new river valley magazine

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September/October 2012NRVMAGAZINE.com

LOGAN THOMASVT CheerleadersTailgating

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in the NRVREtIRING

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contentscontents s e p t / o c t

7 P a s t u r e t a l k

3 L o g a n t h o m a s

1 0 t a i l g a t i n g 7 0 ’ s s t y l e

1 4 V t c h e e r l e a d i n g

1 8 n R V H o m e

2 2 H i g h s c h o o l F o o t b a l l

2 4 F o o t b a l l s c h e d u l e

2 8 K e n t u c k y L o n g r i f l e

3 2 R e t i r i n g i n t h e n R V

3 6 A r t i s t P r o f i l e

3 8 o n t h e H u n t

4 0 n R V t r a v e l

4 2 R e c i p e s

4 4 s o c i a l P i c s

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ne big reason for getting a new hairstyle, buying clothing that’s trendy or renovating a room in your house is to keep

up with the times. Stay contemporary. Look cool. Small businesses are likewise challenged as styles, habits, technology and lifestyles evolve. To that end, we’re tweaking sections of New River Valley Magazine. Artist Profile will become NRV Arts with a focus on the arts as a whole including international arts and cultures that touch the New River Valley. Classic Car is morphing into NRV Rides. We added NRV Adventure in the last issue, and NRV Travels will highlight a local destination (Draper Mercantile and Trading Company in these pages, where Friday is Pie Day!). We’re bringing back NRV Healthy Living with a more medical slant, and NRV Youth launches in this issue with high school football. Feature articles are being slightly shortened with more sidebars and boxes of information segments. We are introducing The Last Page where we invite readers to submit NRV photos for consideration ~ landscapes, farm animals, people, wildlife, building angles, anything you found interesting enough to photograph. Noble and I are having fun with book signings and appearances. We rode into Historic Smithfield Plantation’s Children Summer Camp one day, and I entered my first ever horse show class at the Newport Fair (photos). We’re doing a book signing at Historic Smithfield Plantation – just me, Noble, Cash, maybe a few other equine buddies, and baskets of oats (cookies) and apples (mini-muffins), Sat., Sept. 29, 10 a.m. to noon. If it rains, you’ll find us, horses and all, in the sheltered pavilion. Do come, rain or shine. September brings the comfort of routine and anticipation of the holidays. It’s a wonderful time of year, and the New River Valley is simply the best place to enjoy it.

New RiveR valleym A g A z i n e

PUBLISHERCountry Media, Inc.

Phillip Vaught

EDITORJoanne Anderson

GRAPHIC DESIGNDrew Carter

WRITERSJoanne Anderson

Karl KazaksKrisha ChachraLesley Howard

Rachael M. GarrityBecky Hepler

Cynthia D. BertelsenPeter D. Mason

PHOTOGRAPHYLaura’s Focus Photography

Bonnie A. BoundsMagnifico Photography

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Pasture Talk

Joanne Anderson Editor

O

Cover Photo Courtesy of Virginia Tech Athletics Communications

July-Aug Correction Newport Fair photos courtesy of Dr. John Danyi

[email protected]


Photos Courtesy of Virginia Tech Athletics Communications


hen you’re a quarterback running a play, there are two things you need to worry about: getting the ball to your receivers and the guys on the other team who want to tackle you.

The part where the other players want to bring you down is an especially big concern when you’re the quarterback for an ACC team like the Virginia Tech Hokies. Redshirt Junior Logan Thomas, who has been with the Hokies since 2009, is leading the offense this year as quar-terback. “It’s a complete honor, and I’m excited to be in this position,” Thomas states. “I didn’t know what to expect when I stepped on campus, and now I love it! It’s a blessing, an honor, especially to have the offensive line and receivers we have.” In 2011, Thomas led the Hokies to an overall record of 11-3 and matched several school records on offense. He broke Virginia Tech’s single-season total offense record, which Ty-rod Taylor set. He made 234 completions in 391 attempts and managed 3,013 yards in passing, which all ranked second in Virginia Tech’s history for a single season and second only to Don Strock’s records in 1972. Thomas also tied the school re-cord set by Bruce Arains in 1974 with 11 rushing touchdowns for rushing scores by a quarterback in a season. “I’m really enjoying this,” he continues. “The ups are spending the time with the guys and obviously winning on Sat-urdays and Thursday nights. I’m having a great time being out here competing and getting better as the days go on. I want to work on my footwork and accuracy, and being able to make the right throws and putting the others in the position to make the right plays.” In high school, Thomas played at Brookville, where he led the offense in their 50-46 loss to James Monroe four years ago. “My 10th grade year was my first season on varsi-ty,” Thomas recalls. “I played receiver, and I was first team all district.” He made 60 catches for around 1,000 yards, and he moved into the quarterback position when he was a junior.

Once he was recruited to play at Virginia Tech, he said it felt like a family there. “I’m a big family guy. This feels com-fortable, like home. You’ve got to go to a place that has a home-like environment for five years.” Thomas’ first career start was last season against Appalachian State, where the Hokies domi-nated their season opener, 66-13. Thomas and the Hokies this year are kicking off the season against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. “We’re going to have to go out there and play every game like it’s our last one,” Thomas believes. “Our expectations are nothing less than national championship. That’s what we’ve been striving for in the off season, and we’re working toward it right now. The team players are out here working as hard as they can. We’re excited to get on the field, as the early practices went just as well as we expected.” Go Hokies!

WBy Peter D. Mason

Virginia tech Quarterback Logan Thomas

#3

N R V M A G A Z I N E September/October 20121 0

t’s tailgate time in Blacksburg – a sizzle in the air, fans gathering on campus and all around town, antic-ipating another Hokie victory, the

perfect fall setting for another thrilling football spectacle. In Lot 8, there’s a Dodge van painted Hokie colors. No doubt that it belongs to passionate Hokie fans. But is that Don Lloyd on the air, talking about the exploits of Hokie quarterback Phil Rodgers and running back Roscoe Coles? Is Lloyd interviewing Virginia Tech’s young coach Jimmy Sharpe about the team’s wishbone offense? That portable

television in the van – featuring solid state electronics and dial controls – is it black and white? There is no such television in this van, and of course, Bill Roth and Mike Burnop are touting the skills of Lo-gan Thomas and another corps of good, young runners. But you could be excused for expecting to experience such a sce-nario straight out of the mid-1970’s when you set foot inside Steve and Lori Wag-ner’s tailgate vehicle – an almost pristine-ly preserved 1975 Dodge conversion van. The van, which has less than 20,000 original miles on it, was converted

into a camper van direct from the factory in late 1974. Some of the original con-version features include a bathroom with sink, toilet and shower; a kitchen area with sink, mini-fridge and stove; a dining area with fold-out table and overhead storage units; a rear sleeping area where two adults can fully stretch out; and room for two more to sleep in the forward part of the vehicle (with adjustments such as hanging an elevated cot from hooks fixed to the interior walls). With the conver-sion came a propane tank to provide fuel for the stove and a small hot water heat-er and a battery to provide electricity to

