Smith Mountain Laker - May/June 2023

Tomato TIME

HOW TO GROW HEAVEN-SENT HEIRLOOMS P. 17

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Editor

Creative Designer

TAD DICKENS

SHAWN GARRETT

Ken Britske, Jason Dunovant, Vicki Gardner, Tica Simpson

Jason Dunovant, Dennis Johnson, Scott P. Yates

Marketing Consultant

May/June, 2023 A mith Mountain ket since 1987, and ated. O ents’ of the loc ket navigate the of selling finding proper dr wledg needs ed b whose is

EDITORIAL AD v ERTISING SOLD Tomato TIME

540-981-3262, office 540-797-4444, mobile barry.wright@roanoke.com

Laker Magazine welcomes story ideas, photos for our Travelers and Lake Views sections, calendar items and creative works (essays, poems, paintings and photography) by local artists. For time-sensitive content, including calendar items or local events coverage, the deadline is the first of the month preceding the desired issue. (Example: June 1 for the July/August issue.)

Submissions must include your name and telephone number. Contact tad.dickens@roanoke.com for more information.

Free copies of Laker Magazine are available at dozens of locations around the lake region, including Kroger, Food Lion and the SML Visitor Center at Bridgewater Plaza.

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©2023 The Roanoke Times. Smith Mountain Laker Magazine is a community publication solely owned by The Roanoke Times. It is published for the residents of Smith Mountain Lake and is subject to The Roanoke Times’ editorial policies. The views and opinions are those of the authors. The opinions expressed, unless otherwise noted, should not be construed to be those of The Roanoke Times or its affiliates. Lists are for reference only and do not necessarily imply approbation. Paid advertising does not represent an endorsement by this publication. Content cannot be reproduced without written consent from The Roanoke Times. All rights reserved. Real estate advertised in this publication is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968.

Gobbling Up Some Fun

the winter and early spring months must be hungry times for smith mountain l ake’s carp.

the poor devils are reduced to a lot of bottom feeding, minus the warm-weather crowds that gather at lake marinas — popcorn bags in hand or peanut butter on toes (what!???!) — to feed the once-invasive species that long ago made america a home.

maybe it’s silly to wonder about a school’s ability to differentiate the seasons and know when to float up from the depths in hopes of some fresh kernels. it’s no sillier than coating a toe with peanut butter and dipping it in for a carpy snack. that method is one we dive into in this edition of Laker Magazine. reporter Jason dunovant headed to a couple of spots that are famous for scaled-beast feasts, and he returned with some history and fun about it all.

there are plenty of spots for cheap eats. we visited a few, including the dock at sml (in the photo here), where you can boat in for snacks and toss some popcorn to the carp. burgers, hot dogs, pizza, biscuits, bagels, dessert and more can be had from folks waiting to serve you from multiple locations. you’re likely to meet quite a few locals at these shops, as well.

maybe you’re the type of local who likes to grow your own food. we’ve got a breakdown of many heirloom tomato varieties, courtesy of gardening columnist tim durham. he extolls Cherokee purples, brandywines, mortgage lifters, san marzanos and hillbillies, among others that don’t look as perfect as store bought but taste a sight better — and he details what can go wrong with them, as well as how to prevent or fix it.

l ots of l akers are working up appetites from spring cleaning duties. Columnist Vicki gardner lays out the stressful realities of opening up and emptying out her family’s garage. essayist Ken britske, meanwhile, elaborates on the possibilities of converting what seems like junk into useful new stuff, as he learned from his father, and his father’s father.

elsewhere, essayist tica simpson and dock tale hour columnist Kimberly dalferes wax about the seasons — dalferes with thoughts on the best of summer fun and simpson on the joys of each season at the lake.

we welcome back the smith mountain arts Council and its contributions to the magazine. this time around, the council features one of its recent award-winners, painter d ennis Johnson, whose work shared here includes a rendering of King street, in Charleston, south Carolina.

Carp aren’t the only ones hungry around the lake. as tourists begin heading for Franklin, bedford and pittsylvania counties this spring and early summer, courtesy of chris baker

it’s already gotten plenty warm and muggy in deeper southern locales like Charleston. at smith mountain lake, it’s just heating up. get ready to jump in.

tAD D ick EN s Editor

In this issue we dip our toes into the history of carp feeding at the lake.

Smith Mountain Lake

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I n t e r e s t e d i n m o r e i n s i d e m a r k e t i n f o r m a t i o n ? S i m p l y r e a c h o u t f o r m y p r e r e c o r d e d w e b i n a r l i n k .

P r o v e n a n d e f f e c t i v e m a r k e t i n g t i p s t h a t p u t p r o f i t i n y o u r p o c k e t

O p t i o n s f o r a p r i v a t e a n d d i s c r e e t s a l e , t h a t p r e v e n t s a d o u b l e m o v e a n d a l l o w s y o u t o m o v e w h e n y o u w a n t , o n y o u r o w n t e r m s

h a t y o u s h o u l d k n o w w h e n i n v e s t i n g i n p r o p e r t y a t

m i t h M o u n t a i n L a k e

i v e o f t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t q u e s t i o n s t o a s k e v e r y a g e n t y o u i n t e r v i e w t o r e p r e s e n t y o u

7,000 miles away

Travelers

Antarctica

 dON AN d J AN W I lT from moneta went on an 11-day expedition to mainland antarctica, completing don’s seven continent travels and crossing off one of the couple’s many bucket list items. “antarctica is indescribable with its beauty, vastness, and wildlife. we saw an extraordinary amount of wildlife — humpback whales, killer whales, minke whales, leopard and weddell seals, chinstrap and gentoo penguins. we also were able to kayak and paddleboard while there — which we learned at the lake. [each was] an incredible and peaceful experience.”

Chile

 K AT hy AN d J O h N C O ul A h AN of h uddleston cruised down the coast of c hile, around c ape h orn, and to Buenos Aires, Argentina. h ere, they’re anchored at Ushuaia, Argentina, dubbed “ t he End of the World” because it’s considered the southernmost city on the planet.

Since 1979 I have sold properties across the Smith Mountain Lake region and the entire Roanoke Valley. Put my 44 years of sales experience to work for you. We will work tirelessly to get your property sold or find you a perfect spot at the most beautiful lake on the east coast.

Travelers

Hawaii

 Sh ERI dAN B ROWN AN d J O h N C RAW f OR d took the l aker with them as they cruised the islands of the Aloha s tate.

Ecuador

 T OM AN d G WEN hAR d from Moneta recently spent 2 weeks in Ecuador. During their first days there, they explored the Amazon rain forest and visited Quito, which lies directly on the Equator. Afterward they embarked on a cruise through the Galapagos, where they visited eight different islands and were continually awed by the abundance of unique wildlife.

Dominican Republic

 B I ll AN d C IN dy R EGAN of Goodview, posing with the l aker, and their families travelled from the four corners of the country to celebrate their twin brothers’ (Ron and Bob Morella) 70th birthday in Punta c ana, Dominican Republic.

New Zealand

 J ACK Ph I ll IPS AN d K AREN dE B OR d traveled last winter to all parts of Australia and New Zealand, then rounded out the trip with a visit to the h awaiian islands. h ere they are in Milford s ound, New Zealand.

Bahamas

 J O A NN AN d WA lT dROGE pose with the l aker at h alf Moon Bay, Bahamas.

HAWAII

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

NEW ZEALAND BAHAMAS

ECUADOR

Shorelines

Slice Into Summer

For many, heirloom tomatoes are synonymous with summertime. We slice into this vaunted fruit to get you ready for planting (and snacking) season.

by guest columnist ti M DUR h AM

tis the season: planting season. one of my fondest childhood memories was picking tomatoes on the family farm. but these weren’t just any tomatoes, they were the crème de la crème — the much vaunted heirlooms.

Vaunted for select reasons, willfully scorned for others. admittedly, i’m not a connoisseur — sans tomato is my common request when ordering a hamburger. but i enjoy the art and science of cultivation. beyond that, heirlooms provoke existential questions about the trajectory of agriculture. in the face of countless advancements, they seem like a step back. they’re unsightly, and a total pushover to pests and diseases. don’t even think about shipping: they practically liquefy if you glance at them the wrong way. 

by (almost) every possible yardstick, heirlooms are inferior to the almighty hybrid. bred for uncompromising uniformity and shelf life; hybrids are what you find in the grocery aisle: dependable, low maintenance, earlier maturing and higher yielding, with innate pest/ disease resistance.

while hybrids are elegant, heirlooms are a battered, bruised, and miserly looking mess. but looks can be deceiving: they’re a perfect ten in the taste department (hybrids are middling at best, cardboard-esque at worst). and those less than glamorous looks can be endearing to the right audience.

but what are heirlooms? the common threads are heritage and historicity — selected for specific traits, preserved, and propagated for generations. generally, any timeframe pre-world war ii

is “authentic,” coinciding with the preindustrialization of ag. these cultural hand-me-downs are often linked to certain geographic regions.

t he alternatives, of course, are hybrids. they’re the result of painstaking pollination by human hands; selective breeding, carefully controlled to dictate the outcome and, one hopes, getting the best attributes of both parents with no undesirable elements.

