Images Washington County, VA: 2008

All Their World’s a StageBarter Theatre celebrates 75 yearsBarter Theat

SHOPPING IS HOPPING

Mall becomes regional destination

RETURNING TO HER ROOTS

Author Barbara Kingsolver writes best seller here

SPONSORED BY THE WASHINGTON COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, VIRGINIA

2008 | IMAGESWASHINGTONCOUNTY.COM | VIDEO VIGNETTES

TM

378 C1.indd C1 6/18/08 3:51:12 PM

378 C2,C3,C4.indd C2 6/18/08 3:51:28 PM

ON THE COVER The Barter Theatre Photo by Brian McCord

CONTENTS

FEATURES

8 ALL THEIR WORLD’S A STAGEThe Barter Theatre celebrates 75 yearsof success and growth in Abingdon.

12 TALK OF THE TOWNBest Art Town, Best Place to Retire: Abingdon earns national accolades.

16 WEEKEND WANDERDine in excellent restaurants, enjoy live theater and experience the outdoors during a weekend in Washington County.

35 RETURNING TO HER ROOTSFamed author Barbara Kingsolver’s latest novel details her family’s experiences living on a Washington County farm.

39 AN ART LOVER’S BUFFETQuality galleries and talented artists give this town “Arts of Historic Proportion.”

41 THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOMEStudents here don’t have to travel far for a great college education.

DEPARTMENTS

4 Almanac: a colorful sampling of Washington County culture

28 Image Gallery

32 Portfolio: people, places and events that defi ne Washington County

43 Sports & Recreation

45 Health & Wellness

48 Community Profi le: facts, stats and important numbers to know

WASHINGTON COUNTY BUSINESS 20 Shopping Is Hopping

The Highlands makes Washington County a shopping destination.

22 Biz Briefs

24 Chamber Report

25 Economic Profile

TM

CONTENTS

FEATURES

WASHINGTON COUNTY BUSINESS

OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, VIRGINIA

TMTM

2008 EDITION | VOLUME 8

8

This magazine is printed entirely or in part on recycled paper containing 10% post-consumer waste.

PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE

WASHINGTON COUNT Y IMAGESWASHINGTONCOUNT Y.COM 1

378 TOC.indd 1 6/18/08 3:54:54 PM

378 TOC.indd 2 6/18/08 3:55:03 PM

TM

“Find the good – and praise it.”– Alex Haley (1921-1992), Journal Communications co-founder

jnlcom.com

SEARCH OUR ARCHIVES Browse past issues of the magazine by year or search for specifi c articles by subject.

INSTANT LINKS Read the entire magazine online using our ActiveMagazine™ technology and link instantly to community businesses and services.

EVEN MORE Read full-length versions of the magazine’s articles; fi nd related stories; or read new content exclusive to the Web. Look for the See More Online reference in this issue.

WEB SITE EXTRA

MOVING PICTURES PLUS

3

21

ABOUT THIS MAGAZINEImages of Washington County is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is sponsored by the Washington County Chamber of Commerce. In print and online, Images gives readers a taste of what makes Washington County tick – from business and education to sports, health care and the arts.

VIRGINIA CUISINE: AN ECLECTIC MIXFrom shrimp, shad and oysters to spoonbread and red-eye gravy over grits, a range of regional recipes is ready for the tasting. Find out more at imageswashingtoncounty.com.

A GARDENER’S PARADISEVirginia is a great place to garden. We have long growing seasons, abundant rainfall, fertile soil and a mild climate in which many different kinds of plants thrive. Find out more at imageswashingtoncounty.com.

VIDEO 1 INSIDE LOOK Join us on a virtual tour of Washington County through the lenses of our award-winning photographers at imageswashingtoncounty.com.

VIDEO 2 WHITE’S MILLWatch corn being ground at White’s Mill, and tour this historic structure and the nearby mercantile at imageswashingtoncounty.com.

VIDEO 3 BARTER THEATREJoin Artistic Director Richard Rose for a virtual tour of the historic Barter Theatre. Visit imageswashingtoncounty.com.

SENIOR EDITOR KIM MADLOM

COPY EDITOR JOYCE CARUTHERS

ASSOCIATE EDITORS LISA BATTLES, SARAH B. GILLIAM,

BILL McMEEKIN, ANITA WADHWANI

ASSISTANT EDITOR REBECCA DENTON

STAFF WRITERS CAROL COWAN, KEVIN LITWIN

DATABASE PROJECT MANAGER YANCEY TURTURICE

DATA MANAGERS RANETTA SMITH, KRISTY WISE

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT JESSY YANCEY

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS BRANDON LOWE,

JOE MORRIS, RAVEN PETTY

INTEGRATED MEDIA MANAGER DESHAUN GOODRICH

SALES SUPPORT MANAGER SARA SARTIN

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS JEFF ADKINS, TODD BENNETT,

ANTONY BOSHIER, JESSE KNISH,

IAN CURCIO, BRIAN MCCORD

PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT ANNE WHITLOW

CREATIVE DIRECTOR KEITH HARRIS

WEB DESIGN DIRECTOR SHAWN DANIEL

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR NATASHA LORENS

ASST. PRODUCTION DIRECTOR CHRISTINA CARDEN

PRE-PRESS COORDINATOR HAZEL RISNER

SENIOR PRODUCTION PROJECT MGR. TADARA SMITH

PRODUCTION PROJECT MGRS.

MELISSA HOOVER, JILL WYATT

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS LAURA GALLAGHER,

KRIS SEXTON, VIKKI WILLIAMS

LEAD DESIGNER CANDICE SWEET

GRAPHIC DESIGN JESSICA BRAGONIER, ERICA HINES,

ALISON HUNTER, JANINE MARYLAND,

LINDA MOREIRAS, AMY NELSON

WEB PROJECT MANAGERS ANDY HARTLEY, YAMEL RUIZ

WEB DESIGN RYAN DUNLAP, CARL SCHULZ

COLOR IMAGING TECHNICIAN CORY MITCHELL

AD TRAFFIC MARCIA BANASIK, SARAH MILLER,

PATRICIA MOISAN, RAVEN PETTY

CHAIRMAN GREG THURMAN

PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER BOB SCHWARTZMAN

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT RAY LANGEN

SR. V.P./CLIENT DEVELOPMENT JEFF HEEFNER

SR. V.P./SALES CARLA H. THURMAN

SR. V.P./OPERATIONS CASEY E. HESTER

V.P./SALES HERB HARPER

V.P./SALES TODD POTTER

V.P./VISUAL CONTENT MARK FORESTER

V.P./TRAVEL PUBLISHING SYBIL STEWART

V.P./EDITORIAL DIRECTOR TEREE CARUTHERS

MANAGING EDITOR/BUSINESS MAURICE FLIESS

MANAGING EDITOR/TRAVEL SUSAN CHAPPELL

PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR JEFFREY S. OTTO

CONTROLLER CHRIS DUDLEY

ACCOUNTING MORIAH DOMBY, RICHIE FITZPATRICK,

DIANA GUZMAN, MARIA McFARLAND, LISA OWENS

RECRUITING/TRAINING DIRECTOR SUZY WALDRIP

COMMUNITY PROMOTION DIRECTOR CINDY COMPERRY

DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR GARY SMITH

IT SYSTEMS DIRECTOR MATT LOCKE

IT SERVICE TECHNICIAN RYAN SWEENEY

HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER PEGGY BLAKE

CUSTOM SALES SUPPORT PATTI CORNELIUS

SALES/MARKETING COORDINATOR RACHEL MATHEIS

SALES COORDINATOR JENNIFER ALEXANDER

OFFICE MANAGER SHELLY GRISSOM

RECEPTIONIST LINDA BISHOP

C U S TO M M A G A Z I N E M E D I A

Images of Washington County is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through

the Washington County Chamber of Commerce and its member businesses. For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine,

contact Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080or by e-mail at [email protected].

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:Washington County Chamber of Commerce

179 E. Main St. • Abingdon, VA 24210Phone: (276) 628-8141 • Fax: (276) 628-3984

E-mail: [email protected] www.washingtonvachamber.org

VISIT IMAGES OF WASHINGTON COUNTY ONLINE AT IMAGESWASHINGTONCOUNTY.COM

©Copyright 2008 Journal Communications Inc.,725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067,

(615) 771-0080. All rights reserved.No portion of this magazine may be reproduced

in whole or in part without written consent.

Member Magazine Publishers of America

Member Custom Publishing Council

Member Washington County Chamber of Commerce

OF WASHINGTON COUNTY


378 TOC.indd 3 6/18/08 3:55:05 PM

Wow: An Actual Drive-In

Abingdon is home to the oldest

continuously operated drive-in theater

in the state of Virginia.

The Moonlite Drive-In is a one-screen

landmark on Lee Highway that dates

back to 1948. Washington County resident

William Booker owns the facility, which

has parking for 454 vehicles.

Ticket prices are $5 for ages 12 and up,

while kids 11 and under are admitted free.

People can listen to the movies via outside

speakers or on their car radios at 87.9 FM.

Now That’s a Big Pig

It began in 1950 as the Burley Tobacco Festival and Farm Show, and today is simply known as the Washington County Fair.

The fair today runs for six days in mid-September and draws more than 60,000 visitors to the Washington County Fairgrounds. The Virginia Association of Fairs named the Washington County extravaganza “The Best Overall Fair in Virginia for 2006.”