‘70s Stylet a i l g a t i n g i n

By Karl H. Kazaks | Photos by Bonnie Bounds

i

nRV classic car

1 1N R V M A G A Z I N E . c o m Sept/Oct 2012 1 1

interior outlets without running the engine or a generator. A fiberglass extension on the rear of the van added three feet to the vehicle, and the exterior was modified to allow hookups for power and water as well as ports for venting the stove and water heater. The toilet and the cold water are still operational, but the propane tank has been removed, so no hot water or stove. When asked about future modifications like a keger-ator, microwave, TV and satellite system, Steve just smiled, said “maybe” and glanced at Lori. He hopes to add a kegera-tor and upgrade the battery system, as well as get a generator to feed power for a microwave and television. The van is so well preserved that most of the vehicle is original – the hinges on the overhead storage bins, the plas-tic radiator tank, the exterior chrome, the two green front captain’s seats, the Hemi 360 engine. The Wagners are the third owners. The original owner was a furniture store owner who took used it for host-ing cocktail parties. He kept it in a garage until 2009 when it was sold to his nephew, a Hokie fan. He replaced the original green and yellow shag carpeting with maroon carpeting and had the exterior – originally green and white – painted ma-roon and orange. The Wagners bought it from a craigslist ad in the summer of 2011. “Friends of mine and I had been saying that we’ve got to get a Hokie bus for tailgating,” Steve recalls. “We thought, ‘What we need is an old RV, it just has to go two miles,’” figuring they would find a place to park in Blacksburg and drive to campus for tailgating. The van was in good condition, so Wagner has only had to make a few repairs. The wheels – which are an unusual 16.5 inches in diameter – were rusty. He took them off, clean them with a grinder, then invested in new, heavy-duty, 8-ply tires. On the exterior, he added decals and magnets. Most of the improvements are inside – Hokie-themed door linings, a Hokie-themed curtain on the back window, exterior Hokie tracks and decals, replumbing copper water lines which had split. Eventually he will supplement the 8-track player with another sound system. Wagner has been having fun with the van since the day he bought it. After bringing it home, he went to pick up


his daughter, Sierra. She was about to turn 16, and they had been car shop-ping. Turning into the home driveway, Steve told Sierra that he bought her a car. “Which car did you get? Black or tan interior?’” she asked. When she saw the old, Hokie-modified Dodge van, she said: “I can’t believe you did that? Does Mom know?” Steve said, “That’s your car. You get to drive it to school everyday.” Sierra responded, “I’m so mad at you, when Mom divorces you, I’m not even going to help you pack when you have to move out!” The Wagners have two other vintage cars, a 1966 Corvette and Lori’s first car - a 1978 Pontiac Trans Am. The Dodge Hokie van, though not the most valuable of that trio, is the most original, in the sense that you’d be hard pressed to find another one like it. “Amazing is a good word for it,” Lori says of the van. “It takes my breath away. It did the first time I saw it and it still does.”

Steve and Lori Wagner Once upon a time (1985 was the time) in a castle named Randolph Hall on the Virginia Tech campus, a prince (aka Steve Wagner) met and fell in love with his princess (Lori Wagner), and they are living happily ever after. He graduated in 1983 with a chemical engineering degree and went to work in Richmond with AT&T. She stayed in town, determined to secure a master’s degree and Ph.D., also in chemical engineering. And she did, distinguishing herself as the first woman to do so. Diplomas in hand, she accepted a position at Allied Signal Corporation, now Honeywell International. Married in 1985, the couple has remained steadfast in their dedication and commitment to their alma mater. They have both served as corporate liaisons and recruiters between their companies and Virginia Tech. Throughout the 1980s and ‘90s, together and individually, they traveled to Blacksburg for sports events, fundraisers and board and committee positions. As the family expanded with two daughters, Steve and Lori continued furthering the goals and success of the univer-sity they so dearly love. In the tradition of Ut Prosim (that I may serve), Lori was instrumental in founding the Chemical Engineering Alumni Advisory Board, while Steve served on the inaugural Engineering Education Advisory Board. In 2006, Lori was appointed by then Governor Tim Kaine to sit on the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors. And their service and loyalty endure, as both continue in advisory and support roles. Their first daughter is in the class of 2014, and the younger one expects to become a Hokie next fall. Their oldest niece is a sophomore, and their godchild is a freshman. Hokie fever is contagious among the Wagners’ extended family and friends with 13 of them at the 2012 Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, and 18 attending the VT-Cincinnati game at FedEx Field in Maryland. It is the commitment of alum-ni like the Wagners – who own this Hokie Van – that makes Virginia Tech one very special school, Blacksburg one very special town and the New River Valley one very special region. Go Hokies!

January 1975 Standard List Price: $11,323

From the Original Sales Brochure

Some options:Shag carpet: $40

AM/FM 8-track: $24915 gallons of gas

at 55.9 cents/gal: $8.39

1 3N R V M A G A Z I N E . c o m Sept/Oct 2012

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the other athletes on the field: VT CheerleadersGo Hokies Go


A round 66,000 fans attend Hokie football games, and when the team runs out, cheering roars from the stands as the song “Enter Sandman” plays. “Cheer-ing in Lane Stadium in front of so many fans jumping to ‘Enter Sandman’ is indescribable,” says Tatiana

Paulino, member of the cheerleading squad for the Hokies. “My best memories in cheerleading come from great football games, bowl games and nationals. Football season, especially at a school like Virginia Tech, is busy, but SO enjoyable.” What defines a college cheerleader can be heavily weighed by certain stereotypes, but cheerleaders are a big part of the games, working with the marching band to perform vari-ous routines to each song, cheering for the team and entertain-ing the crowd in timeouts and halftime. “People tend to write us off due to the stereotyping of cheerleaders in movies and television shows,” explains Andy Nicholds, a fifth year senior at Virginia Tech. “Perhaps the most challenging part is being ac-cepted as athletes.” Nicholds says that in cheerleading, it’s the one thing you can do on the field where you can’t afford to make any mis-takes. “When you’re throwing people up in the air and catching them, messing up could result in a serious injury.” Some of the


worst injuries in any high school or col-lege sport have been known to happen to cheerleaders. Before each home game, the cheerleaders participate in pre-game activities, when the fans come out from their tailgates. During this time, they go around and hand out souvenirs like free pens, tattoos and other marketing items. “It is a fun couple of hours before the game,” Paulino states. “We support the athletes in the game, and make sure the fans are having a great time,” says cheerleader David Cordova, “our role is to get the fans involved in the game by cheering along with us.” The cheerleaders do all sorts of things to spark the crowd, in-cluding holding up various signs, doing certain cheers and routines for a Hokie touchdown, and they have their halftime performances, which the crowd loves to watch, and gives them the well-earned applause when they perform.

“We feed off of the fans’ energy,” states Paulino. “There is always an adren-aline rush after a good play, because the crowd is roaring!” In addition to football, cheerlead-ers perform at college basketball games as

well, giving them another season when football is over. “When each sport gets their off season, we’re still going,” Paulino explains. Virginia Tech’s cheerleaders trav-el to a cheerleading competition in Day-

tona Beach to compete at a national level each spring. “We all love going to Daytona Beach,” Cordova declares, “not only be-cause of the location, but also because we get to be around other fellow collegiate cheerleaders who share our passion and dedication. It gives us a chance to perform our most elite skills and get recognized off the field.” Last year, the squad placed fourth in this competition, which is the highest for Virginia Tech’s cheerleaders since the 1990s. “It was a great feeling to finish so well,” Paulino remembers, “because we put so much time into our routine starting in January.” All of the Hokie cheerleaders are very excited for opening day at Lane Stadium against Georgia Tech on Monday, September 3. It’s the place to be to see them perform before their first crowd of the 2012-13 season. Rah! Rah! Go Hokies!