Conversely, heirlooms may exhibit some variability (even on the same plant), but they’re generally stable and always open pollinated. no human intervention necessary — let insects or wind do the legwork for fruitset.

by definition, they also come true from seed. what does this mean? one can collect seed and expect all offspring to resemble the parents. hybrids offer no such assurances, a punnett square from intro biology class will quickly reveal their folly (only 50% of seeds will resemble the parents once germinated, the other 50% will look like either of the grandparents).

indeed, it’s a numbers game. as gen “h”ers, heirlooms gleefully upend the agricultural calculus. if you’re debating dabbling with these varieties, a brief guide follows.

Varietal Selection

heirlooms come in a wide variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. they can be small and round, large and beefy, or oblong and ribbed — but never uninspired. some the most popular varieties include …

• Cherokee Purple: a large, meaty tomato with a deep purple color and sweet, smoky, earthy flavor. it’s an excellent option as a slicer or for saucemaking.

• Brandywine: one of the oldest and most revered, with large pink fruit and a sweet, rich, tangy flavor. it’s ideal for salads and sandwiches.

• Green Zebra: a small, striped tomato with a tangy, citrusy and melon-

like flavor. it’s well-suited for salsa and salads.

• Black Krim: a medium-sized tomato with a dark red-purple color and a rich, smoky flavor. best for sandwiches and salads.

• Amish Paste: this is a large, meaty tomato with a bright red color and a sweet, tangy flavor. it’s an excellent choice for sauce-making and canning.

• San Marzano: a meaty, oblong tomato with a rich, savory flavor. best for sauce-making.

• Mortgage l ifter: appropriately named, this west Virginia introduction is a large, pink tomato with a meaty texture and sweet flavor. ideal for sandwiches and use in salads, salsa and sauces.

• yellow Pear: a small, yellow tomato with a mild, sweet flavor. perfect for tomato paste, juice, preserves and yellow ketchup.

• German Johnson: a large, pinkish-red fruit and sweet, juicy flavor. best for use as slicers, snacking or juicing.

• h illbilly: a large, yellow and red striped fruit with a sweet, tangy flavor. best for sandwiches.

• Jaune f lamme: o riginating in France, it's known for its small orange fruit and sweet, fruity flavor. ideal for snacking or in salads.

• Kellogg's Breakfast: Known for its large, bright orange fruit and sweet, juicy flavor. optimal for slicing, sauces and stews.

Planting

heirlooms thrive in warm climates, so be sure to plant after the threat of frost has passed (around mid-to-late april for the lake area). Choose a sunny location with a well-drained soil. a number of resources on plot preparation, fertilization, and watering are available online. in general, mix in compost or other organic matter to provide nutrients. For transplants, dig a hole deep enough to accommodate the plant's root ball. situate the ball and gently backfill, being

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mindful to not bury the stem. water the plant thoroughly. it's critical to support plants as they grow. heirlooms can become quite unwieldy (especially if indeterminate), so provide a sturdy stake or trellis to prevent toppling over.

Diseases and Disorders

like all plants, heirlooms are (especially) susceptible to a variety of diseases. recall that diseases are caused by biotic (living) factors (pathogens). disorders are abiotic (nonliving) factors attributed to environmental and/or nutritional conditions. Common diseases/disorders include:

• Early blight, fusarium wilt, and verticillium wilt: Fungal diseases (verticillium is soilborne) that cause leaf yellowing and wilting.

• Blight: a fungal disease that causes dark, water-soaked lesions on the leaves and stems.

d isease prevention entails good garden hygiene. avoid overcrowding and prune away diseased or damaged foliage. you can also prevent disease by practicing crop rotation – avoid planting tomatoes (or anything in the solanaceae – nightshade family) in the same plot in consecutive years.

• Blossom end rot: a physiological disorder caused by a calcium deficiency in the developing fruit. it appears as a dark, sunken spot on the "blossom end"

of the fruit.

• Cracking: occurs when the tomato flesh outgrows its comparatively inelastic skin, causing a split. Cracking is caused by fluctuations in moisture (uneven watering) and temperature.

• Catfacing: occurs when the blossom end fails to develop properly. the fruit appears misshapen and may have deep scars.

• Blotchy ripening: this disorder causes uneven ripening of the tomato fruit, with some areas remaining green or pale while other areas ripen normally.

• l eaf roll: this disorder causes the tomato plant's leaves to roll inward, giving the plant a twisted appearance. it's often caused by environmental stress, such as hot and dry weather.

management of disorders is often attributed to poor gardening practices, though many varieties are genetically predisposed.

Pest Considerations

similar to pathogens, heirlooms are also vulnerable to an array of pests. the typical rogue’s gallery includes:

• Aphids: small, soft-bodied insects that feed on plant sap. t hey stunt growth, cause leaf yellowing and leave sticky, residual honeydew on the plant.

• Whiteflies: m inute, winged insects. they also feed on plant sap and cause leaf yellowing, stunted growth, and honeydew. whiteflies are also notorious for vectoring plant viruses, which can cause irreparable injury.

• Spider mites: tiny, spider-like insects that feed on the underside of leaves. they can cause leaf yellowing and stunted growth. their calling card is the presence of webbing.

• Tomato fruitworms: l arvae (caterpillars) of a moth species. stout insects, they feed on the fruit, causing damage to the skin and flesh. infested fruit may have entry holes or be completely hollowed out.

by staying vigilant, you can ensure a healthy and productive crop. prevention is the preferred approach. similar to disease management, this can be

achieved through appropriate cultural practices, such as debris removal, crop rotation and proper plant spacing. be sure to choose healthy plants when purchasing seedlings or starting plants from seed. Keep your plants well-watered and properly fertilized. stressed plants literally broadcast chemical distress signals in the air (volatiles), which pests are attuned to.

a lso consider biocontrol. m any pests have natural predators that can be used to manage their populations. For example, ladybugs and lacewings are natural aphid predators, while parasitic wasps are natural predators of tomato fruitworms. by nurturing these agents in your garden, you can largely manage pests without additional measures. biocontrol agents can also be purchased (augmentation) through a variety of biocontrol companies.

additionally, there are multiple ecofriendly chemical options at your disposal. For example, insecticidal soap and neem oil are effective treatments for aphids and whiteflies, while spinosad and bt (bacillus thuringiensis) are geared towards tomato fruitworms. these products are safe and effective. if pest populations become problematic, other “non-organic” products may be warranted. be sure to follow all label instructions carefully.

Enjoy!

t he enigmatic, quirky, and humble heirloom — an eclectic mix of sensoryprovoking enlightenment — coveted by chefs and taste buds alike. a n ode to nostalgia, heirlooms are the ultimate nod to self-sufficiency, and offer a savory window into the past. or maybe they’re an act of defiance against hybrid hegemony. whatever your motivation, these delightful curiosities aren’t fading into obscurity any time soon.

bon appétit.

Tim d urham is associate professor of crop science at Ferrum c ollege.

Tomato blight is a common affliction that can be avoided with good garden hygiene.

PENHOOK

Feeding Frenzy

For decades, feeding popcorn to s mith Mountain l ake’s hungry carp has been a staple of simple summertime fun

by JA so N DUN oVAN t

smith mountain laKe has a seemingly endless amount of activities and entertainment opportunities for its many summer visitors and its growing number of full-time residents. avenues for enjoyment may be vast, but few are as unique and longstanding as feeding the fish.

Fish-feeding is a tradition that is nearly as old as the lake itself. it originated at smith mountain d ock and

lodge in penhook, one of the lake’s oldest marinas. it recently came under new ownership and is now known as the dock at sml.

the name may have changed, but the traditions have remained the same at the marina. Chris baker, the marina’s manager, said people still flock there during the summer to feed the fish.

the schools, mostly carp, begin to gather at the marina about april and may after spending the colder months in warmer water away from the shore. baker said most days during the sum-

mer, visitors can see hundreds swimming around the marina waiting for a meal.

“it’s been so thick in here that you could almost walk across them,” baker said.

despite the vast amounts, baker said he has come to even recognize a few of the fish that can be seen year after year. one blue tinted carp is named blue and there is another regular visitor with a gash on its eye he has named popeye.

