proof of funds.

Some lenders may require additional documents such as an employment letter that confirms your salary, hire date, employment status, etc.

There are many options when it comes to lending — banks, credit unions, mortgage companies. Look at this as a long-term relationship. Take your time and meet with several lenders to determine the best fit for you.

One of the most important factors in finding a mortgage lender is comfortability. You’ll have a lot of questions, be sure the lender genuinely takes the time to put you at ease. “Potential borrowers can ask questions without applying for a loan. I encourage communication.

Questions borrowers should ask about qualifying guidelines and length of process, “ says Craddock. Other questions to prepare to ask are what type of mortgage best suits me —fixedrate or adjustable rate (ARM) and length or mortgage—15 or 30 years?

Getting pre-approved for a mortgage shows agents and sellers that you are a qualified buyer and can speed the process up once you’ve found a home to put an offer on.

A cautionary word—you may be approved for a larger amount that you are asking for, remember the work you put into coming up with your magical number and stick with it.

Factoring in the surroundings can ensure a perfect fit. Here are a few questions and tips: • Do you like to walk or bike? If so, you may want to look for something near the Riverwalk Trail.

• Are places I frequent nearby?

Grocery stores, gym, etc.

• Check out the schools nearby.

• Am I looking for a quiet neighborhood? Or something more lively?

• Study architecture of the homes. Look for revitalization.

Well-kept homes and renovations are signs of a healthy neighborhood.

• Check the crime statistics for the neighborhood.

Next, it’s time to go HOUSE HUNTING. If you’re not sure which neighborhood you would like to call home, there are several ways to help you decide. Apps like Zillow and Trulia could help narrow down your search and give you a good starting point when contacting a realtor.

Choosing a realtor is much like choosing a lender. Being comfortable with your agent is top priority. You don’t want to feel rushed into anything. Great realtors understand a buyer’s psyche and expect questions and concerns.

Interview a few realtors; look at their buying Continued to page 30

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| MAY 2016 | SHOWCASE Magazine 29

and selling history as well as their current listings.

“Chemistry is incredibly important,” says realtor Cindy Zook. “Clients should feel at ease with an agent. There can be a lot of negotiations when purchasing a house. Clients need to find an agent that has their back,” Zook continues. You’ll spend a considerable amount of time with your realtor while searching for a home, so be patient in your search. Finding the right realtor for you will alleviate some of the stress that comes with the search.

While you are house hunting you should familiarize yourself with HOMEOWNER’S INSURANCE. Lenders will want to know which company you’ve elected to use for home insurance. Getting quotes while still house hunting could save valuable time during the closing process. Study what basic insurance covers—theft, fire, liability, etc. Determine if you need additional coverage such as flood insurance. Visiting www.valuepenguin.com/ average-cost-of-homeowners-insurance can give you an estimate on home insurance costs.

When you find a home you love, it’s time to MAKE AN OFFER. Coming up with a figure you’re comfortable with can be tricky. You want to get the best deal possible, but you do not want to

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come in too low. “Submitting an offer well below asking price can hurt you in several ways— you could lose the home to another or buyer or you could insult the seller. What you want is an offer that is fair to you and comparable to the area,” says Zook. Your realtor can pull comparable home sales in the neighborhood. You’ll want to see if homes sold below or over asking price.

This can be a good indicator in determining your offer. Other factors to consider are the homeowner’s incentive to sell and how long the property has been on the market. “A seller’s motivation can play big part in the sale. For example, if someone has taken a job in another city, that person is more likely to negotiate than someone who can wait for asking price,” Zook adds.

You will also need to get a HOME INSPECTION. Problems that could potentially cause major headaches are plumbing and electrical issues and the roof. If you have plans of adding on the house in the future, you will want to check with the city about restrictions that could affect your upgrades.

Buying a house is a lengthy process, but the rewards are worth it once you have the keys to your new home. Happy, house hunting.