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n r v

u n i v e r s i t y e d i t i o n

homet

By Joanne M. Anderson | Photos by Laura’s Focus Photography


Chi Omega House

a renovated retreat for residents

Happiness, energy and motivation can be attributed to our home environ-ment – whether we are in our forever house or just passing through – like at college. These elements of lifestyle were addressed a year ago at the Chi Omega sorority house at Virginia Tech. The building on Oak Lane in the university’s Special Purpose Housing belongs to Virginia Tech. “We pay a fee to use the structure and provide 30 room and board fees for students who live there. The university hires a residential advisor who also lives in the building,” explains Cynthia Sterrett, president of the House Corporation Board and the original advisor. “We are responsible for

decorating and anything else we want like air conditioning, landscaping, upgraded in-terior features or a gazebo.” When the local chapter was chartered in 1987, it rented space for a couple years before buying a house on N. Main St. “We gutted and renovated it for 21 women and sold it nine years later,” Sterrett says. “All the women’s groups were moving to the Special Purpose Housing, so we came into phase 3 of the project in 2001. More than 10 years later, the inside was decidedly showing the wear and tear.” Interior designer Edith-Anne Duncan was hired to renovate the inside for a styl-ish look, functional appeal and attractive furnishings. “The space is used for a vari-

ety of events.” says Duncan. “I developed a survey with three proposed schemes which was handed out to the chapter membership – more than 130 women. Each one voted for her favorite, so I went with the scheme that was most popular, then incorporated some choices from the other two designs.” From the input, Duncan studied the functions and flow, factored in the organi-zation’s colors - cardinal and straw – and considered the residents – young, contem-porary women of strong character. “The space was beautiful, even dramatic, if a bit dreary from the years,” she recalls. “The furniture had to be comfortable and easy to move for events or meetings. The soror-ity colors lend themselves to warmth, and


new side panel drapes soften and frame the natural light.” Stepping into the Chi Omega house today is akin to entering a 5-diamond ho-tel lobby. A soaring ceiling height dictated that the drapes and plantation blinds be an impressive 35 feet tall. The floral ar-rangement was created by a Giles County woman, and a couple of soft chairs make this a nice resting spot of its own. Above a hall table is the current membership pho-to composite which moves down the hall each year for a new one. The final result in the Cynthia Ster-rett Chapter Room is stunning. Three red couches with ¾-inch, pewter rivets provide a central style statement, supported with cozy, easy chairs and a generous amount of accent pillows in complementary colors and textures. The trophy cases along the back wall, which is a red accent wall an-chored with gold walls on either side and at the front, showcase the recognition Chi Omega receives in academics, philanthro-py and athletics. The Lounge Room is a bright, whimsi-cal, happy combination of lime green, tur-quoise, bright pink (like fuchsia) and pale yellow. One wall is painted in wide stripes of these four colors, and the furnishings in-corporate all four colors in different plac-es. Lime green soft chairs. Turquoise end

c h i o m e g a H o u s e

Stepping into the Chi Omega house today is akin to entering a

5-diamond hotel lobby. A soaring ceiling height dictated that the drapes and plantation blinds be

an impressive 35 feet tall.

“the furniture had to be comfortable and easy to move for events or meetings. . .

tables. Fuchsia color couches. Pale yellow walls. It is all inspired by Lilly Pulitzer, a favorite of Duncan’s. It is certainly a cheerful spot to do homework, write pa-pers and read assignments. The Chi Omega house is a delightful place that exudes happiness, energy and motivation where these young women can

fulfill the purposes for which Chi Omega exists:~ commitment to personal integrity; ~ excellence in academics;~ intergenerational participation; ~ community service; ~ leadership opportunities; ~ social enrichment.

2 1N R V M A G A Z I N E . c o m Sept/Oct 2012 2 1


High SchoolFootball

Auburn High SchoolThe former head coach of Pulaski, Jack Turner, has taken the reins at Auburn High School for the Fall 2012 season. “It’s a new chal-lenge,” says Coach Turner, “a new project. It’s exciting to go to a place and try to build a new tradition.” Coach Turner has been av-idly evaluating where each of the players on the Tigers’ roster fits. “We’re trying to create a program for the future,” Turner explains. He also is preparing the Tigers for the Three Rivers District, a dis-trict considered to be one of the toughest single A districts in the state. He is pleased with the way that early practices went for the Tigers, with a roster including Nick Parcell, Seth Cox and Luke Wilson as key players on offense. For defense, Turner likes the way the pre-school practices went. As a coach, however, he can never be satisfied, “Rome wasn’t built in a day,” he quips. “We’ve got to get the foundation down before we can the roof on.” The Tigers kicked off their season on August 24 against Craig County.

Blacksburg High SchoolBlacksburg finished the last season last with a record of 1-9, and according to head coach David Crist, they played a lot of young players in their roster last season. “Experience is always import-ant in improving as a team,” he says. “The players have worked hard to improve their strength and quickness. The desire to be a better football team is important to each one of them, and they have raised their own expectations to create opportunities for suc-cess.” Blacksburg is a River Ridge District team, which will pit them against Salem, Christiansburg and others this season. “All of our opponents are tough. That’s the kind of high school football in our area. Every Friday is a difficult contest because the teams are well coached, and the players play hard on every play.” Crist says that the Bruins have former tackle Adam Vaught moving to tight end, Parker Robertson moving from tight end to tackle, and other strong players have returned on the offensive side. On defense, C.J. Linkous and Marcus Ilardo, along with Robertson, are key elements to the team’s defense. “All of these young men gained valuable experience last season under difficult situations,” the coach explains. “There has been a change of attitude and mental toughness in every member of the team. There is good chemistry among them, too.”

Christiansburg High SchoolThe Blue Demons had a very successful 2011 season, finishing with a 9-1 record and making it to the state championship game in the playoffs, where they fell 28-26 against Briar Woods. The season ended with an overall 13-2. “We lost a close game to a

very good football team,” says Head Coach Tim Cromer. “If we got back to that game again, we’d want similar effort.” Cromer is very pleased that the team this year is putting good efforts into teamwork in practices. He’s also seeing consistency in the pro-gram. “We lost a big senior class, but we still have some pretty good players coming back. Our junior varsity team was 9-1 last year.” Christiansburg is a member of the River Ridge District like Pulaski and Blacksburg, and Cromer believes the coaching on ev-ery River Ridge District team is really good. “We’re proud to be a part of that district.” A couple of the experienced players for the Blue Demons this year are Joey Augustine, Mike Cook and C.J. Dowdy. The Blue Demons kicked off their regular season against Floyd County at home. They have high hopes of defending their title as River Ridge District champions and making another ap-pearance in the state championship.

Eastern Montgomery High SchoolOne of Eastern Montgomery’s biggest problems is size. “We’re having a hard time matching up physically against bigger teams,” says Coach Mark Poston. “We are a small school.” The Mustangs suffered some tough losses last year to district opponents like Giles, Glenvar, Floyd and Radford. Strength this year is one thing the Mustangs, according to Coach Poston, really need to work on. “Our corner situation is pretty good right now.” Poston has a great deal of respect for the other teams in his district. “Every-thing starts with Radford. Those kids play with a lot of heart.” He believes Giles has a strong history, and Coach Williams does a great job with the Spartans, who defeated the Mustangs 35-0. “Our district is a really good one.” James Fields, a senior, is lead-ing the Mustang offense this year as quarterback, and Poston says that he’s a good leader for the team. “When you’re in high school, respect the game. That’s the benefit of playing high school foot-ball; it gets you ready for the real world.”