“ t hey have become like our kids,” baker said of the many carp at the marina.

Carp are not a unique species at smith mountain lake. according to dan wilson, biologist for the department of wildlife resources, the fish are in most of Virginia’s waters. originally from asia, they were introduced to america by way of europe in the late 1800s, he said.

“when the lake was filled up, the carp were originally in the river system,” wilson said.

Carp was considered as a new food source when it was first introduced, but that idea has died out over the past century. wilson said they can be palatable if prepared correctly, but they have a tendency to be high in contaminants, which is likely due to not being particularly picky about what they eat.

unlike other fish, the carp enjoy handouts and wait at docks ready to feast on whatever is thrown their way. wilson said the fish are not built to be good predators and can’t catch anything active. in areas where they are not given a supply of food, wilson said they traditionally suck up items from lake bottoms or riverbeds.

wilson said the carp usually live between 10 and 20 years. around the marinas, they usually grow to about 10 pounds. they can grow as large as 50 pounds in other areas, but wilson said their junk food diet keeps them fairly small.

nearly everyone who visits the dock at sml, even if they are just there for gas or to pick up a snack at the grill, takes a moment to feed the carp. baker said the business fills a 50-gallon drum with freshly popped popcorn at least twice a day during the summer for visitors. the popcorn is left plain without salt or butter, since its primary use is fish food.

Carp can also be found munching on popcorn thrown from visitors at bridgewater marina. it may not have the same long history as it does at the dock at sml, but it too is a decades-long

tradition.

ryan waters, bridgewater marina partner, recalls people feeding the carp as far back as the ’80s, when he worked summers at the marina. back then bags of popcorn were a dollar, something he hasn’t changed since he began overseeing the marina.

more than 30,000 bags are sold at the marina each year, according to waters. he said the staff makes popcorn from opening to closing during the summer, to meet demand.

“after memorial day, it runs from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.,” waters said of the popcorn machine.

during some of the busiest times, waters said they have to leave a box for people to pay for the popcorn instead of paying at the register, to keep things moving. on those busy days they can sell as many as 1,000 bags.

the popularity of purchasing popcorn has grown since 2017, when waters announced he would give 100% of the sales to make-a-wish greater Virginia. waters said the nonprofit helped his family and he decided to give back with the fundraiser.

“ we sell even more popcorn now

because we donate everything to makea-wish,” waters said.

since then, the fundraiser has donated more than $100,000 to the charity.

the dock at sml has another popular feeding tradition that isn’t for the faint of heart. some visitors put peanut butter on their toes and drop their feet into the water. the fish will latch onto toes, pulling at them with their soft lips to eat the peanut butter.

baker said it is a unique feeling, which he often does a few times every summer for visitors who have heard of the tradition.

like the popcorn toss, peanut butter toes is another generations-long family tradition, baker said. it has also become something of a dare. Friends will challenge each other to do it, and baker has witnessed grown men shout and squirm their first time taking the dare.

“nothing prepares them for how it feels,” he said.

the marina sells 15 cases of Jif peanut butter every summer. each cases contains 200 cups with 1½ ounces of peanut butter. Feeding these fish is a tradition that baker wants to continue for many years to come. he said the lake is theirs; he just visits it.

waters agrees. he said he wants people to continue enjoying one of smith mountain lakes longest traditions.

“as long as the carp are game, so are we,” he said.

Hundreds of carp come to the shoreline as the weather warms up in April and May looking for a meal. Two popular feeding spots are The Dock in Penhook and Bridgewater Marina.

by VICKI GARDNER

spring is in the air, the merC ury is rising and flowers are in bloom. d o you know what that means?

take a guess. it’s out there, full to the brim with treasured assets. approaching its gaping mouth, my heart beats to the theme of “Jaws.” over the winter, an assemblage of random tools, boots, half-full paint cans, a generator and eight empty gas cans sat there. household items have been all but drop-kicked, randomly, into its bowels.

don’t forget about the dubious stuff from yard sales, salvaged for wondrous future deeds. once home from the “hunt,” such plans meet delays. whatever they are … they are still waiting. bundles of old t-shirts, a bowling ball, the lawn mower, old light fixtures, a sled not used for 30 years but kept anyway. special personal items are relegated to a protected spot where the light fixture is broken. we simply crack the door open and toss items inside before making a quick getaway as the avalanche begins.

not that i am superstitious, but family lore promises that if i look into this dark holding tank before april 30, i will turn to stone. if you haven’t already guessed what my nemesis is, it’s the garage!

t he weekend chosen for our garage ‘messectomy’ is all but guaranteed to be picture perfect, unlike those chosen for family events and outings. also to be expected is the nosy neighbor dropping by to comment on our lack of discipline. i secretly hope the swarms of wood-boring carpenter bees will descend on him like a locust plague. our nowgrown kids prepare appropriate music for the tasks at hand. it’s uncanny how they would even find the music from ‘the twilight Zone.’

the Captain, aka Cappy, with a mighty heave, pulls muscles in his neck as he rolls the garage door open. everyone gasps, with hands held over their mouths. our family, male and female alike, are all drama queens. as he slowly straightens up with his head, which was sideways from the strain, i know that it is going to be a long and ungratifying weekend. we speak aloud such thoughts as accidentally burning everything in there, but we don’t actually

know which items are ours or the neighbors.

this leads to the question: where does it all come from? in my arm-waving, frenzied garage discussions with Cappy, i ask, “ why do we store and protect saws with rust holes eaten through them?

“because.” he replies.

“ what about your 10-foot ladder with only three safe steps, wheelbarrow without a wheel, or the rake with no handle?”

“i’m going to fix them … someday.”

in our home, procrastination is often the rallying cry to save junk from the dumpster. now i don’t know about other families, but for us, the annual garage clean-out is a team effort. Cappy and i pull everything out on the driveway for sorting and organizing. we toss the ruins into a box before taking a lunch break. refreshed and rested, Cappy heads directly to our ‘go to the dump’ box to salvage a couple of items. i’m too tired to argue. we sweep the floor and put everything back so orderly that it will take a year to find anything again.

t he trash box goes right on the front seat of Cappy’s truck and he’s off to the dump. we nod our heads and smile over a job well done before rolling that big door shut. like clockwork, Cappy exclaims, “now, let’s not eVer let the garage get in that condition again.” i simply roll my eyes, put the back of my hand to my forehead and sigh, “ tomorrow is another day.”

Bundles of old T-shirts, a bowling ball, the lawn mower, old light fixtures, a sled not used for 30 years but kept anyway. Special personal items are relegated to a protected spot where the light fixture is broken. We simply crack the door open and toss items inside.

Vicki Gardner has served as coo of inspecx inspection services since 2019. Previously she was executive director of the smith Mountain lake Regional chamber of commerce from 2002 to 2019 and has held several other leadership positions in the region. Vicki and her husband, tim, have been smith Mountain lake residents since 1986. she has two daughters and six grandchildren. in her personal time, Vicki enjoys boating, all water activities, writing and painting.

Living Color

Dennis Johnson’s vivid colors and sweeping strokes give a feeling of motion to his vibrant paintings

dennis Johnson, a professional lynchburg hairdresser and salon owner for 52 years, has always loved working with color and shape. he feels that his hairstyling profession and his love of making art go hand in hand.

at age 6 he began his lifelong love of creating when watching artist John gnagy on television. that Christmas Johnson was delighted when santa surprised him with a “learn to draw” set. he still has the instruction book which contains many useful reference illustrations and sketches.

he took art classes in high school and settled on acrylics for several years. as time progressed, a client suggested a class at the lynchburg Fine arts Center. there he studied with Jean morris who introduced vivid color and the importance of shapes rather than details within a painting. a few years later he signed up for watercolor classes with dick Frisbee. during his first session he said he felt like he was trying to learn a foreign language.

the following year he tried again and the lightbulb came on. several years later he returned to the comfort zone of acrylics and then enjoyed working in oils with rosalie day white. she reinforced composition, value, and color placement.

the CoVid-19 pandemic forced hair salons to close for seven weeks. during that time Johnson filled his days with online classes in collage. these studies reinforced the importance of value and shapes. painting rice paper with diluted acrylic paint brought on another lightbulb moment and the desire to return to watercolor. he signed up for a class

with purnell pettyjohn and highly recommends being part of a class.

Johnson said, “not only has purnell pushed me way beyond my comfort zone, but i also learn from and value the talents of other students in the class. we learn from each other.”