Activities include agriculture contests, cattle judging, carnival rides and country music concerts. Entertainers who have appeared in the past include Garth Brooks, George Strait, Martina McBride, Bill Monroe and Crystal Gayle.

SEE VIDEO ONLINE | Watch corn being ground at White’s Mill. Visit imageswashingtoncounty.com.

Still Grinding AwayYou can still get fresh cornmeal at White’s Mill.

The mill has been providing meal and flour since the late 1700s, and

it used waterpower for its grinding process until 1989. The landmark

was listed in 1974 on the National Register of Historic Places.

Visitors today can see the old equipment and visit the on-site

mercantile store. Freshly ground products that sell for $3 a bag

include yellow cornmeal, buckwheat flour, ground flax seed and

gluten-free products.

The White’s Mill Foundation also hosts various community events

at the site, including the annual Harvest Days in October. The festival

features music, fishing and food.

4 IMAGESWASHINGTONCOUNT Y.COM WASHINGTON COUNT Y

Almanac

378 Almanac.indd 4 6/18/08 3:50:26 PM

Grip It and Rip ItHopefully, golfers will always hit ’em long and straight at the courses

situated in Washington County.Abingdon is home to Glenrochie Country Club, featuring an 18-hole,

Par 72 private course. The Greenway Creek Golf Course in Glade Springs is a public 18-hole course. In Damascus, golfers can play nine holes at the Deer Field Golf Course, which is bordered by the Jefferson National Forest.

Meanwhile, nearby Bristol also has two venues – Clear Creek Golf Club and The Virginian Golf Club.

Bottled Up Excitement

Here is a toast to Abingdon

Vineyard & Winery.

The winery now offers more

than 20 varieties along with a

tasting room that is open from

March to December. The

Abingdon company’s white

wines include

chardonnay,

viognier, reisling,

pinot noir and

a variety of

sweet whites.

Its selection

of red wines

includes cabernet

franc, chambourcin

and a very sweet

red called Razzle

that is made from

cabernet franc and

Norton grapes.

Plenty of Trail MixDamascus bills itself as Trail Town USA, so it makes sense that it hosts

Appalachian Trail Days each summer.

The 2,160-mile Appalachian Trail runs from Georgia to Maine, and

Damascus is roughly the halfway point. Damascus is also the only town

that the trail passes through – the sidewalk on Main Street is part of the

Appalachian Trail.

The town is home to two sporting goods stores, several bike shops

and many bed & breakfasts. Damascus is also widely known as “the

friendliest town on the trail.”


378 Almanac.indd 5 6/18/08 3:50:34 PM

ACTION! ADVENTURE!

AT IMAGESWASHINGTONCOUNTY.COM

THE MOVIETHE MOVIEImages of Washington CountyImages of Washington County

STARTS TODAY!

WORLD WIDE WEBSHOWTIMES VALIDMONDAY-SUNDAY 24/7

SPECIAL ENGAGEMENT ANY RESEMBLANCE TO PLACES, EVENTS OR QUALITY OF LIFE IN WASHINGTON COUNTYIS PURELY INTENTIONAL!

““WASHINGTON WASHINGTON COUNTY LIKE IT’S COUNTY LIKE IT’S NEVER BEEN SEEN NEVER BEEN SEEN

BEFORE!BEFORE!””

““IT KEPT ME ON THE EDGE OF MY LAPTOP!IT KEPT ME ON THE EDGE OF MY LAPTOP!””

378 Almanac.indd 6 6/18/08 3:50:37 PM

Emory

19

58 58

11

WashingtonW n Abingdon

Holston

Damascus

Bristol

Meadowview

MOUNT ROGERSNATIONALRECREATION AREA

Glade Spring

Saltalalltvtvtvvvivitvtt llelllS

1071

South H

olston Lake

81

n

n

n

n

n

StageAll Their

World’s a

BARTER THEATRE MARKS 75 YEARS OF REGIONAL

THEATRICAL EXCELLENCE


378 F1-All Their World's a Stage.indd 8 6/19/08 1:00:24 PM

F or 75 years, the Barter Theatre has been an Abingdon institution – an institution with both a rich history and a bright future.

Begun as a kind of entertainment-for-food swap meet during the Depression, the aptly named Barter would accept cash or produce for admission. The first stage sat atop the town jail and there were plenty of naysayers, but founder Robert Porterfield was able to make a success of the theater. That first year, the Barter Company cleared $4.35. (In a nod to its roots, the Barter accepts donations for area food banks in lieu of admission at least once a year.)

The Barter has featured the talents of actors who later became Hollywood and Broadway stars. Gregory Peck, Patricia Neal, Kevin Spacey and dozens of others have performed here. The success of the Barter is tied to a commitment to setting the standard high in terms of actors and material. Today’s resident actors are paid professionals with impressive resumes, training and talent.

The Barter itself is worthy of the talent on its stage. The 507-seat theater, built in 1831 as a church and deeded to the

city in 1890, now is the hub of an eight-building campus that includes the Barter Theatre Stage II, an 1829 church building renovated to become a 167-seat venue. The Barter features authentic furnishings from the Empire Theatre in New York, a historic building that Porterfield was given one weekend to loot before its destruction.

“For the anniversary, we’re doing a bigger season than we’ve ever done before, a bigger spectrum of shows,” says Courtney Bledsoe, associate director of marketing. “We’re doing some new, big shows like “Beauty and the Beast,” and have brought back some favorites like “Keep on the Sunny Side,” the story of the original Carter Family, which has played to more audiences than any show we’ve ever done.”

The Barter continues to expand in every direction, including operating its own touring company, workshops and edu-cational outreach programs. It’s also become justifiably famous for its annual Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights, which runs every August in tandem with the Virginia Highlands Festival.

Staying on top of the myriad of productions and ensuring

STORY BY JOE MORRISPHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN McCORD

With a professional company of actors, support staff and artistic director, The Barter Theatre offers performances several steps above typical community theater. Left: Barter Stage II is located in a renovated 1829 church.



SEE VIDEO ONLINE | Take a virtual tour of The Barter at imageswashingtoncounty.com.



excellence falls to Richard Rose, who is only the third artistic director in the Barter’s history. Rose, who is celebrating his 16th season with Barter, is a visionary who draws out the best from the actors, the venues and the community. In 2007, under his leadership, the Barter had a record-breaking season with more than 160,000 attending programs and performances.

“We work at a very fast pace,” Rose says. “You have to have a really strong work ethic to survive at Barter. We demand perfection and we expect results. Everyone works very hard, but everyone has a voice. Our goal is to encourage everyone to succeed at their job and to be as supportive as possible of each other toward that success. In my working life, I have never been part of a group of people who are more compassionate toward one another than the people here at Barter.”

Going forward, Rose says he’d love to augment the Barter’s acting company and become even more diverse in pro-gramming, which might happen if a third theater is added to the complex as downtown Abingdon continues to grow and develop.

As things stand now, however, the Barter doesn’t lack for fans. One is Priscilla Hall, a longtime season subscriber.

“I love live drama, and the Barter is so professional and so very versatile,” says Hall, who also attends backstage tours, panel discussions and special events.

“Richard Rose is so good at getting every ounce of talent out of the people who work for him,” she says. “It’s a beautiful place, and Stage II is so wonderful for those intense, innovative plays. I just like everything about the theater.”

Barter Stage II is a perfect venue for innovative live theater such as The Road Where It Curves Away.Left: The main theater offers seating for more than 500.



Talk of the


378 F2-Talk of the Town.indd 12 6/18/08 3:52:23 PM

A nd the winner is – Abingdon. Again and again.

Abingdon was voted the American Dream Town for

2006 by American Dream Magazine, while USA Today recently tabbed Abingdon as one of the Best Art Towns in the country, and one of America’s Best Places to Retire.

But that’s not all. For the past 15 years, the American Bus Association has recognized the town’s Virginia Highlands Festival as one of the Top 100 Events to Visit in the United States. It is virtually unheard of for the American Bus Association to nominate any national event for even five years in a row, yet the festival and its highly rated arts and crafts show has been acknowledged for 15 years running.

So what is it about this Washington County, Va., town that makes it so attractive?

“Abingdon has managed to retain its small-town charm, while at the same time gradually growing and providing

STORY BY KEVIN LITWINPHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN McCORD

Main Street in downtown Abingdon is lined with shops, restaurants and activities. Above: The Star Museum is the city’s newest attraction.

ABINGDON CONTINUES TO EARN NATIONAL ACCOLADES

nd the winner is – Abingdon.Again and again.

Abingdon was voted the American Dream Town for

2006 by American Dream Magazine, while USA Today recently tabbed Abingdonyas one of the Best Art Towns in the country, and one of America’s Best Placesto Retire.

But that’s not all. For the past 15 years, the American Bus Associationhas recognized the town’s VirginiaHighlands Festival as one of the Top 100Events to Visit in the United States. It isvirtually unheard of for the AmericanBus Association to nominate any nationalevent for even five years in a row, yet the festival and its highly rated arts andcrafts show has been acknowledged for 15 years running.

So what is it about this WashingtonCounty, Va., town that makes it soattractive?

“Abingdon has managed to retain itssmall-town charm, while at the same time gradually growing and providing

STORY BY KEVIN LITWINPHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN McCORD

Main Street in downtown Abingdon is lined with shops, restaurants andactivities. Above: The Star Museumis the city’s newest attraction.