Floyd County High SchoolThe Buffaloes did not start the season with an easy schedule. Three of their first four opponents were big playoff teams last season - the first being the Christiansburg Blue Demons. Last year they shut out Floyd on opening night and eventually made it all the way to the state championship. The other two opponents which were playoff teams last year are Galax and George Wythe. The Three Rivers District isn’t going to be a cakewalk either, ac-cording to head coach Winfred Beale. “There are no easy games,” he says, explaining that one of Floyd’s biggest weaknesses was

Continued on page 26

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Football


at Craig County RocketsCovington CougarsEast Hardy, WVat James River KnightsParry McCluer Fighting Bluesat Giles SpartansRadford Bobcatsat Eastern Montg. MustangsGlenvar Highlandersat Floyd County Buffaloes

Auburn High School08/24/1208/31/1209/07/1209/14/1209/28/1210/05/1210/12/1210/19/1210/26/1211/02/12

7:307:007:307:007:007:007:007:007:007:00

Floyd County Buffaloesat Giles SpartansCarroll County Cavaliersat Bassett BengalsFranklin County CougarsPulaski County Cougarsat Hidden Valley Titansat Salem SpartansCave Spring KnightsBlacksburg Bruins

Christiansburg High School08/24/1208/31/1209/07/1209/14/1209/28/1210/05/1210/12/1210/19/1210/26/1211/02/12

7:307:007:307:007:007:307:307:307:307:30

Giles SpartansLiberty Minutemenat Tazewell BulldogsPatrick Henry Patriotsat Lord Botetourt CavaliersHidden Valley Titansat Salem Spartansat Cave Spring KnightsPulaski County Cougarsat Christiansburg Blue Demons

Blacksburg High School08/24/1208/31/1209/07/1209/14/1209/21/1210/05/1210/12/1210/19/1210/26/1211/02/12

7:307:307:307:307:007:307:307:307:307:30

at Bath County ChargersNarrows Green WaveGalax Maroon Tideat Covington Cougarsat Bland County Bearsat Radford BobcatsFloyd County BuffaloesAuburn Eaglesat Giles SpartansGlenvar Highlanders

Eastern Montgomery High School08/24/1208/31/1209/07/1209/14/1209/21/1210/05/1210/12/1210/19/1210/26/1211/02/12

7:007:007:007:007:007:007:007:007:307:00

New River Valley

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The 2012 Football Schedule brought to you by LOG CABIN B-B-Q in Blacksburg


Georgia TechAustin Peayat PittsburghBoling Greenvs. Cininnati (Landover Md.)at North CarolinaDukeat Clemsonat MiamiFlorida Stateat Boston CollgeVirginia

Virginia Tech Hokies09/03/1209/08/1209/15/1209/22/1209/29/1210/06/1210/13/1210/20/1211/01/1211/08/1211/17/1211/24/12

8:001:30NoonTBATBATBATBATBA7:307:30TBATBA

at Pulaski County CougarsGeorge Wythe Maroonsat Galax Maroon TideVirginia High Bearcatsat Patrick County CougarsEastern Montgomery Mustangsat Auburn Eaglesat Glenvar HighlandersFloyd County Buffaloesat Giles Spartans

Radford High School08/24/1209/07/1209/14/1209/21/1209/28/1210/05/1210/12/1210/19/1210/26/1211/02/12

7:307:007:007:007:007:007:007:007:007:00

Radford Bobcatsat Northside Vikingsat Patrick Henry PatriotsRichlands Blue Tornadoesat Magna Vista Warriorsat Christiansburg Blue DemonsCave Springs KnightsHidden Valley Titansat Blacksburg BruinsSalem Spartans

Pulaski County High School08/24/1208/31/1209/07/1209/14/1209/21/1210/05/1210/12/1210/19/1210/26/1211/02/12

7:307:307:307:307:007:307:307:307:307:30

at Christiansburg Blue DemonsGalax Maroon TidePatrick County Cougarsat George Wythe Maroonsat Fort Chiswell PioneersGlenvar Highlandersat Eastern Montg. MustangsGiles Spartansat Radford BobcatsAuburn Eagles

Floyd County High School08/24/1208/31/1209/07/1209/14/1209/21/1210/05/1210/12/1210/19/1210/26/1211/02/12

7:307:007:007:307:307:007:007:007:007:00

Football Schedule 2012

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at Blacksburg BruinsChirstiansburg Blue Demonsat Covington Cougarsat Narrows Green WaveTazewell BulldogsAuburn Eaglesat Glenvar HighlandersFloyd County BuffaloesEastern Montgomery MustangsRadford Bobcats

Giles High School08/24/1208/31/1209/07/1209/14/1209/21/1210/05/1210/12/1210/19/1210/26/1211/02/12

7:307:007:007:307:307:007:007:007:307:00

at James Monroe, WVat Eastern Montgomery MustangsCraig County RocketsGiles SpartansRural Retreat Indiansat Bland County Bearsat Fort Chiswell PioneersGalax Maroon TideGrayson County Blue Devilsat Graham G-Men

Narrows High School08/24/1208/31/1209/07/1209/14/1209/21/1210/05/1210/12/1210/19/1210/26/1211/02/12

7:307:007:307:307:307:307:307:307:307:30

finishing games last year. “We want to improve on run defense,” Beale states, “and the ability to finish football games.” There were several games the Buffaloes played last year where they fell late in the game. The coach talks about the importance of the team’s physical, mental and emotional toughness in order to achieve improvement. “We’re just sort of taking care of our-selves,” says Beale. “We really feel good about the kids we’ve got.”

Pulaski County High SchoolPulaski managed to make the playoffs last year with a record of 1-9, and ultimately finished their season at 1-10. It’s always dif-ficult to find motivation after a season like that, however, Cougar Head Coach Todd Jones says that this team is very self-motivat-ed. “A one win season didn’t phase them,” he explains. “They’re giving us quality time when they’re out here now in spite of what we went through last year. They’re pretty self-motivated.” Pulaski has the advantage of several returning players who last year came to the team as first year starters. “They’ve got expe-rience now,” Coach Jones says, “and hopefully they’ll take that right on to the field this year.” Pulaski had some trouble finish-


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ing drives on the offensive side of the football. “We had a lot of miscues and didn’t take care of the football.” Pulaski’s returning players include Tyler Golden, James King and James Reynolds for the Fall 2012 season. The River Ridge District is a tough one in Group AA, and according to Coach Jones, the only thing Pulas-ki can do this year is take each game one at a time.

Radford High SchoolThe Bobcats are also going to have a really tough schedule, which started with traveling to Pulaski, and then in weeks two and three, George Wythe and Galax. “We’re pretty young,” states Head Coach Matthew Saunders, “and we’re not as fast as we used to be.” The Bobcats are members of the Three Rivers District with opponents: Floyd, Giles, Auburn, Eastern Montgomery and Glen-var. “We have a very hard schedule, but we have good leadership. Hunter Marshall, an experienced player of the Bobcats, is the big team leader for Radford. We have pretty good team chemistry,” the coach explains, “and we’re very athletic. Those elements help win ball games.” Right now his big concern is with the offensive and defensive lines. Those are the areas the team worked on in practices for its opening night against Pulaski.

Giles High SchoolOf the teams in the Three Rivers District, Giles emerged as the champions last year, and they finished overall with a 10-2 record. Back in 2005, they claimed a state championship title. The Spar-tans are one of the toughest single A teams around, and they are working as hard as ever this year to defend their title. “As always, we are working on our technique and footwork,” states Head Coach Jeff Williams, “while putting an emphasis on the physi-cal part of the game.” Williams never has an easy competition in claiming the district title, however. “All our games will be tough. We consistently play a strong out of district schedule, which helps prepare us for play in one of the strongest single A districts in the state.” The Three Rivers District is no competition to be tak-en lightly, and the Spartans are the one team out of the bunch to watch out for. “If we work hard and get better physically and mentally in practice every day,” Williams explains, “then it will make Friday nights well worth our effort.”