Johnson has exhibited and won awards at the lynchburg art Festival, the b ath County a rt s how and the smith mountain l ake a rt show, and was accepted into a Charleston, south Carolina guild Juried exhibition. now that he has retired from hairstyling, he enjoys more time with his wife sallie, who is his best critic, and more family time with his children and grandchildren. he spends hours each day in his home studio experimenting with new colors and techniques. he loves to put

down a very wet color, drop in another color, and watch the magic happen . he plans to continue learning and participating in more exhibitions. Johnson said it’s a wonderful and exciting journey.

DID YO u KNOW?

Arts at Smith Mountain l ake

 the s mith Mountain Arts council, which supports multiple artistic endeavors at the lake and beyond, provides content for this section. Find them online at smac-arts.com

ONLINE s ee more of Dennis Johnson’s work and contact him at denniswjohnsonart.

Clockwise from top left: “Sylvester,” “Petunia Basket,” and “King Street,” all by Lynchburg artist Dennis Johnson.

d ianna Weiner is the publicity chairperson for the s mith Mountain Arts c ouncil.

Forces of Nature

when i thin K about the forces that conspired to get me to smith mountain l ake, i am amazed at the synchronicity — and yet, why should i be? my whole life, stumbly and diagonal, has been a series of incredibly fortunate steps and missteps. and so many lake residents i’ve met have similar stories of oddly crooked paths that led them to this magnificent gem. it’s like finding brigadoon!

a friend of mine was presenting at a conference. she lived in massachusetts, i in new Jersey, and the conference was in philadelphia. perfect! it was also a conference about girls’ schools, and i taught at a girls’ school, so this was considered professional development. doubly perfect! so off i go to meet my friend and find interesting seminars to while away the time, and wouldn’t you know that one of the seminars really caught my interest. the two presenters were from some boarding school that i had never heard of, and they were dynamic and spoke to exactly what i was looking for in a school. i spoke with them after their presentation, and when i got home on sunday night, i told

my husband about this great school.

“where is it?” he asked.

“in Virginia,” i answered.

“where in Virginia?”

“i dunno.”

t hat was in February of 2014. in may, i found out that this school was looking for a history teacher. i applied and went through some phone interviews, and then got in my car to drive to the school and teach a lesson.

“ w here in Virginia?” my husband asked the night before i left. it all happened so suddenly.

“Chatham,” i said, confidently.

“where’s Chatham?”

“i dunno.”

i had no idea Virginia was so wide. i passed Charlottesville and thought, “it can’t be long now.” i passed lynchburg and saw my first sign for Chatham — still more than an hour away. by the time i got to my hotel in gretna, having almost turned back several times because it all seemed too remote, i was exhausted. i slept like a lump, and the next morning was smitten as soon as i drove onto the Chatham hall campus. i loved everything about that school, and when they offered me the job, i did not hesitate. my husband, however, who had never lived outside a 50-mile radius of the Jersey shore, was not so happy.

“ whoa, hold on there, seabiscuit. we don’t know anything about this place. and we said we would only move if there were water.”

“ there’s a little pond on campus,”

i offered. “plus, they give us housing. you can stay here in new Jersey, and i’ll come up on breaks.”

but he was not happy with that idea and said don’t sign the contract until i go down and scout around. so that week, while i worked, he noodled on the computer and set up some appointments. he showed me smith mountain lake on a map and said that penhook was the closest lake place to Chatham hall, so that was where he’d go. and that is how we ended up here. i have loved it from the first moment i stepped on our veranda and saw the sunset colors above the water. i simply cannot believe my luck. and i am so grateful!

we moved during my school’s winter vacation. we were 9 hours from home that first Christmas, and it could have been a lonely time. we did miss family and the traditional Christmas eve gathering with old friends, but folks at the lake invited us to Christmas dinner and made us feel welcome with invitations for golf and drinks. it was unseasonably mild between Christmas and new year’s, and we felt giddy playing golf in just a sweater in deCember — which we never could have done up north. it was like a dream come true. little did we know how much of a dream we had stumbled into. the riches just keep on coming.

over the years, especially since my retirement in 2021, i have taken note with some awe of the seasons here at the lake. winter is sere, the brown grasses dormant and blown every which way by winds that have become much more pronounced of late. the house creaks and porch furniture rocks in these winds. i hear geese and owls at night, and the stars are brilliant in the black sky.

then we will have one of those perfect blue-sky days, not a cloud, with the sun sparkling on the water and the air chill yet so fresh you feel washed clean in it. and then all of a sudden there will be a walk where i have to take my coat off. o r a morning when the birds are singing their hearts out. it is a shot of spring. i have sat outside

of a morning

Tica Simpson is a retired history teacher and department chair, most recently at chatham hall in chatham. she lives in Penhook and loves to row on smith Mountain lake. courtesy tica simpson; heron: istock /G etty ima G es plus

After migrating to the lake from New Jersey, a l aker transplant reflects on how life moves differently here by tic A si MP so N

talking on the phone and friends have stopped me short. “a re you in a bird sanctuary?” they ask. it is pure heaven.

along about april, when the spring has arrived full force, i start noticing the herons. we live in what i call heron fly-over territory, and in the mornings they fly over our house and across the lake, returning in the late evening. they are beautiful on the wing, graceful and lithe, so i am always surprised when i hear their scary pterodactyl-like cries. there is a rookery right across the lake from us, and they set up quite a cacophony when a boat gets too close!

summers are lazy and sweet and full

of swims, boat rides, communal tie-up picnics and all you could want for your family. t hings come alive and kids spend time outside. it is a place where they can be kids, and where families can truly be families — with games and big dinners and learning to fish or sail or tie knots. to look people in the eye and have a real conversation. to be bored! there is a lot to be said for being bored and figuring out what to do about it. ask grampa to tell you a story, for instance, or read a book. or just watch the lake lap against the riprap and enjoy being instead of doing. what a gift.

Fall comes slowly here, at least it

has in our time at the lake. indian summers, playing golf in just a shirt or light sweater ‘til well into october are part of it. but the leaves turn glorious reds and oranges, and suddenly every store has pumpkin spice something — so you know it’s autumn. the afternoons grow shorter. the evenings get that chill. the smell of fires in fireplaces hangs in the air. lake houses get closed up for the season and fewer lights are on in houses as i drive or as i look out over the night, over the water. i hear the owl again, its three hoots carrying far into the cold air, and i hunker down contentedly for another winter.

Herons at the lake are elegant on the wing, but take on an almost prehistoric temperament when in their nests.

Three Dirty Words

i n an increasingly disposable culture, one family takes pride in the art of tinkering by k EN BR itsk E

those three dirty words: t hrow it out. t he days oF repairing something are long gone. that wasn’t the norm a few decades ago when an item stood a better chance of being repaired by a person, keeping it from taxing our landfills. i refer to that person as a “tinker.” this is someone who has the time, patience and some common sense, and is not afraid to tackle such a repair before disposing of the item.

when something breaks or no longer works, we say those three dirty words; throw it out! every time those words are angrily uttered, preceded by a few choice expletives, a tinker somewhere drops his hammer and screwdriver. Very rarely will you hear a tinker let those words cross their lips. they will revisit an item several times as it gets shuffled around the work shop. if it cannot be repaired or repurposed, they will reluctantly whisper the inevitable: throw it out … .

as spring cleaning begins, many tinkers are on high alert. those three dirty words echo from coast to coast. attics will be emptied, closets organized and garages cleaned out. there will soon be a gold mine for all tinkers, just sitting on the curbs for the taking. the race is on to beat the trash collectors as they haul away so many good finds. this used to be very common, but tinkers nowadays are few and far between. in a blink of an eye, these old timers will be a thing of the past.

my dad is a tinker and has been for all of his 92 years. he now swings his hammer with a little less force and turns his screw driver

with a little less torque, but always fights back against those three words. he will always try his best to repair or repurpose anything that crosses his work bench. he is a tinker, a dying breed.

my dad, ted britske, is a veteran navy man born in 1930, right at the start of the depression. Just about everything he was given was handed down, from his clothes to his toys. Clothes were stitched and patched, and toys were glued and taped. nothing was discarded. ( a nd why is it that today we pay top dollar for jeans that are already ripped!) his dad, ben, was a carpenter by trade and was quite talented. most of his hand tools were handmade and many are still in the family some 100 years later. when a saw blade became dull, it was sharpened, not discarded and replaced with new. money was in short supply, so what could be repaired was repaired, what could repurposed was repurposed. my grandfather was a tinker also.