Goldstar Mortgage www.goldstarmtg.com

American National Bank

415 Piney Forest Road Danville, VA 24540 434.791.4011

628 Main Street Danville, VA 24541 434.792.5111

164 S. Main Street Halifax, VA 24558 434.476.9800

239 Nor-Dan Drive Danville, VA 24540 434.773.2303

Piedmont Credit Union

445 Mount Cross Road Danville, VA 24540 434.773.3321

366 Piney Forest Road Danville, VA 24540 434.797.1954

BB&T

3240 Franklin Tpke Danville, VA 24540

125 Collins Drive Danville, VA 24540 434.792.7125

1555 Meadowview Drive Danville, VA 24541

www.amnb.com

www.bbandt.com

2801 Westover Drive Danville, VA 24541 434.822.2067

www.piedmontcu.org

URW Community Federal Credit Union www.urwfcu.org

1410 Piney Forest Road Danville, VA 24540 434.836.4653

314 Lowes Drive Danville, VA 24541 434.793.1278

Beacon Credit Union

539 Arnett Blvd Danville, VA 24540

3320 Riverside Drive Danville, VA 24541 434.237.1566

13701 US Higway 29, Suite I Chatham, VA 24531

www.mybcu.org

First Citizen’s Bank

Tri-Core Real Estate 380 Piney Forest Road Danville, VA 24540 434.797.4663

United Country Real Estate www.jeffdavisrealestate.com 625 Piney Forest Road #308 Danville, VA 24540 434.792.7653 19601 U.S. 29 Chatham, VA 24531 434.432.0750

Wilkins & Company Realty www.wilkinsandco.com 428 Piney Forest Rd Danville, VA 24540 434.797.4007 12413 US Highway 29 Chatham, VA 24531 434.432.3009 541 Bridge Street, Unit 2 Danville, VA 24541 434.797.4007

www.firstcitizens.com 1296 Piney Forest Rd Danville, VA 24540 434.791.6850 530 Main St Danville, VA 24541 434.791.6825 130 Collins Dr Danville, VA 24540 434.793.1117 685 West Main Street Danville, VA 24541 434.791.6831 13720 US Hwy 29 Chatham, VA 24531 434.432.9112

Cindy Zook Hauser Manasco Realty Group www.hauserrealtygroup.net 523 Main Street Danville, VA 24541 434.792.3000

Yates Home Sales www.yateshomesales.com 5940 US 29 Business Blairs, VA 24527 434.836.4215

Holley & Gibson Realty Co., Inc.

Wilson Lawn and Garden Advantage

339 Piney Forest Road Danville, VA 24541 434.791.2400

3720 Franklin Turnpike Danville, VA 24540 434.836.2137

www.eraholleyandgibson.com

www.wilsonlawngarden.com

1 South Main St Chatham, VA 24531 434.432.2311 www.showcasemagazine.com

| MAY 2016 | SHOWCASE Magazine 31

Your path

to the perfect

mortgage.

American National offers more than just financing for your new home. We offer the peace of mind that comes with having your mortgage loan officer right here, in Danville, living and working in your community. Give Katie a call to learn more.

Katie Smith

Mortgage Loan Officer 434.773.2222 SmithK@amnb.com NMLS#: 415744

amnb.com amnb.com 32 SHOWCASE Magazine

Subject to approval. Fees and conditions may apply.

| MAY 2016 | www.showcasemagazine.com

Subject to approval. Fees and conditions may apply.

Take a trip through a neighborhood and it’s easy to pick out the neglected lawns. It’s natural to wonder if the yard is such a mess, the interior of the home must be as well. This is not the reaction you want to have when buying or selling a home.

A stunning landscape not only offers a good first impression, it also suggests that you take pride in your property. While it’s hard to pinpoint an actual return on investment with regards to landscape improvements, one thing is for sure, a wellmaintained lawn will not decrease a home’s value.

We reached out to landscape designer April Daily of Daily Landscape Design to get answers to a few questions concerning lawn care and maintenance.

Can you tell us about the role of a landscape designer?

I like to think of landscape design the same way you would consider a house plan before building.

If you don’t start with a plan there could be costly mistakes realized down the road. If your infrastructure is intact and functional (sidewalks, driveways, walls, tree placement) then the rest will fall into place. By adding the right touches (plantings), you make the house uniquely your own. A landscape designer has the plant knowledge and design eye to help pull together your ideas with aesthetics and functionality.

How can a landscape designer help a homeowner shape the perfect lawn?