AABBIINNNNGGGGDDOON CONNTTIINUUEESS TTOO EEEAAAARRRRNNNN NNAATIONNAALL AACCCCOOLLAADDDEEEESSS

Town



the things to do that usually only much larger communities are able to provide,” says Gregory W. Kelly, town manager. “I like to view Abingdon as a melting pot of arts and crafts, music, recreation and history.”

The town’s attractions include several old homes and buildings that are included in a 20-block historic district. There is also a Virginia Creeper Trail for hiking and biking that features some of the most spectacular scenery found anywhere in the country.

“Abingdon also offers an assortment of plays at our Barter Theatre throughout the year, and we have activities at the William King Regional Arts Center, The

Arts Depot and The Cave House craft cooperative,” Kelly says. “And soon we will become the home of Heartwood, southwest Virginia’s regional arts center that is scheduled for construction in the near future on the campus of Virginia Highlands Community College.”

The town also recently added an Abingdon Market Pavilion that houses a farmer’s market while doubling as an outdoor venue for concerts.

“One of our newest attractions is the Star Museum, whose owner Robert Weisfeld has enjoyed a lifelong interest in collecting celebrity memorabilia,” says Myra D. Cook, director of tourism for the town of Abingdon. “Robert has pur-

chased hundreds of items at auction and on eBay, and now has a warehouse full of memorabilia. Things like Lucille Ball’s toothbrush, Elvis Presley’s favorite chair, Janis Joplin’s dress, Audrey Hepburn’s coat – there are so many items that Robert is able to rotate the displays often.”

Cook says visitors to Abingdon should also take a tour of Sinking Spring Cemetery, where many prominent and famous Virginians are buried.

“Tourism in Abingdon is growing all the time,” she says. “Now there is talk about adding a Main Street program in our downtown district, which will make our town even more attractive than it already is.”

Star Museum owner Robert Weisfeld has collected – and now displays – memorabilia from Hollywood legends such as Lucille Ball, Elvis Presley, Audrey Hepburn and Clint Eastwood, who autographed the helmet shown here.

SEE VIDEO ONLINE | See vintage Hollywood memorabilia inside the Star Museum. Visit imageswashingtoncounty.com.



Scenery along The Virginia Creeper Trail includes a walking bridge, railroad tracks and train trestles.



Hidden Memories Antiques and Art on Main Street, Abingdon, Virginia. PHOTO BY BRIAN MCCORD

Hidden Memories Antiques and Art on Main Street in AbingdonPHOTO BY BRIAN MCCORD


378 F3-Weekend Wander.indd 16 6/18/08 3:53:36 PM

F rom hiking or biking on miles of trails to relaxing in the serenity of a spa, from antique shopping along historic streets to dining in hip, trendy res-taurants, and from browsing quiet galleries to

watching dynamic performing arts, Washington County offers a wealth of ways to while away a weekend.

FRIDAY AFTERNOONStart your weekend with lunch at Alison’s on Main Street.

Savor the World Famous Baked Potato Soup or choose from meal-size salads, fish, ribs, hand-pulled barbecue or steak. The deep-fried sweet potato chips are something special.

After lunch, take time to lose that workweek tension with a visit to The Spa at the Martha Washington Inn. Pick from a full menu of luxurious pampering services. Ahhhhh. Take the time to tour this beautiful building and surrounding grounds.

Now head downtown, where Abingdon’s antique shops and art galleries await you. Stroll down West Main Street and peruse the shops. You’ll find quality furniture, jewelry, clothing, collectibles, heirloom quilts and more.

Be sure to check out the Cave House Craft Shop for select pieces created by members of the Holston Mountain Arts and Crafts Cooperative, a 120-member group of local artisans.

FRIDAY EVENINGGet a taste of history when you dine at a restaurant that has

hosted such notable guests as Henry Clay and President Andrew Jackson. The Tavern, built in 1779, is Abingdon’s oldest building. Oh, and try the herb-encrusted breast of duck with raspberry sauce.

Then, for some Friday night entertainment, enjoy the nostalgic experience of catching a movie at the Moonlite

WHERE TO GO AND WHAT TO DO TO SAMPLE AREA OFFERINGS

Weekend

STORY BY CAROL COWAN

ALISON’S ON MAIN STREET

The World Famous Baked Potato Soup highlights

the menu, which includes everything from steak to seafood to Mexican-style cuisine.

628-8002 1220 W Main St.

THE TAVERN

Frenched rack of lamb, slowly grilled and topped with shitake mushroom,

lavender and mint sauce. Features an excellent wine selection.

628-1118 222 E Main St.

THE HARVEST TABLE

Serving only regional foods requires creativity with tasty menu items

such as The Appalachian Taco and Chicken-Pig-n-Grits

944-514213180 Meadowview Sq.

When You Go: SEVERAL REALLY GOOD RESTAURANTS AWAIT YOU

Wander





A Bountiful HarvestCALLING ALL FOOD LOVERS,

FARMERS AND FOOD ARTISANS!

The Meadowview Farmers Guild and its

companion restaurant, the Harvest Table,

buy only regional foods and products to serve

in their dining room or sell in their General Store.

In the process, these businesses are boosting

Meadowview’s economy, promoting the town

as a tourism destination and making it easy for

consumers to support the sustainable growing

and distribution practices of area farmers.

It’s all part of a farm-to-table movement gaining

momentum throughout the country. Earth-savvy

consumers have started paying more attention

to where the food they eat comes from and

demanding foods grown in their own communities.

Proprietors of the Harvest Table Restaurant are

proud of the delicious foods grown and produced

in southwestern Virginia, and they want their

patrons to have access to them.

Grass-fed beef, beautiful organic produce, native

trout and artisan cheeses represent the range of

fresh ingredients that Chefs Richard Houser and

Philip Newton turn into tantalizing menu items

such as Rich Valley Ribeye Steak with garlic and

peppercorn butter, lump crab stuffed Blue Ridge

Trout or Four-cheese Quiche with pecans and

chard featuring Kentucky artisan cheeses.

According to Lee Rasnake, store manager,

Harvest Table serves numerous regulars, in

addition to a steady stream of tourists.

“The response has been enthusiastic,” she says.

“We’ve been growing steadily, and we’re looking

forward to a very busy spring and summer.

“Farmers are catching on too,” Rasnake adds.

“It seems like every day we have farmers who ask

if they can grow [produce] for us. We tell them

to have at it.”

Harvest Table is open Wednesday through

Saturday for lunch and dinner.

– Carol Cowan

Drive-in, one of the few drive-in theaters left on the American landscape. If you prefer your movie indoors, the Cinemall offers plenty of choices.

SATURDAY MORNINGHope you got your rest, because a trip to this region

wouldn’t be complete without a bike ride down the renowned Virginia Creeper Trail.

First, have breakfast at the Trails Café in Abingdon, and grab some trail mix for the ride. Then rent a bicycle from one of the many local outfitters, who will also transport you to the starting point at White Top. It’s all downhill from there – 17 miles of spectacular scenery riding along streams, across bridges and trestles.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON Stay in Damascus, and take that appetite you just worked

up over to In the Country – a combination bakery, eatery, ice cream shoppe and country store. Sample the famed chicken salad, but save room for a couple scoops of premium ice cream served in a just-baked waffle cone.

Spend the afternoon in Abingdon meandering through the Historic District where you’ll get a close look at various18th- and 19th-century architectural styles.

Also, visit the working studios and exhibits showcasing local artists at the Arts Depot, and explore the William King Regional Arts Center and its museum-standard galleries featuring regional and world art.

SATURDAY EVENINGTonight, drive to Meadowview and dine at The Harvest

Table, an eco-friendly restaurant that serves only locally grown foods. (See sidebar.)

Finally, add the last dramatic f lourish to a super weekend by attending a live performance at the acclaimed Barter Theatre, one of the nation’s oldest professional theaters and a must-see for visitors to Washington County.

AN

TO

NY

BO

SH

IER

The Virginia Creeper Trail offers a 17-mile scenic ride.

BR

IAN

MCC

OR

D

The Harvest Table serves locally grown food.Basil chicken salad with a bowl of baked potato soup is served at Alison’s on Main Street. PHOTO BY BRIAN MCCORD




Business

378 Business Section.indd 20 6/18/08 3:50:57 PM

IsShoppingTHE HIGHLANDS MAKES WASHINGTON COUNTY A SHOPPING DESTINATION

I t is one of the largest shopping centers between Roanoke, Va., and Knoxville, Tenn., and 80,000 house-holds live within 10 minutes of the

new mall. Plus it is conveniently located along Interstate 81 at exit 7.

The Highlands opened in 2007 as a retail destination where residents of southwest Virginia and beyond can shop at several big-name stores. The open-air complex is home to retail giants such as Target, Old Navy, Bed Bath & Beyond, Books-A-Million, PetSmart, T.J. Maxx and Ross Dress for Less.

And in April 2008, the tenant mix further expanded with the addition of Best Buy, Dressbarn and Maurices.

“The Highlands has already been a success because store sale volumes have been robust by any standards,” says Mark McDonald of Newton Oldacre McDonald, developer of The Highlands mall project. “The site is ideal because it is located in what was a vastly under-served retail market.”