gramps could always be found in the basement with some new repair or repurposed invention on his workbench. his “tinks” would range from birdhouses to garden statues, or carts to haul ashes to a sifting bin to sort out un-burned coal clinkers. he was quite a painter and he would bring his thoughts to life on any canvas where he could stroke his brush. his canvases could be both sides of a pull-down window shade with a lively floral pattern on one side and peaceful winter scenes on the other. another was a life-size, crosseyed santa, painted on our hunting cabin wall.

today i still consider my dad, who lives in barnegat, new Jersey, to be a tinker — although he does not tinker out of need but as a hobby. this doesn’t mean he doesn’t have one eye on the trash piles as he travels to a doctor’s appointment. he fills his winter days sitting in his recliner, sewing patches made from scrap material, table cloths and sometimes he may even buy (yes, i did say buy) fabric, but much of his material comes from the local thrift store where he volunteers. eventually, he will hand sew all the patches together to make a

Ted Britske’s workshop, where the 92-year-old turns used PVC fencing into birdhouses.

queen sized quilt. he never uses a sewing machine, just thousands and thousands of hand stitches.

his early quilts were random, with no particular pattern. as he would say “quilts were made of scraps of fabric that would ordinarily be discarded.” in the short 24 months since he lost his wife — my mom — he has made more than five queen sized quilts. Quilting is a hobby he learned from my mother, and he is doing her proud with his acquired talent. this is his way of honoring mom.

during the warmer months he can be found tinkering in his garage. he will sort through his collection of discarded items in need of repair, picked up from the roadside during trash day. he found other apparently unsellable items at the thrift store, and found use in household items that just gave up the ghost. if the item cannot be repaired, the item would be dismantled and the parts would be

sorted. nuts and bolts and any other small items would be stored in the everso-handy gerber baby food jars with a masking tape label and placed on the shelf for the next 20 years or so. i joke, but i guarantee you, if you need something, he has it and he will know where it is. his garage is like a dewey decimal system for nuts and bolts!

if dad is not fixing things, he is mass producing pVC bird houses in assembly-line fashion. i would say tinkering must be hereditary, since gramps made many birdhouses in his lifetime. i guess you can say “the apple didn’t fall far from the tree where some of gramp’s birdhouses are still hanging.” my dad has all his family and friends on a mission

to supply him with old pVC fencing and pVC post covers that would have ended up in the landfill. he shakes a little more these days, which is why i assist him in cutting the components to his dimensions. he will need all of his 10 digits come winter to continue his quilting! he will then assemble the pieces to create high-end housing for sparrows, blue birds and finches. he does not discriminate by species and the rent is always free.

each birdhouse has a perch, windows and shutters. he has many styles; some are single units, duplexes and some triplexes. all are hand painted. the pVC construction ensures these structures will house many generations of birds. there is some irony here. dad’s final resting place, when he decides to migrate north with his feathered friends, will be a special three-tiered birdhouse that he built, which will hold his ashes. dad will be buried next to our mom’s ashes at the military cemetery wrapped in a hand-made quilt they made together. this should keep the two of them warm for eternity.

i myself am a third generation tinker. i save too many things that should just be thrown out. like that 12-inch piece of wood in the garage that you think you will someday need but don’t. we have vacuums on every level of our house, plus one in the garage and even one in the boat house just for the pontoon. all came from the recycling center (fancy for dumpsters) along with lumber, molding, lawnmowers, spreaders and a host of other formerly non-functioning items. all repaired and returned to service. this is my way of reducing the amount of scrap to occupy the landfills.

i came to the realization long ago that i was put on this earth to imitate my dad. it has been a tough line to tow but i accepted the challenge. we are so much alike that it is obvious i missed the progressive insurance “how not to be your father” commercials. i have not taken up quilting or birdhouse building (yet). but, if dna has any say in it, i tink a birdhouse is in my future. thanks dad!

Ken Britske lives with his wife, kathi, at smith Mountain lake, where he spends much of his time fishing for striped bass. he shares his knowledge with new anglers of all ages and co-founded “Reel connections for kids” at sMl, a non profit that provides underserved kids with a day of fishing.

Ted Britske with a few of his birdhouses, built at his Barnegat, New Jersey, home workshop. Britske makes a point of repairing whatever can be fixed and repurposes whatever can’t.

DUCK-IN MARKET

CARL’S PLACE

WHITE HOUSE CORNER STORE

DIAMOND HILL GENERAL STORE

WESTLAKE COFFEE AND CAFE

LAKE MART & DELI

THE DOCK

EATS Cheap

at SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE

here are so many lake access points, and on your way here, you can find a lot of places to grab a quick bite and a beverage. We visited just a few of the many grub spots where you can find good food for decent prices. Along the way, we learned about how some of these longstanding joints have formed a family among employees and created bonds with their customers, whether they be local regulars or tourists who make them part of their vacation traditions. Now, let’s eat!

by tad dickens photos by scott yates

Duck-In MARKET

Address:

• 13246 Booker t. Washington h ighway, h ardy

Hours:

• 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Contact:

• 540-721-4633, bit.ly/duckinmarketfb

founded:

• 1992

Specialties/Fan Faves: • Biscuits and bagels are popular at Duck- i n, which has daily specials including meatloaf (Mondays), baked spaghetti (Wednesdays) and an everyday three-piece country fried chicken deal.

Becky Joseph has been making the biscuits, deviled eggs and other favorites there since about 1999. she started out as a cashier and is a manager nowadays, but spends many mornings in the convenience store/deli’s kitchen.

“ the previous owners, richard laprad and Kay laprad, they were like family,” said Joseph, a maryland native looking for a job in the area after her divorce. “it was kind of like a salvation thing. … they were very gracious people, very Christian people … and he was pretty much like my father.”

about five years ago, a new group that included Falu “Frankie” patel and pinkesh patel bought the business. Joseph worried at first, because change can be tumultuous.

“but they’ve turned into my new family,” she said. “me and Frankie, we were working 70 hour weeks together” as the longtime convenience store owner learned how duck-in operated. “ we just clicked. … the duck-in has been known for using the same recipes for years. nothing has changed.”

A bacon, egg and cheese bagel at Duck-In. Inset below: Deviled eggs.

Carl’s PLACE

Address:

• 15800 o ld Franklin turnpike, Penhook

Hours:

• h ours 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. (summer), 8 p.m. (winter)

Contact:

• 540-576-2838, bit.ly/carlsplacefb

founded:

• 1947

Specialties/Fan Faves:

• c arl’s Burger, Mabel’s Burger, coconut cream pies, curly fries, onion rings, dinners including fried or grilled pork tenderloin

This diner/convenience store combo started as a snack bar and grew as mabel dalton (the mabel burger’s namesake) made food for the construction workers building smith mountain dam, said her daughter, marie ogden.

dalton is 99 and still making the shop’s beloved coconut cream pies, ogden said. she, ogden and ogden’s daughter and sonin-law own the business that dalton started with her husband, Carl, in the mid-20th century.

several of the 30 employees have been there for decades and work side-by-side with multiple teenagers, who are doing the cooking these days, ogden said. “we’re family, and people come in; they all know us,” she said.

“we’re family, and people come in, they all know us,” she said.

A Carl’s burger with curly fries. Bottom: A bologna, egg and cheese sandwich with crinkle-cut fries.

White House CORNER STORE

Address:

• 11674 s mith Mountain l ake Parkway, h uddleston

Hours:

• 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Contact:

• 540-297-6857

founded:

• 1973

Specialties/Fan Faves:

• Fried chicken, biscuit with sausage gravy, burgers

Here is a stop on the way to both parkway marina and smith mountain lake state park. generations of customers and tourists alike have stopped here on their way to one of those spots or elswhere at the lake.

d eli manager briggette a shburn said those folks all deserve the same attention.

“i would say consistency in customer service and consistency in how you treat people” are keys, ashburn said. “these days, everyone’s got high prices. the difference is in how you treat people.”

from top: A homemade biscuit with sausage gravy and a side of bacon; double bacon cheese burger with thin crinkle cut fries; twopiece breast and leg of fried chicken with green beans, potato wedges and a biscuit.

Diamond Hill GENERAL STORE

Address:

• 1017 Diamond h ill Road, Moneta

Hours:

• 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday- s aturday; 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. s unday

Contact:

• 540-297-9309, diamondhillgeneralstore.net

founded:

• store established in 1857, with many different owners since

Specialties/Fan Faves:

• Diamond h ill s ub, Debo Rueben, charbroiled Pub Burger

Farmer and musician terry hannabass said he lives just around the corner from diamond hill general store.

“this is my home away from home,” he said.

he appreciates the wine selection and the good deli meat. as hannabass stood in the store during a recent visit, he exchanged pleasantries with employees and fellow customers alike.

“everybody wants a place in the neighborhood where they feel comfortable,” he said.