It is always so tempting to buy all those gorgeous plants at the garden center this time of year. Be prepared to give them the perfect place to grow by planning ahead with a designer. Whether you have a small garden room, a landscape renovation, or a new home, a landscape design is always the best place to start. Imagine the time and money a well-thought-out plan will save you in the long run. How many times have you moved that shrub rose or wished you had planned the walkway before planting that tree? How much sun hits the front of the house and what plants will thrive there? Can I plant a screen for some privacy without making my neighbors feel offended? Are there ways to keep the AC from running non-stop in the middle of summer? A well thought out design can answer these questions and help solve many landscape issues.

How important is curb appeal in the value of a home?

Curb appeal, especially for any future resale value, is vital. How do you search for a home these days?

Most scroll through hundreds of pictures looking for just the right fit. If a house does not stand out in the first few seconds of viewing, it may be passed over completely. Curb appeal also adds an incredible amount of property value and there are many simple and inexpensive ways to achieve it. Updating shutters, adding a sidewalk or accent wall, planting the right plant in the right place or choosing the best colors can all make that first impression much more positive. Well planned, mature landscaping for a house is like the frame on a picture. It makes it complete.

What types of plants thrive in our area?

We are blessed to live in the zone 7 planting band which allows an incredible number of plants to thrive here. Hollies, maples, hydrangea, azalea... the list of hardy, tried and true plantings is too many to name. There are also several rare beauties we could be planting more of such as osmanthus, dwarf pine, beautyberry, and viburnum which all grow wonderfully here and can add that touch of uniqueness to your landscape.

Weeds are a nuisance. What are some ways to control them?

Weeds are just plants in the wrong place, but they can be the landscapes nemesis and combating them is tricky. The first line of defense is to keep them from germinating in the first place. Tackle them when they are small, before they go to seed, and half the battle is won. For those pesky ones, a bit of hand pulling is the best method of removal.

It’s not only good exercise, but gardening, in itself, can be very therapeutic.

With weeds out of the picture, how does one maintain a healthy lawn?

So, you’ve noticed your neighbor’s lush green lawn.

You imagine taking your shoes off and traipsing softly through their yard. You can have that same look, but it will take some work, some cash, and some long-term planning. I suggest taping into the abundance of information available through our local Master Gardener Association. They have free publications and advice on “how to” in lawn establishment and maintenance.

Consider this; turf grass is the highest maintenance plant in the landscape. What other plant must you prune weekly, fertilize consistently, and water abundantly? Granted, it is well worth the effort as a beautiful lawn sets the stage for everything around it. There are ways to design a property to have the right balance of lawn and plant beds in order to achieve a successful landscape. www.showcasemagazine.com

| MAY 2016 | SHOWCASE Magazine 33

she will resign from her teaching position to pursue a career in photography. “I absolutely love teaching kids, but I have a 9-month-old son, and from the moment I saw his face for the first time, I have done everything in my power to spend more time with him,” Mariah says.

by Paul Seiple photos by Mariah Blankenship-Springs

Ask Mariah Blankenship-Springs about herself and she’ll tell you, “I’m that girl. You know, the clumsy, loud-laughing, snorting one that finds silly puns hilarious; or the one that writes poetry about big life questions but can’t figure out why one TV could possibly need three different remotes; or that girl who watches a dozen Lifetime movies in a day all while attempting some complex Pinterest project for a fancy paper towel holder. I’m that girl.” That’s the light-hearted answer. Dig a little deeper and you’ll find Mariah has always been a woman of the arts. “Even though I never could quite pick an art form. So, one Bachelor’s and one Master’s degree later, here I am doing something I taught myself to do. It’s funny how life works sometimes,” Mariah adds.

For the past 8 years, Mariah has taught English and Creative Writing at Tunstall High School. At the end of the school year,

Snapping photos has been a passion of Mariah’s since childhood. She recalls her first foray into photography. “I’d say circa 1996—6th grade, I believe. I shot with the crappiest 35mm with drugstore film while forcing my 2-year-old sister into the most awkward poses known to man.”

She bought her first DSLR after graduating college and began seriously studying the art.

Life and loss played a major role in Mariah’s path to becoming a photographer. She continues, “My most valuable items are the photographs of my loved ones who have gone on before me. I so often joke about photographs being soul-catchers, but what a beautiful concept that is. They capture the existence and memories of times lost.