McDonald says the demographics of Washington County and the surrounding area are perfect for a center such as The Highlands.

“Of the nearly 80,000 people who live within 10 miles of the site, their average age is only 42, and 67 percent own their own homes,” he says. “That spells oppor-tunity when you consider the fact that not many national retailers had stores in this market until The Highlands opened for business.”

Besides the retail attractions, the mall will ultimately result in the creation of 600 new jobs. In addition, sales tax revenue from the retail site will be significant each year for Washington County’s coffers.

“Brand names, upscale merchandise and plenty of selection,” McDonald says. “The Highlands has already become a shopping experience, not just a shop-ping trip.”

Christy Parker agrees. The director of economic development for Washington County says “the Target factor” at The

Highlands has already been a boost to the community for several reasons.

“When it comes to recruiting new businesses or professionals to our com-munity, it is extremely important to show that Washington County has a strong diversity of retail offerings,” Parker says. “Honestly, prior to the arrival of The Highlands, we were hearing that the spouses of corporate clients who were thinking of relocating here had a problem moving to a community without a Target. We were initially surprised to hear this, but then we began to hear it quite often.”

Parker says that on a nationwide basis, Target seems to choose the most attractive and vibrant communities to locate their stores – thus, the Target factor.

“Now whenever we provide a tour of Washington County for business and industry prospects who are thinking of locating here, we always include a trip to exit 7,” she says. “The Highlands shows corporate leaders what we have to offer in commercial development.”

STORY BY KEVIN LITWIN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN McCORD

Major retailers in The Highlands commercial development draw customers from throughout southwest Virginia.

Hopping



SERVICE WITH A PERSONAL TOUCH

Adjacent to the historical district of Abingdon, Kiser Furniture represents a dying breed in the furniture business: the downtown, mom-and-pop furniture store.

Lonnie and Lillian Kiser opened the store 50 years ago. Their five sons joined the business and helped Kiser Furniture establish its reputation of providing personalized service.

Today, the business offers free custom design services through an in-house interior designer. Recently, Kiser inte-grated software to help customers visualize how their new furnished rooms will look.

“Our customer service has really kept us in the game,” explains Gary Kiser, one of several Kisers who still works in the store daily. “Over half of our business is custom orders.”

Kiser, which has 45,000 square feet of f loor space, caters to a range of cus-tomers, from couples buying their first living room suite to lawyers looking to revamp the look of their offices.

INCUBATING BUSINESSJumpstarting your business can be

risky. Fortunately, Washington County residents have a solution in the Virginia Highlands Small Business Incubator, a company whose goal is to prop up

Family-owned Kiser Furniture Co. provides personalized customer service.

PH

OT

OS

BY

BR

IAN

MCC

OR

D

aspiring entrepreneurs.“I call it economic development in a

box,” says director Jason Berry.In this case, the “box” is a nearly

30,000-square-foot facility that houses the staffs of a variety of professionals, all of whom have access to subsidized rent, management guidance, an in-house sec-retary, planning and financing assistance.

The access to these resources reduces overhead while increasing the chances of success for the business.

“In the small business world, cash is king,” Berry says. “If you have a low over-head, you are more likely to be successful.”

A special board that reviews the business plan and assets of a potential renter determines membership in the business incubator. The process isn’t that different from obtaining a bank loan, according to Berry.

The goal is to graduate the business from the facility within three years.

EMPLOYEES ARE KEYJulie Finney started Jack Rabbit

Printing in 1983, long before the tech-nology boom would change the way we think about graphic design.

But according to Finney, the employees set her business apart, even more than the ability to evolve her printing services with technology.

“I have almost zero turnover in my business,” she explains. “I have people who have been here for over 20 years.”

That commitment translates into a brand of customer service rarely seen in the printing business. When a customer walks into Jack Rabbit Printing, no matter the size of the project, they are assured that someone with experience will guide them through each step of the printing process.

“We can take your idea and make it go all the way,” says Finney.

The company offers a range of printing services, from business cards to catalogs. Business services such as faxing and notary services also come in handy for small business printing projects.

A DELI WITH A TWISTThe Dunkin Deli is a throwback to

small-town diners, the kind of place where everybody knows your name.

“When you walk in at lunch, you see people going from table to table to greet each other,” says owner and founder Joe Whitehill.


Business | Biz Briefs


While the deli’s atmosphere calls to mind the classic small town café, the menu is anything but traditional.

Whitehill didn’t want to create the standard burger-and-fries lunch. Instead, he has fused together two very different concepts: Doughnuts and deli sandwiches.

The deli serves a variety of all the classic doughnut flavors, from classic glazed to apple fritters and cake dough-nuts. The sandwiches are a bit more unusual. The deli offers a range of lunch items, including Dunkin Deli’s baked potato sandwiches. Rather than resting between two pieces of bread, the ingre-dients are stuffed inside of baked potato and melted in a toaster.

The Dunkin Deli attracts a lively lunch crowd of locals and a good mix of visitors to the area.

MANUFACTURING SUCCESSAn international leader in the man-

ufacturing industry chose Glade Springs in 2007 as home to its newest facility. The Gates Company, which manufactures hydraulic assembly units for the majority of the world’s car companies, brought with it a host of employment oppor-tunities to Washington County.

By the end of 2007, the company had created 50 new jobs, with more than 100 more planned over the next three years.

The nearly 100-year-old company has long held the title as the world’s largest manufacturer of rubber and fabric V-belts, products that were invented by John Gates, brother of the company’s founder, Charles Gates.

Today, from Glade Springs to South America, Gates has a presence in all of the world’s major markets. Tomkins, a global engineering and manufacturing group, owns the Gates Company, which is one of its 33 United States factories.

– Brandon Lowe

Dunkin Deli serves doughnuts and breakfast fare, as well as a

café-style menu with a flair.



W ashington County Chamber of Commerce members agree that prospective

employees have a much better chance of getting a job if they come prepared with certain basic skills. At the same time, members have noticed a significant gap in these skills among young people just entering the job market.

So, thanks to a grant from the Workforce Investment Board and a coop-erative effort by the Washington County Chamber and Junior Achievement of the Tri-Cities Tennessee/Virginia, the new Junior Achievement Success Skills pro-gram has been brought into all four Washington County high schools.

“Success Skills is a brand new program started in the fall of 2007,” says Sherry Tysinger, program manager, JA of the Tri-Cities Tenn./Va. “Students are taught skills such as how to look for a job, how to fill out a job application, what to do at an interview, problem-solving, team-building and public speaking.”

Volunteers from the community teach these “soft skills” and work-readiness concepts in a series of seven sessions. So far, everyone involved is pleased with the results.

“The seven sessions were made avail-able in the senior government class, because all the seniors are required to take government,” says Suzanne Lay, executive vice president of the Washington County Chamber of Commerce. “I think it’s going great. We’ve had about 50 volunteers – some from the power company, a couple of manufacturers, some from our Leadership Washington County group, some banks and the hospital. A number of volunteers are on the chamber’s board of directors. It’s really a community-wide effort, and we’ve been very pleased.”

Ron Dickenson, a member of the Workforce Investment Board, the Washington County Chamber and a vice president at Highlands Union Bank, agrees, “The need is huge.” So, he volunteers.

“I taught a session on teamwork at Patrick Henry High School, and [the students] picked it right up,” Dickenson says. “I’ve had a lot of fun with it. I talked about (author and success guru) Napoleon Hill, and the kids got excited about that because he’s from around here. By and large, what I’ve heard from everyone involved is that they are glad to be a part of it.”

And that goes for the students as well.“We do mock interviews – that’s

one of the students’ favorite activities,” Tysinger says. “We’ll show an example of a really bad interview – maybe someone goes in dressed inappropriately, or takes a call on their cell phone in the middle of the interview. The kids are always laughing by the time it’s over. Then we show a good one, and we give the kids a chance to practice.”

At the end of the program, students receive a Success Skills CD with infor-mation about careers and tips for getting into the job market. – Carol Cowan

Soft Skills Drive a Hard BargainPROGRAM HELPS HIGH SCHOOLERS PREPARE FOR SUCCESS IN THE JOB MARKET

BR

IAN

MCC

OR

D

Volunteers Jason Berry, right,and Bruce Kravitz help Abingdon students develop interview skills.


Business | Chamber Report


HOUSEHOLDS

Median household income $32,742

Median house value, $90,400

Number of households

(owners) 21,056

(renters) 4,801

CLASS OF WORKER

Private wage and salary workers 18,963, 79.7%

Government workers 3,034, 12.7%

Self-employed workers in own not incorporated business 1,678, 7%

Unpaid family workers 128, 0.5%

TRANSPORTATION

Airports

Tri-Cities Regional Airport (423) 325-6000

Virginia Highlands Airport 628-6030

Highways

Interstate 81 runs through the county’s central valley and intersects with Interstate 77, 55 miles northeast of Abingdon.

U.S. 11, 19 and 58

Virginia 75, 80 and 91

Ports

Port of Hampton Roads is 397 miles east of Abingdon.

Inland container port at Front Royal, Va., is 223 miles northeast of Abingdon.

Railroad

A Norfolk Southern mainline runs through Washington County.