Narrows High SchoolThe Green Wave is competing in a very tough district. The Moun-tain Empire District faces the team against opponents like Galax, Graham, Grayson County, Fort Chiswell and Bland County. Head Coach Kelly Lowe explains that last year the team had several problems with injuries, and this year several new players are com-ing up from junior varsity. There are about 28 players. “One thing we had a problem with last year was a lack of speed,” Lowe says. “And we’re working on blocking and tackling.” He got a really good effort from the team in practice when they prepared for the season. The names to look for in Narrows’ roster this year include Tyler Evans, Rodney Purdue, Joe Hall, Brandon Sowers, Drew Sowers and Austin Lively. “I like our running game. I like our balance on offense; it’s something we need.” The first game for Narrows was a road game against James Monroe, a team that has been a strong playoff team in years past. “We got a great group - they are focused and have come out and worked hard since the first practice.”


Uniquely American

A

the Kentucky Longrifle

Along with the banjo, the Ford, jazz and blue jeans,

the Kentucky longrifle is an American invention. In history,

rifling has been attributed to Germany in the mid-1400s. Gunsmiths started creating rifles with longer barrels in

the late 1600s. Following the French and Indian War (1754-1763), German craftsmen in Pennsylvania began making

guns with longer barrels.

By Joanne M. Anderson | Photos by Laura’s Focus Photography

m a d e i n t h e n R V


k e n t u c k y l o n g r i f l e

“Someone once asked me the price of one of the guns I was shooting; one I had built,” says the neatly bearded 61-year-old. “I told him it wasn’t for sale. He asked again. I responded the same. After a few rounds of Q and A in that manner, the wheels in my head began to turn. What if?”


Kentucky was the frontier in that era, and hunters, trappers and ex-plorers began carrying the long-range guns, first referred to as the “Ken-tucky longrifle” in the 1812 song, “The Hunters of Kentucky.” Further-more, Kentuckians have a reputation as sharpshooters, in part because of the accuracy of the Kentucky longri-fle. It was a .50 caliber gun of solid maple with a full stock and 42- to 46-inch barrel. The crescent shaped buttplate, patchbox and cheekpiece helped identify one as a Kentucky (or Pennsylvania) longrifle. It was used in many battles in the Revolutionary War. Giles County resident Wayne Trout has been enamored with guns and gun history since getting his first one at age 12. The Norfolk, Va., na-tive with a craftsman and artistic bent has participated in competitive shoot-ing and made rifles for around four decades. “Someone once asked me the price of one of the guns I was shoot-ing; one I had built,” says the neatly bearded 61-year-old. “I told him it wasn’t for sale. He asked again. I re-

sponded the same. After a few rounds of Q and A in that manner, the wheels in my head began to turn. What if?” At that time, Trout was mak-ing Civil War military rifles in his home workshop, all the while keeping his day job with the City of Norfolk. Five years ago, his brother and he got into a conversation about the longrifle culture. “It’s not a mountain man back-ground as much as a pioneer type,” he explains. “It’s an art form. The archi-tecture of each longrifle is based on what school it comes from.” School here refers to a region-al style, not a real school. As gunsmith-ing moved southward from Pennsyl-vania into Virginia and even the New River Valley and Wytheville, gun mak-ers in each region would change this, tweak that, re-mold something to give it a unique identity – one which could be used to recognize a longrifle. They look alike for the most part, but some-one like Trout, who has studied pho-tos and toured numerous exhibits and museums, can see the small differences that sets one made in one region apart from another area. The self-taught gun crafter loves working with his hands. He starts

with a solid piece of maple and an idea. He is not reproducing a longrifle, but creating one that adheres to the general principles of workmanship, style and size with a tiny personal touch or two. Trout does all the engraving and most of the brass work, so no two are identi-cal either. “I met a collector once who let me see and touch his amazing guns. Touch is much more important than sight in longrifle examination,” he ex-plains. “There’s some special memory in our brain that files touch in amazing detail. When I hold a gun, I can feel how the curves go and how the lines blend together. One can feel a small surface dip or imperfection that might not be easily seen.” Trout has spent many hours in Williamsburg, where they make their own longrifles, and become fast friends with gunsmiths there. Last month he attended the Contemporary Longri-fle Association in Lexington, Ky. Not long ago, he honored his wife Margo’s wishes to attend the Sight & Sound Theatre in Lancaster County, Penn. Imagine her surprise when she learned there was an exhibit of 60 original Lan-caster County (a haven for gunsmiths)

m a d e i n t h e n R V


rifles at the nearby Landis Valley Farm Museum! Earlier this year, he went to Bowling Green, Ky., for a colonial hand engraving class. Wayne and Margo retired to the New River Valley four years ago. “Frank-ly, I got tired of driving to the football games,” he says. He began coming to the area as a lad, graduated from Virginia

Tech and has always felt a bond to the mountains. “And our son’s family here is, of course, a big bonus!” “I don’t know anyone in the New River Valley doing this kind of craftsmanship, so there’s no one to hang out with and talk about longrifles and the challenges of making them,” he states. He does pop into the little gun

shop on U.S. 460 near the Marathon gas station just west of Route 700 to Mountain Lake in Giles County to chat. He has a gun for sale in there. You’ll know it by either an engraved script signature or an engraved block letter name and a small fish logo after Trout. It’s also the only Kentucky longrifle in there.

k e n t u c k y l o n g r i f l e

“Touch is much more important than sight in longrifle examination,” he explains. “There’s some special memory in our brain that files touch in amazing detail.


People retire to the New River Valley for all sorts of rea-sons – family and simply staying after a working career probably top the list. Right behind those are the small town atmosphere, natural beauty, reasonable cost of living, excellent medical facil-ities and assisted living options, decent weather and the people - wholesome, down-to-earth folks who care about their communi-ties and neighbors. Real estate prices, taxes and the variety of property from rural farms to condo living and everything in between are also factors, along with Virginia Tech and Radford University gradu-ates returning to the college towns they fell in love with decades earlier. With all the medical advances of bypass surgery (yes, one can horseback ride a couple months after), knee and hip replacements (yes, one can be back on the golf course in a few weeks) and drug and therapy treatment programs, retired folks are not relegated to a rocker - unless that’s what you call those seniors who try their hands on a climbing wall or, like Mike Huckabee, play in a hip band. Bob and Shirley Kochmit of Shawsville retired to the New River Valley from New Mexico a few years ago. “I’m from Ohio and grew up in Houston. Shirley is from Texas, and we worked 22 years in New Mexico. We decided to retire in a place with more rain – it’s very dry in the Southwest – and four sea-sons,” Bob says. “We cruised through South Carolina and North Carolina, but it was the New River Valley that got our attention. There are lots of activities, and we like living close to college towns. On our second trip, we found a house, went back and put in retirement papers and packed our things.” Wayne and Margo Trout of Newport tired of driving to Hokie football games from across the state and have family in the area.