Life throws you curve balls; we lose people, we let people go, we grow apart, and we grow old. Photographs allow us to freeze time—to relive moments we can never get back.”

Capturing the moment is a concept Mariah teaches her students through the Robert Frost poem “The Road Not Taken.” “ I tell them to consider this very moment…and this one…and this one…and realize those very moments are now gone and as ‘way leads onto way,’ will never come back again—only writing and photography have the ability to preserve them.”

Inspiration also comes from the abundance of amazing photographers in our area.

Mariah continues, “I am inspired daily by the amount of talent displayed by my photographer colleagues and friends. I am also heavily influenced by the magazine Lemonade and Lenses, which displays some of the best lifestyle photography across the United States.”

Mariah’s style of photography centers on real life. She says, “We are not smiling statues; we are moving, breathing, laughing, crying people. For so long, we have all been taught to sit still with one

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hand resting on our laps, heads slightly tilted, backs straight, smiling right at the camera—and while there’s a place for this, I want to truly feel a photograph. Most of all, I want people to see their photographs and remember that moment in their lives and how it felt.”

Mariah’s advice for aspiring photographers is, “Strive to learn! Put that camera in manual mode and shoot until you figure it out! Never settle for what you currently know. There is always more to learn.

Also, consider the amount of resources available to you without taking classes.

I taught myself everything I know by reading, watching YouTube videos, and experimenting. More importantly, don’t forget to soul-catch.”

The best photographers know how to capture an image that tells a story. Mariah adds, “I discovered that photographs are poems in themselves. They tell the stories of people’s lives. They turn people and their emotions into great works of art. They drive out the happiness in people’s lives even amongst the frustration and chaos of getting ready and picking out clothes for sessions or making children behave for a shoot. In the end, people see the beauty within their own lives. Photographers are “soul catchers” like that. They capture the happiness within.”

To view some of Mariah’s work, visit www.photographybymariah.com.

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| MAY 2016 | SHOWCASE Magazine 35

ACROSS 1 __ and span 5 Nativity scene piece 9 Biblical “you” 13 Fanny 14 Infant’s disease 15 Canoe propellers 16 Women’s magazine 17 The living dead 18 Bog down 19 Delight 21 Land parcels 23 Agreement 25 Mumble 26 Frozen water 29 Reasons 31 Heron 34 Neither’s partner 35 School assignment 37 Spoken 39 Cirrus 41 Unrefined metal

42 Woke up 43 Person in charge 44 Nominated 46 Morning moisture 47 Desires 50 Roman emperor 51 Ending 52 One of Columbus’ ships 54 Northeast by east 56 Dinosaur bones, for example 59 Barley 63 Apple type 64 Skirt fold 66 Volcano 67 Descended ungracefully 68 Dukes 69 Gashes 70 Brews 71 Popular stadium

72 Knots DOWN 1 Stair 2 Haul 3 Island 4 Tacky 5 Cow sound 6 Handout 7 Jeers 8 Ice hanging from roofs 9 Day after today 10 Pony tail stuff 11 Goofs 12 Compass point 14 People of Czech Republic 20 Cut with a saw 22 Pluck 24 Chicken brand 26 Edge forward

27 Punctuation 28 Uneven 30 Plastic wrap 32 Eat away 33 Occupied 36 Asian nation 38 Ribald 40 Dinner tools

42 Mud brick 45 Builds 48 Disrespect 49 Shoots covertly 53 God of Islam 55 Build 56 Fire maker 57 Eye

58 Dried-up 60 Decorative needle case 61 Stake 62 Child 63 Future Farmers of America (abr.)

65 Wing

NAME

HOW TO ENTER Email paul@showcasemagazine.com with the theme of this Word Search (May 2016) for a chance to win a $25 Medo’s II gift certificate. Winner will be announced on Facebook (Showcase Magazine) on May 1, 2016.

WORTHDE SEARC H THEM E& $25 M gift ce edo’s II rtifica te

RATING: EASY

ARMS BLURRED DIABETES DIZZINESS

FACE

ISCHEMIC

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36 SHOWCASE Magazine

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SLUR SPEECH TIME VISION

ANSWERS ON PAGE 39

by Paulette Dean Executive Director Danville Humane Society

In May, we celebrate Mother’s Day. The very word “mother” brings to mind safety, warmth, care, and love. There are bad mothers, to be sure, but the vast majority offer unconditional love. In fact, all nature values mothers. There is a reason our planet is called Mother Earth.