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

The Bank of Glade Spring

Glade Spring, 429-5141

The Bank of Damascus

Damascus, 475-3204

BB&T Abingdon, 739-7950

BB&T Damascus, 475-3112

BB&T Meadowview

944-3129

Bank of America

Abingdon, 676-5067

Bank of America


Carter Bank

Abingdon, 676-3280

Carter Bank

27255 Lee Hwy., Abingdon

628-9147

First Bank and Trust

933 E. Main St.,

Abingdon, 628-3838

First Bank and Trust

667 W. Main St.,

Abingdon, 628-9558

First Bank of Virginia

Abingdon, 628-7376

Grundy National Bank

Abingdon, 623-9013

Highlands Union Bank

164 Old Jonesboro Road,

Abingdon, 628-3933


340 W. Main St.,

Abingdon, 628-9181


24412 Maringo Road,

Abingdon, 628-6300



Lee Bank Abingdon, 698-3131

National Bank

Abingdon, 628-9131

New Peoples Bank

Abingdon, 628-2543

Tru Point Abingdon

623-0787

Wachovia Abingdon

676-5310

BUSINESS CLIMATEAgriculture, manufacturing and tourism-related businesses are the

main economic contributors to Washington County. The big crops

are tobacco, corn, alfalfa, livestock, poultry and dairy products.

The area is also a major manufacturer of crushed rock, fabricated

metal products, machinery, consumer goods and food.

WASHINGTON COUNTY

MAJOR EMPLOYERS

Company Employees

Bristol Compressors 1,000+

Food City/K-VA-T Food Stores Inc. 1,000+

Washington County Schools 1,000+

Johnston Memorial Hospital 500-999

Wal-Mart 500-999

Emory & Henry College 250-499

People Inc. 250-499

Virginia Highlands Community College 250-499

Washington County 250-499


Business | Economic Profile

378 Econ Profiles.indd 25 6/18/08 3:51:50 PM

TAXES

Fiscal Year 2005-2006

Machinery and Tools(per $100 of valuation)

Washington County, $1.55

Abingdon, $.55

Damascus, $.54

Glade Spring, $.17

Motor Vehicles(per $100 of NADA loan value)

Washington County, $1.55

Abingdon, $.55

Damascus, $.54

Glade Spring, $.17

Property Tax(per $100 of fair market value)

Washington County, $.57

Abingdon, $.32

Damascus, $.54

Glade Spring, $.17

Sales Tax

4.5% state sales tax

and 1% local sales tax

DISTANCE TO MAJOR CITIES

City Miles

Atlanta 330

Baltimore 403

Charleston, S.C. 400

Charleston, W.Va. 175

Charlotte 150

Chattanooga, Tenn. 248

Cincinnati 350

Columbia, S.C. 288

Greensboro 172

Knoxville, Tenn. 132

Lexington, Ky. 265

Louisville, Ky. 332

Nashville, Tenn. 320

Norfolk, Va. 399

Pittsburgh 398

Raleigh/Durham 221

Richmond, Va. 308

Roanoke, Va. 132

Washington 375

Winston-Salem 143

• Begin by visiting Main Street’s Historic District Area and take a walking tour of Sinking Spring Cemetery and the Parson Cummings Cabin, view the blocks of historic homes

• Stop at local restaurants to taste some of the wonderful food, coffee and special drinks

• Browse Main Street’s Antique Block to find just the thing to take home to remind you of your visit to Abingdon

• Tour the many museums that can interest you in everything from famous stars to history and the arts

• Enjoy a wonderful play at The Barter Theatre

And to end a perfect day, check into one of the many historic bed and breakfasts or hotels that Abingdon offers

For more information, contact the Abingdon Convention and Visitors Bureau at [email protected], www.abingdon.com or (800) 435-3440

Sleep at home tonight and plan to wake up in

America’s Dream Town real soon



FOR MORE INFORMATION

Washington County

Chamber of Commerce

179 E. Main St.

Abingdon, VA 24210

Phone: 628-8141

www.washingtonvachamber.org

Washington County

Department of Community

& Economic Development

Washington County

Administration Building

205 Academy Drive

Abingdon, VA 24210

Phone: 676-6202

www.washcova.com

Sources:

www.washingtonvachamber.org,www.washcova.com,www.mrpdc.org, www.vec.state.va.us, www.census.gov

DEMOGRAPHICS2000 CENSUS

51,103 residents

21,056 households

22,985 housing units

Average household size: 2.3

Age of residents:

20.8% age 18 and younger

8.7% age 18-24

28.3% age 25-34

26.9% age 45-64

15.3% age 65 and older

Farris Funeral ServiceFarris Cremation & Funeral Center

Forest Hills Memory GardensFaithful Pets Cremation & Burial Care

Compassionate care, creative service options

• Gathering room with catering facilities • Unique memorialization choices • Complete cremation services • Burial, entombment, scattering garden • Separate facility for companion pet cremation or burial

Abingdon, VA(276) 623-2700

www.farrisfuneralservice.com

Services for remembrance and healing



Abingdon Home


Image Gallery

378 Gallery.indd 28 6/18/08 3:53:53 PM

St. Thomas Episcopal Church


PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN McCORD

378 Gallery.indd 29 6/18/08 3:53:56 PM


Image Gallery

378 Gallery.indd 30 6/18/08 3:53:59 PM

White’s Mill


PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN McCORD

378 Gallery.indd 31 6/18/08 3:54:02 PM

Genealogical and historical records are accessible for review and research in Washington County.

PH

OT

OS

BY

BR

IAN

MCC

OR

D


Portfolio

378 Portfolio.indd 32 6/18/08 3:54:17 PM

Tapping Into Family HistoryHISTORICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY HAS EXTENSIVE GENEALOGY FILES

Knowing who’s related to whom can be a complicated business in the South, but for those wanting to unsnarl

the branches of the family tree, the Historical Society of Washington County stands ready to help.

Located in the Old Abingdon Train Station, the society contains an ever-growing collection of local and regional genealogies and family histories. It has members in most states and a few foreign countries, many of whom make regular trips to pore over family records and other artifacts in the collection.

“To a large extent, we’ve become the Mecca in this section of the world for genealogy research,” says Charles W. Seaver, president. “We have about 1,000 people a year come in to look up records not just for families, but also events that occurred in the area, or information on a house or property.”

The society works closely with the clerk’s office, which is the repository of city and county official records, but it also

has developed a database with more than 1 million entries. Included are census records for Washington County, cemetery records, marriage records, more than 1,000 family gene-alogical files and books. There’s also historical information on Abingdon, southwest Virginia and listings of more than 5,500 index cards kept by Gordon Aronheim, one of the early settlers of southwest Virginia and northeast Tennessee.

“We’ve accumulated that information over a number of years,” Seaver says. “We’re now in the process of scanning and capturing thousands of pictures, people and places and events in Washington County. We’ll soon have those available and accessible on the same search engine that’s available now to look up genealogical records.”

The society welcomes donations of family books, or copies of genealogical information, but it must pertain to Washington County or southwest Virginia. The society is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

In addition to offering access to records, The Historical Society of Washington County also exhibits historical artifacts.



Bryan Wolfe fishes for trout in Whitetop Laurel Creek in Damascus.

Top StreamsAre Lure ForFly Fishermen

Anglers of all types f lock to Washington County and the sur-

rounding region for year-round fishing, but from early spring through late summer, the focus is on f ly-fishing.

That’s in no small measure due to an embarrassment of riches in terms of streams, rivers, head and tail waters where fishers can find brook, brown and rainbow trout, as well as a wide variety of other finned denizens.

“They come in from all over, because we’re a destination location,” says Bruce Wankel, owner of the Virginia Creeper Fly Shop. Wankel, in business since 1994, does a steady business as a guide to anglers from all over, and says that the area’s wide variety of aquatic bodies is the key to its popularity.

“If you’ve got a three-day weekend, you can go up on top of a mountain and fish a stream in the springtime, then on the second day fish a larger, second-order stream and then on that third day you may be down in the tail waters,” he says.

The happy combination of trout and fly-fishing come together at Whitetop Laurel Creek, perhaps the area’s best-known spot for the sport.

“From late March through most of June, that’s prime time for Whitetop and our mountain streams,” Wankel says. “Everybody’s God’s gift to f ly-fishing then, because they do so well. That’s why they come from around the state, and from other states.”

In addition to Whitetop, anglers flock to Taylor’s Valley, Big Tumbling Creek, Hidden Valley and Green Cove, as well as many spots along the Holston River. Small wonder that the area looms large on fishing fans’ calendars, but that’s only part of the allure.

“It brings a special kind of peace and serenity,” Wankel says of the sport. “It’s good outdoor activity, and revitalizes the individual’s body and soul.”

BR

IAN

MCC

OR

D


Portfolio


Check out the Mule Museum, the actual site of the Scopes “Monkey Trial” and the nation’s first monument.

Sit in the world’s largest chair, get a taste for ginseng and wash with boll weevils.

Chow down on Baltimore’s best crab cakes and West Tennessee barbecue, or sip coffee in a London double-decker bus.

© 2008 Journal Communications Inc.

With titles like The Poisonwood Bible, Animal Dreams and Pigs

In Heaven, famed author Barbara Kingsolver has touched on a wide variety of social issues. But it was her return to her roots in southern Appalachia that prompted her latest bestseller, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life.

The book chronicles Kingsolver’s relocation to Washington County from Arizona, and the decision she and her family made to “eat deliberately,” con-suming only foodstuffs grown locally or by themselves. But while a return to her roots may have prompted a family literary effort, the original goal was to be close to her family.