My husband, John, and I – originally from Wisconsin and Ver-mont – are staying here after being small business owners for 15 years. Ron and Carol Baker, also of Newport, discovered and fell in love with the New River Valley when they hiked the Appala-chian Trail some years ago. Out of 2,180 beautiful miles, they liked this area the most.Retirement can mean a time to give back by volunteering, and opportunities abound throughout our communities for the energy and experience of senior citizens. Others enjoy frequent, regular contact with grandchildren and have an impact on their lives in a positive way. Realtor® Jeremy Hart interviewed Jeff and Sara Gle-sner recently on this very topic. They met in the New River Val-ley in the 1960s when Jeff was in the Corps at Virginia Tech and Sarah was attending Radford College (now Radford University). After graduation in 1965, they followed careers throughout the United States, eventually spending much of their working life in Richmond. Despite their travels, “something kept pulling us back to Blacksburg,” Jeff says. When it came time to think about retiring, “Blacksburg was the only place we considered.” They moved back to the NRV in 2005. “It’s a fun place,” Sara says, “and it’s halfway between our birthplaces. There really isn’t any reason we’d consider moving again. We just love it here.” And why wouldn’t they? They’re both Virginia Tech sports fans, and they serve in the community. Sara is an active volunteer in several groups at their church, and Jeff, a master woodworker – author’s term, not Jeff’s – has managed to build an incredible woodworking shop behind their house. They both say “they’re having the time of their lives” … and isn’t that what it’s all about in the sunset years?

New River Valley

a fine place to retire

By Joanne M. Anderson

t


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The Russians are Coming, The Russians are Coming was a movie hit in 1966. It was funny, and the repetitive title always struck me as interesting. In today’s retirement living arena one can say: The Baby Boomers are Coming, the Baby Boomers are Coming. “This has been a mantra for long-term care providers for nearly a decade,” states Mike Williams, executive director of the Virginia Long Term Care Network based in Blacksburg and co-owner of English Meadows Retirement in Christians-burg. “In light of the financial crisis of 2008, the ‘Grey Wave’ has yet to hit.” He explains that with the real estate market stalled in many areas, retirees are unable to sell their larg-est asset to move into independent or assisted living arrangements. “How-ever,” he continues, “it is coming, and the demands of contemporary seniors are changing the landscape of the industry.” Williams’ cites life expec-tancy of Baby Boomers to be 20 years longer than when they were born. “Factor in that they retire several years earlier than previous generations, and we have a more mobile, active and demanding se-nior population. Well-heeled Baby Boomers are finding communities which rival cruise ships in ameni-

ties and features, resort style dining options, outdoor and off property ac-tivities and, of course, Internet access everywhere.” At Warm Hearth Village - a retirement community in Blacksburg - several benefits are already in place to accommodate the 21st century se-nior. Walking and nature trails with benches, a wide variety of classes, ac-tivities and interest groups, along with café-style dining at small tables have been the standard since the beginning in 1974. A new Village Center, slated to open early next year, will have a large community room, performance stage, fitness center, pool and café in its 16,300 square feet. The idea is to promote comprehensive well-being, a social center and cultural activities year-round. Getting cramped for space, especially for memory care, a decade ago prompted Riverview Nursing Home in Rich Creek to double its ca-pacity from 60 to 120 beds. “Thirty of those are in our new memory care wing,” states administrator Jim Top-ping. “We have addressed the wireless Internet needs, tried different dining arrangements and implemented a very popular horticulture therapy pro-gram.” Reading areas, libraries and small clusters of comfortable chairs can be found in all retirement homes,

so families can gather quietly togeth-er away from the activity. Nursing stations look more like hotel lobby counters, adding attractive elements to functional spaces. Another man-tra for today’s senior living options could be: This is not your mother’s nursing home. The emphasis now is on “home,” and inviting, comfortable environments are seen in everything from furnishings to wall hangings, paint colors and outdoor gardens and pathways. Williams reports that “as-sisted living care averages $3,400 per month in Virginia, with south-west Virginia being less expensive than northern Virginia. The high end communities can have six-figure en-trance fees and run $5,000 per month or more. Long term care insurance is one way to look at the future with an eye to protecting assets.” The most important advice of all is shop around, like you would for any other major expense. Talk to peo-ple, visit facilities at different times of day, ask every question you can think of and make an informed deci-sion for yourself or a loved one. The senior years do not have to be dull. They can be lived in homey environ-ments with caring staffs, new friends and wonderful ways to while away the days with fewer cares and more satis-faction.

The Baby Boomers are Coming!

By Joanne Anderson


“Pat i e nt f o c u s e d. Fa m i l y o r i e nt e d. ”Hospice is such a wonderful concept. It doesn’t exist much in

my native China.

Hospice is about the family as much as it is the patient. It’s

about offering dignity through choice and providing comfort

at the end of life.

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ome people are born with musical talent. Others cre-ate wondrous images with a paintbrush. Still others paint, but their medium is words and their instrument

a computer keyboard. Then there are those who are simply what advertising agencies refer to as “creatives.” Their me-dium, product and process can change, based on whatever strikes their fancy at a given time. Patricia Knowles is just such an artist. Born in Mexico, Knowles began drawing when she was young, at first copying faces from televised cartoons. Later, she studied sculpture with Tomás Chávez Morado, well-known artist from her native State of Guanajuato. He is perhaps most famous for his bronze column and fountain at the Anthropology Museum in Mexico City. By 1997, she had moved to Bedford, because her husband, John, a native Virginian, decided to return to the area. For the first three years, while she waited for her work permit, she built and decorated birdhouses. Then, work per-mit in hand, she worked at a variety of jobs and continued to develop various creative projects at home. Brown eyes dancing, she explains: “I need to do something to release stress, and for me, crafts have always been calming.” Not quite two years ago, she decided to learn to knit and enlisted a friend to teach her. For most of the world, knitting happens in two dimensions; for Knowles, that wasn’t enough. There is sculpture in her blood. Focusing on

t

the use of yarn, she went to the Internet to teach herself to crochet. Then she began to make her first dolls. Does she have a pattern? Not really. Does she count stitches? Rarely. Can she replicate one of her cre-ations? Probably not. Early on, small, animal-like figures quickly mor-phed into larger dolls that represent a character. The first one was a representation of La Catrina, the skeleton of an upper class woman that is part of the Mexican celebration of the Day of the Dead, corresponding to All Saints Day and All Souls Day in this country. Then came the Corpse Bride from the animated film by the same name, and the Red Queen in Tim Burton’s ver-sion of Alice in Wonderland. Meanwhile, Knowles had become involved in a lively, e-mail exchange with a woman who worked for the same company she was working for, but who lives in Germa-

a r t i s t

profile

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Patricia KnowlesA Creative Mind

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ny. What had been professional quickly became congenial and then evolved into a strong friendship. When her German friend talked excitedly about taking tuba lessons, Knowles decided it was time to take on a musical instrument. That doll now lives happily in Lower Saxony with the real tuba-player, and Knowles freely admits she probably couldn’t make it exactly that way again. A peripatetic scavenger, Knowles looks in all kinds of places for materials, and when she can’t find exactly the color or texture she wants, she makes it. With a mischievous grin, she pulls a strand on one of the dolls and explains: “See, it is stiff, it has a shine to it, and it’s a very different color – I painted it.” Next in line, she thinks, is something from The Wiz-ard of Oz, though she freely admits and even repeats that she works from inspiration. Does that mean she doesn’t do com-missions? Knowles knits her brow when she answers. “I’m re-ally not sure. I do have a friend who wants me to do Elvis, and I can tell you that whatever the project, I find the face the most difficult part. I really have to work on the expression.” Now employed full-time in a job she truly enjoys at CCS, Inc. in Christiansburg, Knowles fits her projects into eve-nings and weekends. “When I sit down after dinner to watch TV,” she says, “there is almost always something in my hands. I’ve honestly never even thought about this being a full-time pursuit, though that’s an intriguing idea. Truth is, I’ve never even tried to sell one of my dolls. It would be nice, of course, but I do this because I love it.” As she talks, she carefully positions her dolls for the photo shoot, and passersby stop to ask questions. Her ready smile and rampant enthusiasm take over. If ever she does turn to sales, there’s little question about her potential success.