Deli manager Brittany Hartman makes the signature Diamond Hill Sub Sandwich with Boar’s Head meat and homemade coleslaw.

Westlake COFFEE AND CAFE

Address:

• 213 Scruggs Road, Moneta

Hours:

• 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday

Contact:

• 540-488-4223, westlakecoffeecafe@gmail.com

founded:

• 2013

Specialties/Fan Faves:

• Coffee in many varieties, smoothies, bagels, croissants, wraps, chicken salad, frozen lemonade

Renee robertson, having recently retired from the Veterans affairs medical Center, is a first-time business owner. robertson said she has enjoyed the learning curve and is thankful that the staff, including the shop manager, taylor gallegos, stayed with her. Former store owner Chris genna still grinds the coffee, robertson said.

“he’s been a great help to me,” she said. there is a kid’s menu now, but otherwise, no changes to the food and desserts selection. the vibe has changed a bit, though, with robertson adding a reading nook, where customers have contributed some of their books for a little free library-style shelf.

“i had to put my little touch on it,” robertson said.

she has a grand reopening scheduled at 10 a.m. may 13, to coincide with a larger event — next-door neighbor mama ann’s gifts & goodies is celebrating its 20th anniversary that day, with an artisan market outside the store.

Cool off with a mocha java chip frappe. Below: Owner Renee Robertson shares a laugh with a customer.

(Formerly CJ’s Coffee and Sandwich Shop)

Lake Mart AND DELI

Address:

• 4795 Scruggs Road, Moneta

Hours:

• 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Contact:

• 540-721-5565

founded:

• 1972

Specialties/Fan Faves:

• Cheeseburgers, Philly cheesesteaks, catfish and fries, club sandwiches

Kitchen manager megan widener said that what people order can change with the seasons. t he catfish is a recent addition and has become popular, but as the weather has warmed, the staff is taking more club sandwich orders.

“ we have a lot of construction workers and landscapers come in,” she said. “ when it’s hot outside, the hot food doesn’t go so well, so they order a lot of cold cuts.”

like a lot of the longstanding deli stores in the area, this one feels like family, said widener, who has been there on-and-off for 10 years.

“ we’re more like family than anything,” she said. “ we listen to music, we dance. we make the work day really fun … a lot less painless.”

The “All Day Special” cheese burger with crinkle-cut fries.

The Dock AT SMITH MOUNTAIN

Address:

• 188 Locust Lane Penhook

Hours:

LAKE

• 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (pay-at-pump gas 24/7)

Contact:

• 540-565-0222, smldock.com

founded:

• 1966

Specialties/Fan Faves:

• Made-to-order Hunt Brothers Pizza; hot dogs with house-made chili and slaw among the toppings; pulled pork sandwiches.

The d ock holds multiple distinctions on the lake. Formerly known as smith mountain dock and lodge, it is one of the oldest marinas here. it is the rare floating marina, as well — in fact, it was moved to its current location from the opposite shore many years ago, manager Chris baker said.

it's lake-famous for the carp that gather there to eat popcorn and peanut butter (see Feeding Frenzy, p. 20), but a more recent visitor became a favorite in recent summers. baker said folks first spotted a little otter through the grill's floor window, where patrons can look down into the water for fish.

baker pulled out a smartphone and showed video of the little beast twisting and turning around on a dock, baker prompting it with a treat.

"we just about had him trained," baker said.

the critter has moved on, but there is always something to see, and eat, at the dock.

Be  Water

Life Jackets are a must, especially for children

Take a b oating Safety course

 All operators of motorized personal watercraft and boats with a motor of 10 horsepower or greater must take a boating safety course if they have never done so. Virginia law requires that any person, regardless of age must comply. Educated and aware boaters are safer boaters.

 You must carry proof of course completion while operating a powered vessel.

 t here are exceptions for active-duty military, licensed boat operators and more. Find the requirements at dwr.virginia.gov/ boating/boating-safety/

find a course

 Virginia’s Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) offers a free classroom boating safety course, Boat Virginia, which is available throughout the year.

t he DWR also supports courses offered by the U. s coast Guard Auxiliary and the U. s . Power s quadrons. t here are also many online courses that meet DWR’s requirements.

For more info, visit dwr.virginia. gov/boating/education/ requirement/

What if I’m renting?

 Boat or PWc renters must still complete a safety course, usually offered by the rental business. t hey will also usually provide you the documentation you need.

Don’t Drive under the Influence

 Just like in a car, driving a boat while intoxicated is a c lass i Misdemeanor and can result in up to a $2,500 fine and/or up to 12 months in jail as well as the loss of the privilege to operate a motorboat for up to a year.

FUN, SAFE SUMMER

Maintain a Proper Lookout

 t his tip is so important that it’s stated in both the i nternational and i nland Rules of Navigation. Just as in driving, operator distraction is a major contributor to boating incidents. i f your boat has an attentive lookout, you have a chance of avoiding a collision with a boat that doesn’t. Every operator is obligated to take action to avoid a collision with another boat. s can the waterway, anticipate potential dangers, clearly indicate your intended course and stay clear of other vessels, obstacles, navigation aids, docks and swimmers. s kippers of bow-riders should make sure passengers riding forward don’t block their view ahead.

Slow Down for Emergency vessels

 Every motorboat approaching or passing within 200 feet of an emergency vessel with flashing lights must slow down to no-wake speed. Failing to slow down could result in charges.

b e Alert for Floating Debris in the Lake

 Boaters who encounter debris that could be a hazard to other boaters should tow the debris to undeveloped shoreline, secure it if possible and report the location to Appalachian Power company at smithmtn.com or 1-800956-4237. Appalachian routinely removes debris from s mith Mountain and leesville lakes from April through o ctober and as needed at other times during the year. Debris in the lake is most likely to occur after heavy rains.

understand and Maintain Your Gear

 Arrange for a vessel safety check of equipment and systems every year by a member of the U. s . Power s quadron or U. s . coast Guard Auxiliary. Your inspector will review key safe boating reminders with the skipper and crew. You can visit cgaux.org to arrange a free boat or personal watercraft inspection nearby or at your own dock.

Know the Rules of the Road

 Boats being overtaken and boats ahead crossing from the starboard quarter (right front) have the right of way. When it’s dark, foggy or raining, you should reduce your speed and use running lights. keep to the right in channels, leave plenty of space when overtaking and don’t fall in line with boats that are towing skiers or tubers.

Wear the c utoff Switch

 Boaters are required to wear an engine cutoff device when operating a recreational boat.

commonly referred to as engine cutoff switches, the devices are designed to prevent a boat-strike injury if an operator is thrown overboard while underway.

Engine cutoff devices can be found at the helm of the boat or on the tiller or body of an outboard engine and typically connect a boat’s operator to the cutoff switch with a lanyard. s ome devices rely on wireless proximity devices to shut down an engine if the operator goes overboard.

Boaters should check the U. s coast Guard website for additional information on this requirement.

Ride Responsibly

 Never allow passengers to ride on the gunwales, seat backs or outside of protective railings, including the front of a pontoon boat. A sudden turn, stop or start could cause a fall overboard. After leaving a boat launch or marina, maintain a slow, no-wake speed for a safe and legal distance. Find more info at dwr.virginia. gov/boating/boaters-guide/safe-boating/

Towing Tips

 Anyone being towed behind a boat (waterskiiers, wakesurfers, etc.) must wear a life jacket at all times and there must be at least one person besides the driver observing the towed person for safety.

c reate and Maintain Trim

 o n watercraft, such as paddleboards, canoes and kayaks, it’s important to distribute weight evenly for level floating, both fore and aft and port to starboard. t his requires proper placement of people and items aboard for optimum balance. Power boats also should be trimmed, which involves seating passengers evenly side-to-side and more forward than aft, which minimizes loss of visibility as a boat comes on plane. s trategic observer placement and use of motor trim and/ or trim tabs also helps keep the bow down when pulling skiers out of the water. Boaters should keep their craft level, and remain levelheaded, too.

Never Swim Alone

 Whether from shore, off the dock or off the boat, use the buddy system to ensure someone is paying attention to every swimmer. And designate a responsible adult to watch youth swimmers at all times. Don’t presume someone will take on that role.

b e Properly Equipped

 Whether heading out on the water for a day or for an hour, take along a fully charged phone, a phone charger, a lake map, sunscreen and sufficient hydration for everyone aboard.

Wear Life Jackets correctly ...

 t here must be one wearable life jacket for everyone on your watercraft. U. s coast Guard designates use of life jackets based on weight and chest size and sometimes age. Equipment should be sized and worn correctly with all straps connected. c hildren should have the lower crotch strap between their legs connected on their life jacket. i t is important to realize that without this strap children could slide out of their jacket. Falling from a dock or boat significantly increases the pressure and chances of the life jacket separating from a child.