This little cutie is abour four months old. She is as sweet as she is cute.

At the shelter, we dread the times when obviously nursing dogs and cats are brought in as strays without their babies. If we know where the animal came from, we go and attempt to find the babies. Many times, we have put a mother dog on a leash, and she has led us to her puppies so we can rescue them.

Puppies and kittens adjust easily and quickly to shelter life if they come in with their mother. As long as they have her, all is right with their world.

People know to exercise caution approaching a mother animal that has her babies with her. Even some very trusting dogs and cats become nervous when a human picks up their young.

In the wild, most fights with a female are caused by a protective mother. Wild animal poachers and collectors know that in order to capture a baby or a young animal, the mother first has to be killed.

There are many documented stories about the care animal mothers give. In 1988, several female elephants brought one of their babies to a park ranger’s office for help. When the baby was hurt, they walked two miles to the ranger’s office, where the baby would be safe from other animals.

Cows are very maternal. One witness saw a newborn calf sliding down a slope. Six cows answered the mother’s cry for help and stood in line to keep the calf from sliding. They even stayed to lick the calf clean.

Mother chickens can recognize their chicks’ peeps, and sheep and goat mothers make sure their offspring play with others in their own age group.

Even some species of insects are raised by their mothers!

How grateful the earth and its creatures should be for the institution of motherhood. I know I am grateful for my mother. SM DANVILLE HUMANE SOCIETY www.showcasemagazine.com

| MAY 2016 | SHOWCASE Magazine 37

Stranger Than Fiction: Great Art Heists in History Discover what Japanese gangsters, bear spray and daring boat getaways have in common with noteworthy art thefts. In this lecture by Anne Kenny-Urban, executive director of Agecroft Hall in Richmond, you will travel the globe learning why museums from Amsterdam to Zimbabwe have been targets for thieves and what tools they used to elude detection. $15.

6:30PM. Piedmont Arts. 276.632.3221.

Family STEM Night - STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math but you don’t need to be an expert to join the fun! Enjoy crafts, educational activities, meet real scientists, play video games and much more. 5-8PM. IALR. 434.7666745.

Throw Paint at Cancer – Throw Paint at Cancer is a free, exciting peer to peer support program for cancer patients and survivors to express themselves through art. The series consists of continuing eight week sessions. The next session begins on Thursday, May 5, from 4-6 p.m.

Pansy Aherron at the Danville Museum of Fine Arts with her & History Swanson Studio. Space painting from is limited and there will not be a the current summer session, so don’t wait session.

Register today!

Conversations with Health Researchers – Did you know that genes can contribute to the development of habitual smoking? Find out more. Join us for the next free program in our series, Conversations with Health Researchers, Nicotine Receptor Genes and Nicotine Dependence Risk, presented by Nancy Saccone, PhD, Washington University, Saint Louis. Wednesday, May 11, from 12–1 pm, at the Cancer Research and Resource Center. Feel free to bring lunch and a friend.

For more information, contact the Cancer Research and Resource Center of Southern Virginia, 434.421.3060, or email cllitzenberg@vcu.edu.

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| MAY 2016 | www.showcasemagazine.com

Heritage Festival Antique Machinery Festival to include Second Annual Historic Racing Celebration.

Adm. $5. Halifax.

Free Comic Book Day at the Library - Celebrate comics at the library - stop by to pick up your free comic book. 9Am-1PM. Danville Public Library.

Derby Day - Exciting lawn and racing games, costume and hat contests, auction with fabulous items, live music, special party limo available, beverages and food highlighted by the broadcast of the Kentucky Derby Run for the Roses. Ticket price $35 per person in advance, $50 at the gate. On sale at the Museum or from any board member or purchase on line at www.eventbrite.com type in Derby Day Danville, VA. 4-7PM. Danville Museum. 434.793.5644.

The Crooked Road Tour - The Crooked Road on Tour celebrates the traditional music that has been kept by families and communities since colonial times in Southwest Virginia. The heart and soul of The Crooked Road are the everyday folk who keep this music in their homes, country stores, in churches, and in weekly jam sessions.7:30PM. The Prizery. 434.572.8339.