very hunter remembers taking his or her first buck. For Chris Ramrattan, avid hunter and archery spe-cialist at Riner’s Whitetail

Outfitters, his first buck was particularly memorable – and humorous. “It was the first day of muzzle-loader season, one of my first times hunt-ing by myself,” he recalls. “I was about 11 years old. “ His hunting party – un-cles and the like – had set him up in a tree stand. “It felt like it was a mile up, but it was probably only 10 feet off the ground.” All morning Ramrattan sat and waited – and saw no deer. “It was harder to see deer back then,” some 16 years ago, Ramrattan says. The plan was for everyone to meet at noon at a desig-nated point. Hour after hour passed, and Ramrattan was ready to be done. “I was getting a little fidgety, you know how it is when you’re a kid.” So he packed up all his gear, looked out – and saw a buck. “It wasn’t no giant, just a little four-pointer. But the excitement took over.” Ramrattan stood up and dug through his backpack, looking for his

caps. “The deer was only 20 yards away, and I’m literally throwing stuff out of tree stand – facemask, gloves – because I couldn’t find my caps. Eventually I find everything.” He sat back in the stand, got com-fortable, and as Ramrattan puts it, “There I had my first buck laying on the ground. It was one of those things that was meant to be. “I’d have liked to have a camera on me. I look back in my head and it still makes me smile.” White-tailed deer are the most sought-after game animal in Virginia. According to the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF), 8,551 deer were taken in Montgomery, Giles, Pu-laski and Floyd counties last year. Centuries ago, deer were an im-portant source of meat and hides to Native Americans, but by the turn of the 20th century, overhunting nearly eliminated the creature from the Commonwealth. Thanks to game laws and wildlife management, the deer population has been restored in Virginia to the point where the DGIF’s management strategy has switched from increasing the population to stabilizing and controlling it. The restoration of the white-

tailed deer, says Tom Caceci, “is one of the great success stories of Virginia game management. This really is kind of the good old days for deer hunting – there are so many deer, they’ve almost reached a nuisance level.” That deer can be a nui-sance is well-known to gardeners in the New River Valley, as well as those drive the roadways, particularly at night. Caceci, who grew up in New York City and teaches anatomy and histo-pathology at both the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in Blacksburg and the Jefferson College of Health Sciences in Roanoke, first came to the New River Valley in 1987. “I jokingly tell people I’m a pro-fessional squirrel hunter,” he says, “Squir-rels are not only interesting animals in and of themselves but also a worthy quarry.” Squirrels played an important role in the settling of the Blue Ridge. They were “fantastically abundant in colonial times,” he says – an important game ani-mal, a good source of protein. “There are reports of people getting 100 squirrels in one day.” Squirrels were more abundant because forests still held chestnut trees, which provided an excellent mast crop for all kinds of wildlife.

On the

E

HuntCenturies ago, deer were an important source of meat and hides to Native Americans, but

by the turn of the 20th cen-tury, overhunting nearly elim-inated the creature from the

Commonwealth.

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a d v e n t u r e


Lately, Caceci – who is a hunter education instructor and runs a blog, The New River Valley Outdoorsman – has been hunting squirrels with a single shot muzzleloader rifle, “which is a real chal-lenge. I tell people if I want to kill squir-rels, I use a shotgun. If I want to scare them I use a rifle, and if I want to make them laugh I use a pistol.” Ramrattan’s prefers bowhunt-ing when he’s out after deer. He likes the fact that it takes serious effort “to learn how to shoot the bow and get ac-curate,” a practice to which he dedicates the non-hunting months. Local archery groups like Triangle Archery have off-season 3D shoots for archers to test their skill. Recently, though, Ramrattan has been doing more rifle and muzzle-loader hunting – because his wife, Jes-sica, favors that kind of hunting. “It’s always more enjoyable when you’ve got the whole family involved in it,” he says. Hunting is also a good pursuit for children. “It’s unbelievable what it does for you as a kid,” Ramrattan de-clares. “It teaches you how to be per-sistent, to go after what you want, to not quit so easy. It teaches you so much

respect – respect for other peoples’ land, respect for the animals you’re hunting – a tolerance, a patience. As the saying goes, ‘Take your kid hunting and you’ll never have to hunt your kid.’” In addition to deer and squirrels, there are other wild game in the New River Valley –turkeys (whose populations have also been restored in recent decades), bear, duck and rabbits. Hunters are cautious to carry their hunting licenses and adhere to the regulations when hunting. (For more information, check with DGIF.) Don’t forget to scout a prospec-tive hunting spot, especially this year, with all of the windstorms. Downed trees in the woods will affect the travel patterns of deer and other wildlife. When Ramrattan was a youth, he spent every free moment in the woods – before school, after school, whenever. Now, he says, “There’s not enough hours in the day any more.” He has other things to keep busy now – a job, a new home and a family which includes a young’un – three-year-old Kaylee. “She’s dying to go hunting with me. Hopefully next year we’ll get her out in the woods, let her start to get a feel for it.”

If you’re getting ready to go hunt-ing for the first time – or are taking some-one who is – know that it is mandatory for first-time hunters and hunters ages 12 to 15 to take a hunter education course. There is no charge. According to DGIF, since the in-troductory class became mandatory in 1988, there has been a 25 percent decrease in hunting-related shooting incidents in Vir-ginia. In addition to basic hunter education classes, volunteers teachers work with DGIF to put on the safety classes along with instruction on trapping and bowhunting, Basic education classes are sched-uled throughout the New River Valley. Check http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/hunt-ing/education/ for exact dates and informa-tion. Tom Caceci, who has been a hunter education volunteer instructor for 15 years, says the demography of hunters in the NRV has evolved. “There has been an increase in women who hunt,” he says. About 10 percent of any given hunter ed-ucation class, he estimates, are girls and women.

If you’re getting ready. . .


Here’s a novel way to find a vacation spot. Open a map to the general vicinity you want to go, close your eyes and put your finger on the page. That’s your new vacation desti-nation. Debbie Gardner’s finger rest-ed on Draper, Va., about halfway be-tween her Charlotte, N.C., home and her home state of West Virginia. She loved it so much that she and her hus-band, Bill, bought a cabin, using it for vacations and renting it out when they were not using it. One cabin. One property to manage. Within a year: three cabins. Three properties to manage. “Ours were renting so well that people would ask us to manage theirs. Real estate agents called to inquire about management possibilities with us. It was a strong selling point for them to be able to point a prospective buyer to a local vacation management com-pany,” explains Debbie. Now they own five and manage more than 25. When office space got crowded, the Gardners looked at the old Draper Mercantile and Trading Company building. “I spent a year

interviewing local people about it and some said their family would’ve starved if not for the mercantile and its generous credit arrangements. Others remember practically raising their kids in the mercantile. It didn’t take long for the big picture to emerge: this is a community center, a place where peo-ple come together in a positive way,” Debbie continues. With an entrepreneurial spirit that can’t be contained, they bought the building in 2008 and spent a couple years renovating it. The Draper Mer-cantile opened – make that re-opened – in May 2010 with fresh produce, food items, good cheeses and clotted cream – the kind of artisan specialties people had to drive 30 or 40 miles to get. Lo-cal artists and craftspeople have space, along with some nice gift items, a large assortment of cool greeting cards, bro-chure racks of regional interest and a book section for local writers. The Blue Door Café serves breakfast and lunch with homemade breads, farm fresh eggs, locally roast-ed coffee, soups made fresh daily and a wonderful assortment of freshly baked

muffins, scones, cakes and desserts. Soda in glass bottles is stored in a vin-tage Coke cooler. Homemade pies are wildly popular, and Friday is Pie Day. What began with a handful of pies now com-mands more than three dozen pies ev-ery Friday, and Debbie expects it will keep growing. Speaking of growing, she has an ice cream parlor, trip excursions and bike rentals now at The Junction store next door. “We have a first class tour guide, gourmet box lunches and all sorts of outdoor gear and activi-ties. It’s like building a whole village where each element supports the other. It was easy to send a few visitors to a few places, when we just had a few cabins to rent. But with all the people vacationing here through our New Riv-er Retreat management company, we have really begun to sell the Southwest Virginia experience,” she says. A savvy businesswoman, Deb-bie understands that what she offers is driven by what guests like to do on va-cation: enjoy music, art, food, outdoor recreation. Even though they are from