“Even as a writer of fiction and a manipulator of the fates for my char-acters, I never imagined in 1993 that becoming a visiting author at Emory & Henry College for two weeks would change everything in my life,” Kingsolver says. “Well, maybe the fates were going to show me.”

Kingsolver Returns to Her Roots

Novelist Barbara Kingsolver’s memoir, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, was written

from her Washington County farm.

PH

OT

O C

OU

RT

ES

Y O

F S

TE

VE

N L

. H

OP

P

Kingsolver had won a Lila Wallace Fellowship to do a residency, and requested Southern Appalachia, mostly so her parents could take care of her then 5-year-old daughter in their Kentucky home. She knew she was going to Abingdon, and that was about it. Then came the guest lectures, one of which was for a certain professor, Steven Hopp, whom she would eventually marry.

“You could say that our book, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, grew right out of this ongoing story,” she says.

Hopp owned the Washington County farmhouse where the family settled permanently in 2004. Once on the ground, it didn’t take long for Kingsolver to find out that she had much more

extensive local connections than she originally thought.

“When I gave my first reading in Bristol, the whole front row was occupied by lovely elderly women who identified themselves as my relatives,” Kingsolver says. “Imagine my surprise! ‘Oh yes,’ they said, ‘It used to be, you couldn’t walk around here without stepping on a Kingsolver.’ My grandfather’s family came from here. One of my great uncles used to be the town doctor in Abingdon. It’s wonderful to call this place home now. On Memorial Day we cut peonies from our backyard and take them down to our ancestors’ graves in the cemetery, and that feels like the way things ought to be.”


Portfolio


The Virginian ... a place where man and nature combine to create a setting so unique, it’s not what has been built, but rather what hasn’t. Only 250 homesites strategically placed among 538 acres of rolling hills, unspoiled woodlands and meadows carpeted by wild fl owers. The Virginian takes pride in its respect for civility and quality of life. A quality of life that is enriched by a Tom Fazio-designed golf course so masterful that the course and community rate as “one of the best places in America to live.” Enough said. Conveniently located off of exit 10 on Interstate 81, between the historic towns of Abingdon and Bristol. Our gates are more a formality than a necessity. Do yourself a favor. Visit The Virginian, and you’ll see what life can be when you’re surrounded by the beauty of nature and art and not people.

22512 Clubhouse Ridge • Bristol, Virginia 24202 Call (800) 452-8065, fax (276) 645-7055

or e-mail [email protected]

A private golf club community of 250 homesites on 538 acres of some of the most breathtaking highlands in North America. Homesites from $70,000 and custom homes from $300,000.

Void where prohibited by law, including New York and New Jersey.

Unspoiled. Uncrowded.

A Hallmark of Service

Almost 20 years ago, the state of Virginia wanted to do something

about the lack of higher-education oppor-tunities in the rural areas. In 1998, it opened the doors to the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center, and the results have surpassed expectations.

“We knew going into this that we were going to be providing a service in a region that was underserved educationally,” says Rachel Fowlkes, executive director. “We knew there were wonderful universities in Virginia, and that by pooling together our resources we could create opportunities for people in rural areas. But never did we anticipate that we would become the model of how to deliver higher education in that setting.”

The center boasts a conference facility and auditorium, more than 25 class-rooms, computer classrooms, a full complement of Internet access, a science lab and more. It has more than 60 graduate and undergraduate degree pro-grams, and more than 1,000 students. In addition to providing educational offerings, it’s the go-to site for local business and industry for meetings and staff development.

It’s that multi-use component of the center that has made it so successful in accomplishing its original mission and more. And a decade into its operation, there are plans to add a research and development center.

“It will be an applied center for university research, but also corporate and private research,” Fowlkes says. “We’ll be focusing on coal and natural gas, which is a big deal in southwest Virginia. The research will focus on extracting it in a more environmentally safe way, and burning it cleaner and with more efficiency.”

The R&D facility will tie into the center’s ongoing workforce development efforts throughout the region, and the degree programs will also dovetail into the research being done at the site.

IAN

CU

RC

IO

Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center plans R&D expansion.


Portfolio


Accommodations/Features

• Free Hot Deluxe Continental Breakfast

• Free USA Today Newspaper

• Outdoor Heated Pool

• Refrigerator, Microwave and Coffee Maker

• Hair Dryer, Iron and Ironing Board

• Wireless High-speed Internet

• Whirlpool Suites Available

• Business Center and Conference Room Available

Abingdon

930 E. Main St.Abingdon, VA 24210

(276) 676-9090Fax: (276) 676-9091

Toll-free:(877) 676-9090

Illustrator Draws on Imagination

Since early childhood, artist Charles Vess has been creating unique beings

and worlds for them to live in. These days, those worlds are seen far and wide in books, gallery exhibits and even on the big screen.

Vess created the artwork for Stardust, a novel by Neil Gaiman, which was adapted into a movie. But Stardust is just one of many projects that have made Vess a major name in the science fiction and fantasy art worlds.

The Lynchburg native and Virginia Commonwealth University graduate worked for years in commercial ani-mation, before moving to Abingdon. His work has been seen in publications ranging from Heavy Metal to National Lampoon, and he has penned art for comic book publishers Marvel, DC, Darkhorse and Epic.

A few of Vess’ other projects include a children’s picture book, A Circle of Cats, which was picking up awards before it was even published, and the cover and interior illustrations for a new edition of Peter Pan. For more infor-mation on Vess and his artwork, visit www.greenmanpress.com.

These days, his work is taking on more of a local f lavor.

“I’ve been doing a lot of sculpture, and my wife and I are working on a prose novel,” Vess says. “It’s a young adult fantasy, and it’s set in Virginia.”

Regardless of the project, Vess says that he’s able to do it all from Abingdon, where he and his wife chose to settle after leaving New York.

“We were in Bristol for Christmas one year, and we came to Abingdon and just loved it,” he says. “I just love the people and the mountains. It doesn’t matter where I live at this point in my career, because I’m totally connected to publishers all over the world. People have the time to be friendly here, and the more I’ve been here, the more I realized it was the right thing to do.”

– Stories by Joe Morris

Illustrator Charles Vess is best known for his work on the book

and movie adaptation of Stardust.



Elementary Schools• Preschool• Technology Integration• Reading Specialist• Low Pupil/Teacher Ratio• Reading Recovery• Fine Arts• Guidance Counselors• Gifted/Talented Education

Career and Technical Schools• Science/Technical Career Training• Transition to Work• 17 Career/Technical Programs• Industry Certification• Dual Enrollment Courses• Accredited Post Secondary Technical School• Allied Health Care Program• Building Trade Program• Science/Technology Training• Competency Based Fast-Track Training• Career Placement Assistance• Financial Aid Resources

Middle Schools• Integrated Curriculum• Service Learning• Advocacy Program• Interdisciplinary Teams• Middle School Concept• Clubs• Fine Arts• Flexible Scheduling• Gifted/Talented Education• Differential Instruction• Family/Community Partnership• Junior Washington County Community Scholars

Secondary Schools• Multiple Diploma Options• Washington County Community Scholars• Dual Enrollment Courses• Advanced Placement Courses• Extensive Extra-Curricular Programs• Gifted/Talented Education• Fine Arts Program

812 Thompson Dr. • Abingdon, VA 24210(276) 739-3000 • Fax: (276) 628-1874

www.wcs.k12.va.us

Working to Provide the World’s Best Education

Washington County Public SchoolsA Designated Quality School SystemSACS CASI

Southern Association of Colleges and SchoolsCouncil on Accreditation and School Improvement

Dr. Alan T. Lee, Division Superintendent


378 Arts.indd 38 6/18/08 3:50:48 PM

Art enthusiasts in Abingdon enjoy an array of artwork collections and crafts in the town that declares itself as having “Arts of Historic Proportion.”

Three art galleries are primarily responsible for creating this feast of creative expression: The William King Regional Arts Center, The Arts Depot and The Cave House Craft Shop.

The building the William King Regional Arts Center occupies dates to the 1820s, and the galleries inside show-case contemporary exhibitions that represent regional and world artists, historical works and the cultural heritage collection that emphasizes artists from southwest Virginia and northwest Tennessee.

“We are never the same museum because we are constantly changing exhibitions, and since we are the only facility in this area that can do this, we showcase around 800 pieces every year,” says executive director Betsy White. “We are classified as a high-security museum; therefore we can borrow almost anything from around the world.”

The center not only displays art but is also a teaching center of the arts to adults and children. Classes in visual and performing arts make the center more than the average art gallery, and plans of expansion continue to guarantee this progression of artistic education.

“Our expansion plans address the 25 acres of properties

that the center resides on,” White says. “We are hoping to create public cultural campuses for growth in adult education for high-school students, college and senior citizens as we act as a magnet for visitors to the community.”

The Arts Depot and The Cave House Craft Shop cater to local artists who live within 50 miles of Abingdon. Both galleries introduce visitors to different artistic styles.

The Arts Depot is a smaller gallery, open since 1991, where visitors are treated to an interesting, personal experience.

“We have seven studios where the artists work while people visit and talk with them,” says administrator Bob Cassell. “We show and sell pieces such as pottery, jewelry, paintings and weavings, but all work on display has to be original.”

This gallery also offers classes, workshops, scholarship opportunities and hosts special events.