Ballou Park.

Danville Festival in the Park - www.danville festivalinthepark.com.

MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championships - VIR is honored to be one of only nine venues across the United States to host a 2016 MotoAmerica Road Racing weekend. The three-day event includes Superbike/Superstock 1000, Supersport and Superstock 600 races.

This new motorcycle road racing series is reinvigorating the exhilarating motorsport in North America while grooming a new generation of racers for the world stage. 8AM-6PM. VIR. 434.822.7700 ext. 116. Workforce Development Center. 434.929.8466.

Color Me Danville - This year’s event will include two options for a 5K and a 1-mile fun run/ walk. This run is less about speed and more about the color experience. The only requirement for this race is to wear white. Once the

race is completed make sure you stick around for live entertainment for the remainder of the evening.

Food and beverage will be available for purchase. FEE: $20. 5-7PM. 434.799.5150.

Southeastern Association of Vertebrate Paleontology - 9th Annual SEAVP Conference. VMNH. www.seavp.com Music on Main - Les Moore Trio, Jazz and Blues. 6:308:30PM. Main Street Plaza.

NASA Mid-Atlantic Hyperfest & Tire Track Ultimate Car Challenge - The event features road racing, drifting demos and competitions, car shows, hyper-drives, ride-alongs, live music, games and contests and much more. You don’t want to miss HyperFest’s USDrift PRO/ AM competition – it’s currently the longest, continually running drifting competition in North America. 8AM6PM. VIR. 434.822.770 ext. 116.

&

Library Exhibit: History of Negro Leagues Baseball Era and Players - This exhibition features an assortment of memorabilia highlighting the history of Negro Leagues baseball. The collection includes team jerseys, baseball mitts, trading cards, autographs, photos, figurines, and many other collectibles and artifacts. All ages. 10AM-1PM. Danville Public Library Canvas & Cabaret - Social painting class. 6:60-9PM. 975 Main Street. 434.793.5644.

Historic Sportscar Racing - HSR was formed in the mid’70s with an event at Road Atlanta.

There was one goal then and it remains true today: to celebrate the race cars from our past. As a “time machine” of sights and sounds, HSR provides a venue for competitors and spectators alike to share in the wonderful history and excitement created by the cars that competed at race tracks around the world. It is the goal of HSR to organize and promote competitive races, featuring historic sports cars.8AM-6PM. VIR. 434.822.770 ext. 116.

&

Right Home. Right Mortgage. Forever First.

速

John Craddock 434.793.2054 (O) 130 Collins Drive | Danville, VA 24540 John.Craddock@firstcitizens.com Normal credit approval applies. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.

NMLS# 609785

Continued from Page 36

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| MAY 2016 | SHOWCASE Magazine 39

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Not So Common – Common Sense!

A Perspective on Public Schools – What can we learn about student performance in career and technical education programs that may help improve negative perceptions about our most important citizens – our students?

by Stan Jones, Superintendent of Danville Public Schools has met the requirements for a Career and Technical concentration As I continue to move forward in my not so new role as or specialization and all requirements for high school graduation or superintendent, I have learned that I can’t take things personally. an approved alternative education program. The competency rate of In that spirit, it is useful to set the record straight about student students in Danville Public Schools who passed a credentialing test for performance in our career and technical education programs or 2014 – 2015 is 99.34% (150 0f 151 students).

CTE. These courses were commonly referred to as “shop” classes or vocational education during my schooling.

In summary, many of our students who are enrolled in our CTE program perform or outperform their peers enrolled in more Today these courses comprise our Career and Technical Education traditional college preparatory courses. Given this fact, there should course offerings. Current programs offered through Danville Public be no doubt that the students in Danville are as qualified if not more Schools are aligned with Virginia’s 16 Career Clusters including: than qualified than their peers to seek post high school career and or Arts, A/V Technology and Communication; Business Management college opportunities. Despite much of the rhetoric in this season of and Administration; Education and Training; Health Sciences; Science elections, the facts about our students speak volumes. Our students Technology, Engineering and Mathematics; and, Transportation, are finding success despite negative perceptions, expectations and Distribution and Logistics. Emerging courses include: Introduction to criticism. The next time something needs repair, it may well be a Health and Medical Science/Medical Terminology (Grades 10 – 12); George Washington High School student who will repair it, replace it Career Exploration Phase II (Grades 9 – 12); Culinary Arts (2 Year or perhaps own the company.