... Even When Working on Docks

 During the boating season, many people find themselves around a dock. consider wearing a life jacket when loading, unloading or working on or around a boat. A fall from more than 6 feet can be lifethreatening. A fall that includes a head injury and submersion in water can be catastrophic, according to the American Red c ross. c hildren should always wear life jackets on docks and on boats.

Note: t he events listed here were scheduled when this issue went to press. h owever, it is best to confirm the date and time of these events with the specific venues before venturing out.

In May

4-5 |

Thursday-Fri.

Elderfest: Bedford county Parks and Rec presents this 42nd annual event that includes exhibits, food, door prizes, entertainment and more. o pen to 55-older. Bedford Moose lodge, U. s . 460, Bedford. thursday, 6 to 8 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free. bedfordcountyva.gov/departments/ parks-recreation/programs/specialevents

6 | Saturday

Smith Mountain Lake Triathlon: test your endurance while swimming, cycling and running through one of Virginia’s most beautiful state parks. s mith Mountain l ake state Park (starts at beach). 8:30 a.m. to noon. For price information and to register, visit kineticmultisports.com/races/ smithmountainlakesprint

Pollination Station: A Presentation by Bedford Area Master Gardeners. come learn about pollinator gardens and how to start your own. Moneta/s M l library, 13641 Moneta Road, Moneta. 11 a.m. to noon. Free. 540-425-7004, bplsonline.org

7 | Sunday

Dance Battle: the first lakewide dance competition at s mith Mountain l ake. i ndividual and group competition, multiple categories incudling freestyle, pop, salsa, jazz, hip hop, country and line dancing. Mango’s Bar & Grill, 16430 Booker t. Washington h ighway, Moneta. 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Free. thedancebattle.com

8 | Monday

SML Newcomers Meeting: ken Davis from touch of Paradise travel will provide travel tips, keys for successful trip planning, and popular trips trends. complimentary refreshments. Doors

open at 10 a.m. All are welcome trinity Ecumenical Parish, 40 l akemount Drive, Moneta. 10:30 a.m. to noon. Free. smlnewcomers@gmail.com

12 | Friday

Corey Smith with Jeb Gipson: country and folk rock singersongwriter. h arvester Performance center, Rocky Mount. 8 to 10 p.m. $32-$42. harvester-music.com

12-14 | Friday-Sun.

“ little Shop of h orrors”: Beloved musical that pits modest flower shop clerk s eymour against the ravenous overgrown plant Audrey ii continues May 19-21. little town Players, 931 Ashland Ave., Bedford. Friday, s aturday 7:30 p.m.; s unday, 2 p.m. $18 adults, $12 12 and younger. 540-5865881, littletownplayers.com

13 |

Saturday

Karlee Raye Band: come hear this popular local performer and her soulful original songs featuring country, blues and rock. concessions/bar available. A portion of ticket sales support our art

Antique Farm Days

June 14-16: f ind down-home fun at this franklin County favorite: Traditional farm equipment displays, blacksmithing, flea market and more.

programs, summer camps and youth scholarships. Bower center for the Arts, 305 N. Bridge st., Bedford. 7 to 9 p.m. $15 advance, $20 at the door. s usan Martin, s.martin@bowercenter. org, 540-586-4235, bowercenter.org

Steep Canyon Rangers: Bluegrass band. h arvester Performance center, Rocky Mount. 8 to 10 p.m. $47-$70. harvester-music.com

Mother’s d ay Pontoon Boat Tour: treat Mom to a tour of the lake near s M l state Park and learn the history of how the lake was formed. (Preregistration required, starting May 7.) s mith Mountain l ake state Park. 9:15 to 11 a.m. Daily parking fee. 540-2976066

Mother’s d ay Tea Party and Wildflower Walk: treat Mom to a relaxing afternoon of tea and treats served by Friends of s mith Mountain l ake state Park, followed by a Rangerguided walk through the Discovery center gardens. s mith Mountain l ake state Park Discovery Pavilion. Noon to 1:30 p.m. Daily parking fee. 540-2976066

the roanoke times, file

h omegrown Music Series: A community event for all ages. o pen jam 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Band plays 7 to 9 p.m. Food truck available. (No alcohol.) Rocky Mount Depot, 52 Franklin st., Rocky Mount. Free for jam; $5. 540-489-0948, depot@ rockymountva.org,

19-20 | Friday-Sat.

“The d ay is Past and Gone”: Playwright teresa h arris’s original drama, drawn from real-life experiences of the men and women who were enslaved at Poplar Forest. Q&A follows. Bring lawn chairs or blanket and a picnic. Poplar Forest. 6:30 p.m. (Rain date May 21, 6:30 p.m.) $15 adults, $10 youth, 6 and younger free. poplarforest.org

20 | Saturday

National Kids to Parks d ay: Bring the kids to the park for fun games learning about animals, tracks and a hay wagon ride. s mith Mountain l ake state Park. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Daily parking fee. 540-297-6066.

The Gibson Brothers: Bluegrass band. h arvester Performance center, Rocky Mount. 8 to 10 p.m. $32-$42. harvester-music.com

21 | Sunday

Sierra h ull: Bluegrass singersongwriter. h arvester Performance center, Rocky Mount. 8 to 10 p.m. $32-$52. harvester-music.com

29 | Monday

Memorial d ay Commemoration at the National d - d ay Memorial: Join us for our annual ceremony to pay tribute to the fallen men and women who gave their lives in service to our nation. o ur speaker will be Rear Adm. Michael J. steffen, a native of Bedford, and a 1992 graduate of Virginia tech. National D-Day Memorial. 11 a.m. to noon. Free admission to ceremony. dday.org

30 | Tuesday

Virginia Children’s Theatre on tour: “James and the Giant Peach”: the

amazing adventure of a young orphan boy on a whirlwind musical adventure to find his chosen family. Bedford central library, 321 N. Bridge st., Bedford. 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Free. 540586-8911, bplsonline.org

In June

1 | Thursday

Virginia Children’s Theatre on tour: “James and the Giant Peach”: (s ee May 30 listing for description.)

Moneta/s M l library, 13641 Moneta Road, Moneta. 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Free. 540-425-7004, bplsonline.org

2-3 | Saturday-Sun.

Joyous Junque Sale: come find some bargains at this annual fundraiser. Resurrection c atholic church, 15353 Moneta Road, Moneta. 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days. Free admission. 540-2975530, joyousjunque.org

2-3 | Saturday-Sun.

l akeside Singers Annual Show: h onkytonk and country is the theme this year. trinity Ecumenical Parish, 40 l akemount Drive, Moneta. Friday 7 to 9 p.m.; s aturday 2 to 4 p.m. Price tBA. smac-arts.com

3 | Saturday

Paul Reisler & 3 Good Reasons: the Washington Post said of Reisler “his songs climb up the Blue Ridge and down to the bayou and back up the h imalayas.” concert also features John D’earth on trumpet and vocalist c heryl

Doc Mc c abe b luegrass Festival

June 22-24: Enjoy some of the best regional bluegrass acts at this annual summertime showcase in Bedford.

Reisler. Bower center for the Arts, 305 N. Bridge st., Bedford. 7 to 9 p.m. $15 advance, $20 at the door. s usan Martin, 540-586-4235, s.martin@ bowercenter.org , bowercenter.org

youth fishing & Outdoor Experience: this annual Bedford county Parks and Rec event includes fishing, casting contest, fire boat rides, boat and water safety, paintball range, canoeing and a biologist exhibit. Pre-registration highly recommended. s mith Mountain l ake Discovery center. 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. 540-586-7682, bedfordcountyva. gov/departments/parks-recreation/ programs/special-events

Jethro Tull’s Martin Barre: h arvester Performance center, Rocky Mount. 8 to 10 p.m. $57-$77. harvester-music. com

National Trails d ay: Owl Prowl Night h ike: Join our Park Ranger to learn about our local owls. Preregistration required. Meet at campfire amphitheater. s mith Mountain l ake state Park. 8 to 9:30 p.m. Daily parking fee. 540-297-6066

Artist Talk: Black fiddlers of Monticello: David Mc cormick, artistic director of the Early Music Access Project, presents this story of the three fiddle-playing sons of s ally h emings and thomas Jefferson, as well as their fiddling cousins. Reservations recommended. Poplar Forest. 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. $10. poplarforest.org