Friday is Pie Day

sustaining heritage, heart and soul in

Southwest Virginia

By Joanne M. Anderson

tn r v

travel


out-of-town, visitors immensely en-joy and appreciate the importance of history, community and local connec-tions at the mercantile. “Once we get people here, we have a very high return rate. You know, places like Blowing Rock, Boone and Gatlinburg have lots of marketing dollars. We have just a website and no grant money or public funding. We’ve financed everything ourselves, and it’s cool to be part of something bigger than you are. In

one’s 20s and 30s, it’s all about you and what you can get. In later years,” explains the 51-year-old, “it’s about what you can give.” With that in mind, the Draper Mercantile is looking at hosting yappy hour, a black tie event to raise money for the humane society in Pulaski. The Committee for the New River can have a platform here to present information on what they are doing. With a beer and wine license pending, Debbie plans to hold book signings for local authors

and art and music events to bring New River Valley folks together with people from other Virginia regions and the va-cationers as well. The Draper Mercantile and Trading Company has been revived to serve in any way it can to make people feel at home, enjoy the town, the food, the music, and local arts and crafts. Did I mention that Friday is Pie Day? (Tip: You can get a piece of homemade pie any day.)

Nightly Rates begin at

$225.00 + tax,

OktoberfestWeekends at Mountain Lake!

Mountain Lake hosts our 24th Anniversary of this celebration of Autumn with Toasting, Feasting, and Music!

September 22, 29 and October 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, and 27$35.00 adults • $26.25 12-18 • $17.50 4-11 • non-refundable

ReseRvations RequiRed. Call 800-346-3334 tiCKets onLine at www.mountainlakehotel.com

• Appetizer Grill with German Sausages • German Beers, Wines and Spiced Cider • Traditional German Buffet • Hot and Cold Banquet Tables • Roasted Pig

Note: for Oktoberfest participants not staying at Mountain Lake, reservations may be made Mon-Fri 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ticket price non-refundable.

115 Hotel Circle, Pembroke, VA

Live German Oompah Band!

Purchase Tickets Online! Go to mountainlakehotel.com and click on Oktoberfest Tickets

per night/2 people Oktoberfest is included

in your overnight lodging, alcoholic beverages are extra.


This dressing recipe makes about a cup… a lot more than you’ll need for one salad, but it can be stored in the refrigerator for at least two weeks. Return to room temperature and whisk well to reuse. For the salad:In a large salad bowl, combine mixed baby greens, thin unpeeled pear slices, and lightly toasted pecans. Toss with a small amount of the dressing below.For the dressing:

INGREDIENTS3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar1 tablespoon Dijon mustard½ teaspoon brown sugar¾ cup extra virgin olive oil1 clove garlic, peeled and smashedSalt and freshly ground black pepper, to tasteIn a small bowl, combine the lemon juice, vinegar, mustard, and brown sugar. Gradually whisk in the ol-ive oil in a thin stream. Add the garlic clove and salt and pepper. Remove garlic clove before serving. It’s amazing how something so simple can be so sinfully delicious!

All your guests will want this recipe. Be sure your cream cheese is at room temperature so it’s soft enough to mix well. Otherwise, it’s hard to mess up this recipe. Serve with crackers, chips, sliced baguette and crudites.

INGREDIENTS(Makes about 12 servings)4 scallions, thinly sliced2 medium yellow onions, coarsely chopped1 tablespoon olive oil3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened1 ¼ cups freshly grated Parmesan2 large cloves garlic, finely minced¾ cup mayonnaise1 teaspoon salt½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper½ teaspoon red pepper flakes

DIRECTIONS1. Saute the scallions and onions in the olive oil over medium heat until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Let cool.2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl combine the cooled sautéed onions with the remaining ingredients, reserving ¼ cup of the Parmesan. Mix well.3. Transfer the mixture to an 8-inch baking dish. Sprinkle with the reserved ¼ cup of Parmesan. Bake until bubbly and lightly browned, about 35 minutes. Garnish with chopped scallions, if de-sired. Serve warm with crackers, chips, sliced baguette or crudités.

By Elizabeth Woodson, owner of Elizabeth W. Gift Baskets (www.elizabethwgiftbaskets.com),

an online gift basket store.

tR e c i p e s

BABY GREEN & PEAR SALAD WITH BROWN SUGAR DRESSING

WARM ONION-PARMESAN DIP


www.visitgilescounty.org

Sept 1 | Great Outdoors ExpoSept 8-9| Rich Creek AutumnfestSept 8 | 2nd Annual Wolf Creek Heritage Music FestSept 15 | Art on the LawnSept 29 | Tour De Wolf Creek Cycling EventSept 29 | 2nd Annual Mountain Top Trot 10mi & 5k Trail Run

OktobeOktoberfest on Mountain Lake Sept 22-99 and Oct 5-6, 12-13, 19-20, 26-17Oct 6 | Pembroke Heritage Festival

&festivals events

october

september

GilesCounty

Around the corner.Right where you need us.

THE NICE THING ABOUT BEING THE LOCAL BANK is that we have a vested interest in the community. We’re part of it. So we’re doing more than simply helping clients manage their finances. We’re helping neighbors achieve their dreams. And, like any good local bank, we’re conveniently located. So stop by and see us. We’re probably just around the corner.

Doug Broyles, Financial Center Leader BB&T University Mall

(540) 808-1203 | [email protected]

Kermit Daniel, City Executive New River Valley

(540) 808-1205 | [email protected]

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

BB&T. Member FDIC. Only deposit products are FDIC insured. BBT.com. © 2012, Branch Banking and Trust Company. All rights reserved.

Convenient location on Main Street with 3 spacious studiosExperienced faculty members and clustered learning groupsFriendly office personnel available to provide assistanceEnjoy ease of scheduling by taking multiple classes consecutively

Ballet . Pointe . Lyrical . Tap . Jazz . Contemporary . Hip Hop . Gymnastics Pre-school Dance . Gym . Music . Recreational Classes . Competition Teams

The place you start, the place you stay

Dance.techPERFORMING ARTS STUDIO

1101 N. Main St.Blacksburg, VA 24060

www.dance-tech.com 540-961-6666


Up On the RoofUp On the Roof

Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce

Photos Courtesy of

Business ExpoBusiness Expo


Business ExpoBusiness Expo

Up On the RoofUp On the Roof

Pulaski CountyChamber of Commerce

Photos Courtesy ofPulaski Co. Chamber

new river valley magazine

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