Program – Grades 11 and 12); Welding (2 – 3 Year Program – Grades 10 12); Computer Science Middle School 2 Year Program (Project Lead the Way); and Precision Machining (pending). Precision Machining is merely one proposed program offering among others that is designed to support and leverage existing programs and emerging technologies in partnership with the workforce needs identified by the City of Danville Department of Economic Development, Danville Community College, the Danville Pittsylvania Chamber of Commerce, the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, the Southern Virginia Manufacturing Partnership of the Dan River Collaborative and other agencies, businesses and firms.

A STRONG EDUCATION BUILDS A STRONGER COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

All students who completed an approved CTE Program through Danville Public Schools, and were enrolled in an academic course for which a Standards of Learning (SOL) end-of-course test was required, obtained a 98.68% pass rate on the English Reading and a 98.03% pass rate in end-of-course mathematics. Special education students enrolled in an approved CTE Program and enrolled in an academic course for which a Standards of Learning (SOL) end-of-course test was required obtained a 98.26% pass rate on the English Reading and 97.39% pass rate in end-of-course mathematics.

The graduation rate for students who completed CTE Programs while graduating from high school during the 2014 – 2015 school year was 96.82%. Among students who completed a career and technical education credential and who also earned an Advanced Studies Diploma, International Baccalaureate Diploma or Standard Diploma, the graduation rate was 89%.

Technical skill attainment among Danville Public Schools consist of five performance measures: the percentage of completers that attain 80% of the essential competencies on the state provided, industry-validated competency; completers participating in one or more Board approved credentialing tests; completers passing credentialing tests; and the completers who earned an Advanced Studies Diploma and did not pass a credentialing test. A CTE Program completer is a student who

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

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| MAY 2016 | SHOWCASE Magazine 41

TIDBITS FROM THE MAY 2016 ISSUE

A 2002 census study revealed there were over 400 ice production companies that generated almost $600 million annually.

There are sixteen types of ice known to science.

Ice IV is what you find in the freezer.

Manual push mowing can burn up to 500 calories per hour.

Living Legends

In Southern Virginia

Is the tIme RIght?

See page 24

Ice floats in water because it is less dense than water.

2016

Real Estate DIRectoRy

Robert Frost won four Pulitzer Prizes, and in 1960 he was awarded the United States Congressional Gold Medal.

Steve Sasson, an engineer at Eastman Kodak, created the first digital camera in 1975. The camera carried the hefty weight of 8 pounds and recorded black and white photos. It took 23 seconds to create the first photo.

42 SHOWCASE Magazine

Plants improve air quality.

Stories from the Racing Career of Brice “Spider” Stultz See page 10

When invaded by insects, trees release chemicals. These chemicals warn neighboring trees of the invaders as well as lessen the nutritional value of leaves for the insects. Photo by Forest Dalton.

According to a National Association of REALTORS survey, three out of four homeowners claim their home as their biggest source of wealth.

In many cases, the seller may pay the commission for the buyer’s real estate agent.

A rare 1923 Leica camera sold for $2.8 million at auction in Vienna, making it the most expensive camera ever sold.

| MAY 2016 | www.showcasemagazine.com

The assessed value of a home determines property taxes.

Stop wondering, “What if...?”

How many times have we all done it?

Stood in front of the mirror and said, “I wonder what it would look like if I could erase these crows feet.” Or, “If I could just smooth out this extra padding around my tummy, I would feel more comfortable and confident in my skin.” Stop wondering, “What if?” and explore the possibilities.

At the Centra Medical Group Plastic Surgery Center, you can take advantage of the latest cosmetic procedures. From Botox® and tummy tucks, to lifts and breast augmentation, we’ve got you covered. Our team of board-certified plastic surgeons has more than 50 years of experience in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery.

Schedule your private consultation with one of Lynchburg’s only board-certified plastic surgeons,

434.200.4246

Every woman has a unique self-image and sense of beauty. During your private consultation, your surgeon will discuss options to help achieve your personal goals.

CentraMedicalGroup.com/PlasticSurgery | 1330 Oak Lane, Suite 100 | Lynchburg