5 | Monday

SM l Newcomers Meeting: lindsey coley, coley l aw Firm, will speak on wills and estate planning — it’s not one-size-fits-all. complimentary

refreshments at 10 a.m. All are welcome. trinity Ecumenical Parish, 40 l akemount Drive, Moneta. Meeting 10:30 a.m. to noon. Free. smlnewcomers@gmail.com

8 | Thursday

Bruce h ornsby & The Noisemakers: the coves Amphitheater, 301 ivy l ane, Union h all. 7 p.m. Gates open 5 p.m. $45.50-$72.50 plus fees. covesatsml. com/amphitheater

9 | Friday

SML Invitational Golf Tournament: s ponsored by s mith Mountain l ake chamber of commerce. location, price tBA. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 540-721-1203

10 | Saturday

franklin County Courts d ays: o ld-time activities, k ids Zone, food and craft vendors, music and more. Downtown Rocky Mount. 5 to 9 p.m. Free. historicrockymount.com

Suggesting Rhythm – A Tribute to The Grateful d ead: h arvester Performance center, Rocky Mount. 8 to 10 p.m. $27-$47. harvester-music. com

h omegrown Music Series: A community event for all ages. o pen jam 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Band plays 7 to 9 p.m. Food truck available. (No alcohol.) Rocky Mount Depot, 52 Franklin st., Rocky Mount. Free for jam; $5 band admission. 540-4890948, depot@rockymountva.org

14 | Wednesday

Wildlife Wednesday Cruise on the Virginia d are: s mith Mountain l ake state Park has teamed up with Virginia Dare cruises to offer this informative lunch cruise. Pre-registration required. Virginia Dare Marina. Noon to 2 p.m. Prices vary. Reserve at 540-297-7100 or vadaresml.com

16-17 | Friday-Sat.

friends of the Moneta/SM l library Summer Book Sale: come shop for great deals on previously owned fiction, nonfiction, children’s books,

DVDs, audiobooks, and more. Moneta/ s M l library, 13641 Moneta Road, Moneta. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Free. 540-425-7004, bplsonline.org

16-18

| Friday-Sun.

Antique farm d ays 20th

Anniversary: Displays and demonstrations of traditional farm machinery, plus blacksmithing, a flea market and more. Franklin county Recreation Park, 2150 s ontag Road, Rocky Mount. t imes, prices tBA. playfranklincounty.com/188/AntiqueFarm-Days

17 | Saturday

Antique farm d ays 20th Anniversary: Displays and demonstrations of traditional farm machinery, plus blacksmithing, a flea market and more. Franklin county Recreation Park, 2150 s ontag Road, Rocky Mount. t imes, prices tBA. playfranklincounty.com/188/AntiqueFarm-Days

Juneteenth freedom Celebration: Featuring gospel music, artisans and more. Gates open 10 a.m. s edalia center, 1108 s edalia s chool Road, Big i sland. Free. 434-299-5080, sedaliacenter.org

Virginia Boating Safety Education Classroom Course: s M l Water treatment Facility, 1500 Radford church Road, Moneta. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. $40. Randy stow, 540-588-0270

Virginia State Parks h istory & Culture d ay: learn the history behind Virginia’s state parks, how s mith Mountain l ake state Park began and what the Vs P mascot is. s mith Mountain l ake state Park. 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Daily parking fee. 540-2976066

21 | Wednesday

The l arsens’ Reptile Show: the l arsen family will be returning this summer with their bevy of beasts including some s lithery s erpents (snakes) and a few Modern-Day Mini Dragons (lizards) for you to meet and learn more about. Moneta/s M l library, 13641 Moneta Road, Moneta. 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Free. 540-4257004, bplsonline.org

22 | Thursday

The h appy Together Tour: the coves Amphitheater, 301 i vy l ane, Union h all. 7 p.m. Gates open at 5 p.m. $52.50-$77.50 plus fees. covesatsml. com/amphitheater

22-24 | Thurs.-Sat.

d oc McCabe Bluegrass festival: s howcasing some of the best bluegrass acts, both local and regional. Gates open 7 p.m. for thursday potluck and jam session; open 11 a.m. Friday and s aturday for all-day music. $25-$55 (discount before May 15). s edalia center, 1108 s edalia s chool Road, Big i sland. Free. 434-299-5080, sedaliacenter.org

24 | Saturday

legacy Motown Review: the coves Amphitheater, 301 i vy l ane, Union h all. 7 p.m. Gates open at 5 p.m. $30-$115 plus fees. covesatsml.com/ amphitheater

29 | Thursday

“1776 The Musical”: ( through July 1) Revel in the revolutionary spirit of America’s Founding Fathers with this tony Award-winning comedy based on the events leading up to the drafting and signing of the Declaration of i ndependence. Poplar Forest. 7:30 p.m. (Rain date July 2, 7:30 p.m.)

$17.76 adults, $13 students, $4 5 and younger. 434-534-8120

Ongoing

StoryWalk: the Franklin county Public library’s storyWalk at s ummit View is an outdoor trail open every day. stories change seasonally. Pleasant Breeze Drive, off U. s . 220 s outh, Rocky Mount. Available daily, weather

SEND u S YO u R E v ENTS!

Email the date, location and a brief description including admission cost and contact information to christina.koomen@roanoke.com

Perfectly Imperfect

With more summers behind her than ahead, k imberly Dalferes is finding the best in every summer day, rain or shine

by columnist ki MBER lY DA l FERE s

summertime! i was a Child of the ’70s, and summers growing up in Florida were soulliberating. all i needed was my bike, a towel and a water bottle, and it was straight to the beach for a day of sunny fun with my childhood tribe. the single regret: not using sunblock. perhaps those memories led me here to smith mountain lake — my draw to water is strong. now on my 60th trip around the sun, i ’ve gained the perspective to understand that we won’t revolve forever. realistically, my summers are numbered. t here are more behind than ahead, and i want to fully enjoy and appreciate this magical time on the calendar.

hubs recently asked me how i would describe a perfect summer day at the lake. hmm, i think i have more than one.

t here are few things better than a summer house full of friends and family. there are often homemade biscuits for breakfast, puzzles on the table and wet towels draped over every outdoor chair and railing. the house is always a bit too quiet after everyone departs.

a day out on the boat is certainly on my top five perfect days list. i live for filling the cooler, throwing a cover-up over the bathing suit and heading out for a bit of adventure. Coming across our sml ice cream boat out on the water is thrilling. i hear there’s an app to track this sml treasure’s location, but it’s so much more fun to randomly come across the vessel of frozen delights in a cove or around a bend.

t here are also numerous places across the lake to tie up and drop in for some nachos and a margarita (or two) and listen to a local musical talent.

i love to watch late afternoon thunderstorms roll across the lake. mother nature often puts on an awe-inspiring show that i can watch safely through my living room window. as much as i adore the sunshine, a rainy day spent perched on the sofa with a good summer read is a mighty fine way to spend a June day. a s a Virgo, i ’m a bit wired to fixate on perfection. planning all the details of a fabulous memorial day cookout is catnip for this august baby. however, it may be that the most perfect summer days are those that are perfectly imperfect. For instance, the days when friends show up unexpectedly on the dock and

you end up whiling away the afternoon in unscheduled bliss, listening to a favorite rock station. or the occasions when a neighbor calls to say “Come on over. the grill’s hot. the burgers are almost ready” — and you drop everything to head next door with a bottle of wine in hand.

how would you describe a perfect sml summer day? i hope these warm months bring you joy and laughter. i wish you luck in finding the ice cream boat. oh, and please don’t forget the sunblock.

Kimberly Dalferes is the author of I Was In Love With a Short Man Once and Magic Fishing Panties. h er humor blog, “the Middle-Aged cheap seats,” is online at kimdalferes.com

Laker Magazine is a premier lifestyle publication covering Smith Mountain Lake and the surrounding counties. The magazine covers recreation, tourism, arts and culture and local events through orginial reporting, photography and columnists. Also included in this bimonthly publication is a map, calendar of events and newcomer information.

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Advertiser Index Next Issue

*Map i D corresponds to the map on the following pages, as well as the larger, more detailed l aker Map produced each year by l aker Media. Laker Map is available in racks around the region.

July/August 2022

Summer Fun at the Lake

 As summer continues, keep Laker Magazine handy for the latest fun things to do and places to go at s mith Mountain l ake.

Plus: Profiles, l ake h omes, Mountain Muse, community c alendar and more!

Advertise with Us:

 c all or email for rates, circulation and distribution information:

Barry Wright Marketing consultant 540-981-3262, 540-797-4444 barry.wright@roanoke.com

Calendar Submissions:

 c alendar of events submissions deadline: June 1.

Email the date, location and a brief description including admission cost and contact information to christina.koomen@roanoke.com