The Cave House Craft Shop, located in a Victorian land-mark, is home to the Holsten Mountain Arts and Crafts Cooperative, a group of mountain-inspired artisans who focus on traditional methods in creating their works.

The juried shop proves that contemporary and traditional ideas can co-exist for the enjoyment and inspiration of art enthusiasts. On display are crafted gourds, baskets, quilts, pottery, jewelry and more – all representing regional culture.

– Raven Petty

An Art Lover’s BuffetGALLERIES DISPLAY NATIONAL AND LOCAL ART AND SERVE AS TEACHING CENTERS

Meditation cylinders by artist Arnold Schwarzbart are on display in the William King Regional Arts Center. PHOTO BY BRIAN MCCORD

SEE MORE ONLINE | Peek inside theWilliam King Regional Arts Center. Visit imageswashingtoncounty.com.


Arts & Culture

378 Arts.indd 39 6/18/08 3:50:52 PM

For All Your Real Estate Needs

Residential • Commercial • Land • Farm • Appraisals

DON’T MAKE A MOVE WITHOUT US!!

103 W. Main St.

Abingdon, VA 24210

(276) 628-5003

Fax: (276) 628-6007

E-mail: [email protected]

VIEW ALL OUR LISTINGS ON THE INTERNETwww.themahaffeyagency.com

SINCE 1983

REALTOR

John & Beth Mahaffey Celebrating Our 25th Year


378 Education.indd 40 6/18/08 3:51:58 PM

Students, please take your seats. Today’s lesson is: With top-notch colleges in Washington County,

you don’t have to travel far for a great college education.

Washington County is home to Emory & Henry College as well as Virginia Highlands Community College. Both are conveniently located and offer reasonable tuition prices.

“Students might think that because Emory & Henry is a private liberal arts college, it carries a high sticker price – but that’s not true,” says Dirk Moore, director of public relations at E&H. “Compared to other liberal arts colleges in Virginia and Tennessee, and given the financial aid packages we offer, Emory & Henry is incredibly reasonable.”

Emory & Henry is a four-year college that was established 172 years ago, and its academic reputation attracts stu-dents from many states and several foreign countries.

“We offer a variety of curricula, and our science programs are among the strongest,” Moore says. “Many E&H science grads end up going to medical, veterinary or pharmacy graduate schools at some of the most prestigious schools in the nation, including Stanford, Berkley, Harvard and Yale.”

Moore says E&H is also known for its high-tech mass communications pro-gram, and its strong education program.

“Any principal would be proud to have an Emory & Henry graduate as a teacher in their school,” he says. “We are truly an asset to Washington County.”

The same holds true for Virginia Highlands Community College. The col-lege that began holding classes in 1969 is located on a 100-acre campus situated along Interstate 81 at exit 14.

“Tuition here for our 3,200 students is about one-third the cost of attending a typical four-year institution,” says Anne Dunham, public relations and marketing specialist at VHCC.

Virginia Highlands is a two-year

There’s No Place Like HomeEMORY & HENRY AND VIRGINIA HIGHLANDS ARE EXCELLENT COLLEGE OPTIONS

college that offers numerous programs for students who will ultimately transfer to a four-year institution.

“We also offer occupational technical programs for students who will attend VHCC for two years, then will go directly into the workplace with an associate of applied science degree,” Dunham says.

Dunham adds that VHCC is also involved with more than 30 four-year institutions as part of a Guaranteed Admissions Program, which helps VHCC students when it comes time for their transfer process to a four-year college.

“For example, if a student wants to transfer to, say, Virginia Tech, and has earned a 3.4 grade point average at VHCC, that student is guaranteed admission to Virginia Tech with that GPA and will enter there as a junior,” she says. “The student doesn’t have to back up and take any classes to meet any Virginia Tech criteria. That is an important perk because this scenario doesn’t happen for many students at other community colleges. However, it happens for all graduates of Virginia Highlands Community College.”

– Kevin Litwin

Emory & Henry College has an outstanding academic reputation.

IAN

CU

RC

IO


Education

378 Education.indd 41 6/18/08 3:52:00 PM

80

0. A

CS

. 23

45

/ c

an

ce

r.o

rg

©20

02 A

mer

ican

Can

cer

Soci

ety,

Inc

.

qu

esti

on

san

swer

s

848 Thompson Dr. • Abingdon, VA 24210

TOLL-FREE: (866) 676-1948wcsc.wcs.k12.va.us

Financial Aid Available Including Pell GrantAccredited by the Council on Occupational Education

Dream It! Do It! Training Partner

Providing career training services for southwest Virginia and northeast Tennessee since 1939

TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES:Diesel Truck Technician • Industrial Welding • CNC/Conventional Machining

Dental Assistant • Medical Assistant • Administrative Support Specialist

Washington County Skill Center

WCC

S


378 Sports.indd 42 6/18/08 3:54:44 PM

The place still looks great – 15 years later.It was in 1994 when the Town of Abingdon first

opened its Harry L. Coomes Recreation Center, named for a former town council member who served in Abingdon government for 47 years. His continuous tenure for service is an all-time record for a government official in the state of Virginia.

So it seems appropriate that the Harry L. Coomes Recreation Center also has served Abingdon residents well – so well that the facility has grown its membership to more than 2,300 people.

“It was forward-thinking on the part of our leaders back in 1994 to build a facility such as this one, especially for a town whose population was only 7,000 people back then,” says Chris Johnson, director of parks and recreation for the Town of Abingdon. “Today, along with the 2,300 members, the center welcomes an additional 120,000 daily-fee visitors every year.”

Membership dues vary at the Coomes Center, with different fee packages available for individuals, families, college students, senior citizens and corporate clients. For non-members, there is a daily guest fee of $3.50 that allows patrons to access all of the amenities offered.

Those amenities include an indoor basketball court, an elevated indoor running track, 25-yard indoor pool, 50-meter Olympic-sized outdoor pool, a skate park and an outdoor play station for kids. There is also a weight/cardio room, meeting room, computer room and four outdoor tennis courts, and the

center recently added a 2/3-mile walking trail around the perimeter of the building.

“As for our programs, they run the gamut of fitness, wellness and fun,” Johnson says. “For example, we schedule water and land aerobic classes, and host sporting events such as mixed volleyball tournaments and 3-on-3 basketball competitions. In addition, we schedule monthly wellness luncheons for 50 people that feature top medical professionals speaking to the groups. And by the way, the Coomes Center is home to its own competitive swim team that is comprised of more than 60 kids.”

Johnson says the center is also an ideal place for senior citizens to keep in shape, with several specific programs targeted toward that age group. The programs include a walking club for ages 55 and older, and low-intensity arthritis water exercise classes.

“In addition, seniors can use the Coomes Center at a reduced cost on Tuesdays and Thursdays,” Johnson says. “We also began a monthly program in 2007 where seniors can enjoy a daytime bus trip that so far has included an excursion to the Chattanooga Aquarium and a day of shopping in Johnson City. The Coomes Center has an active staff that not only keeps the place looking great, but also running great with its many programs for the people of Abingdon and Washington County.”

– Kevin Litwin

Harry L. Would Be ProudFROM SWIMMING TO SEMINARS, COOMES CENTER AMENITIES DRAW 2,000 MEMBERS

BR

IAN

MCC

OR

D

The Barely Wet class, directed by Connie Stout, is one of many options at the Coomes Recreation Center.


Sports & Recreation

378 Sports.indd 43 6/18/08 3:54:46 PM

Timothy G. McGarry, M.D.Daniel L. Milam, D.O.Mark S. Clem, PA-CMatthew Sykes, ANP

300 E. Valley St.Abingdon, VA 24211

(276) 628-7600

Leticia I. Peltzer, M.D.613 Campus Dr., Ste. 100 • Abingdon, VA 24210

(276) 739-8000 • Fax: (276) 739-8005

ABINGDON OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY, P.C.

Jay W. Lavigne, M.D.Melanie Leight, M.D.

Christine Mellon, M.D.Richard Mellon, M.D.

Beverly F. Wright, CFNPMaria M. Briscoe, CFNPPaula K. Wright, CFNP

(276) 628-4335277 White St. • Abingdon, VA 24210

Melvin L. Heiman, MDCarey W. McKain, MD

Christy M. McGhee, MSN, FNPJustin M. Adams, MSN, FNP

613 Campus Dr., Ste. 200P.O. Box 807 • Abingdon, VA 24212

Phone: (276) 628-5141Fax: (276) 628-6889

www.abingdonortho.comabingdonortho.com

From infancy through your senior years, From infancy through your senior years, we are with you every step of the way.we are with you every step of the way.


378 Health.indd 44 6/18/08 3:54:06 PM

Not content with opening new satellite centers for cancer treat-ment and urgent care, Johnston

Memorial Hospital is about to go all the way with a new, $120 million facility.

Johnston Memorial announced its plans to build a new hospital at the same time it unveiled its new partnership with Mountain States Health Alliance, a managed health-care system based in Johnson City. The new hospital will

be a joint venture between the two entities, according to Sean McMurray, chief executive officer.

“We’re partnering with the region’s leading health system, which we think will have many benefits for the com-munity in the future,” McMurray says. “This was a big decision for us, but with so many uncertainties in the future of health care, we think it’s best to approach things with a partner. We believe that

Mountain States makes the best partner for us, and this partnership will secure the future of our hospital.”

Tying in with Mountain States also will make it easier for Johnston Memorial to replace its entire physical plant, building a new facility three miles from its current site in downtown Abingdon. The new hospital will have 116 beds, roughly the same as the existing hospital, and also feature an enlarged emergency

Care From the Ground UpNEW HOSPITAL IS LATEST EXPANSION EFFORT FOR JOHNSTON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

BR

IAN

MCC

OR

D

Johnston Memorial Hospital is entering a partnership with Mountain State Health Alliance to build a new facility.


Health & Wellness

378 Health.indd 45 6/18/08 3:54:09 PM

• Adult/Child Prophylaxis• Sealants• Periodontics (Treatment of Gum Disease)• Cosmetic Dentistry, Tooth Whitening• Porcelain Veneers• Porcelain Crown/Bridges• Partials/Dentures• Onlays/Inlays• Endodontics (Root Canals)• Implant Dentistry• Extractions• Nitrous Oxide Sedation• Biteguards• Sleep Apnea Appliances• Intra Oral Camera

915 W. Main St. • Abingdon, VA 24210 • (276) 628-9507 • www.browndentalassociates.com

Now OfferingINVISALIGN

The “Clear”Alternative to Braces

New Patients Welcome

We File Dental Insurance

Monday-Friday8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Brown Dental Associates, P.C.General & Preventive Family Dentistry • Since 1974

Ronnie L. Brown, D.D.S. • Bob L. Brown, D.D.S.


Health & Wellness

378 Health.indd 46 6/18/08 3:54:13 PM

You’re the reasonwe’re here.

Thank you.

233 Wyndale Rd.ABINGDON

(276) 739-7950

202 W. Laurel Ave.DAMASCUS

(276) 475-3112

13191 Glenbrook Ave.MEADOWVIEW(276) 944-3129

www.BBandT.com ©2003 BB&T. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender

You can tell we want your business.

Radford University in Abingdon – it is accessible, convenient and affordable. Enrichyour life and professional status with a class in one of RU’s rich selection of graduate programs in Abingdon.

Graduate ProgramsCounseling and Human Development School Counseling (K-12) Community CounselingEducational LeadershipSocial Work MSWEducation/Information Technology

Certificate ProgramsInformation Technology

Need More Information? Call (276) 619-4314or e-mail [email protected]/ru

room, all private rooms and more. It will anchor a 60-acre campus, where Johnston Memorial currently has its new cancer center, off Interstate 81 and acces-sible by Lee Highway.

If all goes as planned, the new hospital should open in 2010, a date that can’t come soon enough for McMurray.

“It will be much more modern, much more efficient, with lots of improvements for the patient,” he says. “Access will be improved, we’ll have better parking, larger waiting rooms … it will just be easier all around for patients and their families to find their way, and it will help us to operate more efficiently. We’ll also be able to have medical office buildings adjacent to the hospital, which is something that we don’t have on this campus to speak of.”

Considering that Johnston Memorial traces its roots back to 1905, and its current home was built in 1919, small wonder that a new building is in order. But the new facility is only the latest expansion effort by the hospital, which opened a cancer center in 2007 on the land that will house the new hospital, and an urgent care center in January 2008 at “The Campus,” at Russell Road and Porterfield Highway, where the hospital has its outpatient surgical center. Next up is a diabetes care center, set to open in summer 2008.

“The new hospital helps us improve our core services, but we still want to have convenient outpatient centers located where people need them,” McMurray says. “We’re busier than we’ve been in years – we are just booming. I think people are really excited about the direction we’re headed in.”

– Joe Morris

“It [the new facility] will be

much more modern, much

more effi cient ...”SEAN McMURRAY

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER


378 Health.indd 47 6/18/08 3:54:13 PM

WASHINGTON COUNTY

SNAPSHOTWashington County is renowned for its cultural and historical

significance. The town features a 20-block historic district that is

listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is home of the

world-famous Barter Theatre, The State Theatre of Virginia.

EDUCATION

Washington County Public

Schools, 739-3000

Elementary Schools

Abingdon Elementary School

739-3400

Greendale Elementary School

739-3500

High Point Elementary School

642-5600

Meadowview Elementary

School, 739-3900

Rhea Valley Elementary

School, 739-4200

Valley Institute Elementary

School, 642-5500

Watauga Elementary School

739-3600

Middle Schools

Damascus Middle School

739-4100

E.B. Stanley Middle School

739-3300

Glade Spring Middle School

739-3800

Wallace Middle School

642-5400

High Schools

Abingdon High School

739-3200

Holston High School

739-4000

John S. Battle High School

642-5300

Patrick Henry High School

739-3700

Colleges and Universities

East Tennessee State

University, (423) 439-1000

Emory & Henry College

944-4121

King College, (423) 968-1187

Old Dominion University

(757) 683-3000

Radford University

(540) 831-5000

Southwest Virginia

Higher Education Center

619-4300

Virginia Highlands

Community College

739-2400, (877) 207-6115

Virginia Intermont College

(800) 451-1VIC

Virginia Tech, (540) 231-6000

Technical Schools

Washington County Skill

Center, 676-1948

Washington County Technical

School, 739-3140

William N. Neff Center

739-3100

MEDIA

Newspapers

Bristol Herald-Courier (daily)

628-6632

The Business Journal

(monthly), (423) 323-7111

The Roanoke Times (daily)

(800) 346-1234

Washington County News

(weekly), 628-7101

Television Stations

Blue Ridge Public Television

(540) 344-0991

WCYB TV-5, 645-1555

NUMBERS TO KNOW

Driver’s License/

License Plates

New residents must apply

for a driver’s license and

license plates within 30 days

of establishing residence

in Virginia at the Division

of Motor Vehicles,

(866) 368-5463.

Emergency 911

Voter Registration

676-6227

Washington County

Public Library

676-6222

Washington County

Health Department

676-5604

UTILITIES

Cable

Comcast

(800) 464-9738

Electricity

Appalachian Power

(800) 957-4237

Bristol (Va.) Utility Board

669-4112

Natural Gas

Atmos Energy

(888) 824-3434

Telephone

Embarq, (800) 723-8010

Water

Washington County

Service Authority

628-7151


Community Profile

378 Comm Pro.indd 48 6/18/08 3:51:32 PM

CLIMATE

Avg. January temperature

30.5 F

Avg. July temperature, 73 F

Avg. annual rainfall, 45 inches

Avg. annual snowfall, 15 inches

MEDICAL FACILITIES

Johnston Memorial Hospital

Abingdon, 676-7000

Wellmont-Bristol

Regional Hospital

Bristol, (423) 844-1121

ATTRACTIONS

Abingdon Cinemall

623-2121

Abingdon Farmer’s Market

(operates April through

November), 676-2282

Abingdon Historic

District, 676-2282

Abingdon Vineyard

& Winery, 623-1255

Appalachian Trail

(304) 535-6278

The Arts Depot

628-9091

Barter Theatre

628-3991

Bristol International

Raceway, (423) 989-6933

Camberley’s Martha

Washington Inn, 628-3161

Cave House

Crafts Shop, 628-7721

Fields Penn 1860

House Museum, 676-0216,

(800) 435-3440

The Friendship Path

475-5054, 475-3682

George Washington &

Jefferson National Forests

(540) 265-5100

Grayson Highlands State Park

579-7092

Harry L. Coomes

Recreation Center, 623-5266

The area code for Washington County i s 276 . IMAGESWASHINGTONCOUNT Y.COM 49

378 Comm Pro.indd 49 6/18/08 3:51:33 PM

Hidden Valley Lake

783-4860

Historic Homes

of Abingdon, 676-2282,

(800) 435-3440

Historical Society

of Washington County

623-8337

Moonlight

Drive-In Theatre

628-7881

O. Winston Link Railroad

Photography Exhibit

623-8337

Mount Rogers National

Recreation Area, 783-5196,

(800) 628-7202

Overmountain Victory

National Historic

Trail’s Commemorative

Motor Route, 676-2282,

(800) 435-3440

South Holston Lake

676-2282,

(800) 435-3440

Veteran’s Memorial Park

676-2282

Virginia Creeper National

Recreation Trail

676-2282,

(800) 435-3440

Virginia Heritage

Music Trail, 676-2282,

(800) 435-3440

White’s Mill

628-2960

William King Regional

Arts Center, 628-5005

PUBLIC SAFETY

Law Enforcement

Abingdon Police Department

628-3111

Damascus Police Department

475-3341

Glade Spring

Police Department

429-5134

Washington County

Sheriff’s Office

676-6000


Community Profile

378 Comm Pro.indd 50 6/18/08 3:51:34 PM

WE UNDERSTANDCOMMITMENT.For decades, Edward Jones has been committed to providing personalized investment service to individuals.

• Face-to-face service

• Timely information

• Quality investment selection

Call or stop by today.Williams L. SmithFinancial Advisor

293 W. Main St.Abingdon, VA 24210(276) 628-5327Toll-free: (877) 628-5327

www.edwardjones.com Member SPIC

340 Commerce Dr. • Abingdon, VA 24210 • (276) 619-4600 • (276) 619-4605 Fax

WWW.HAMPTON.COM

ABINGDON, VIRGINIA

You’ll Be Satisfied.

We Guarantee It.SM

AmenitiesComplimentary Deluxe Continental Breakfast

Meeting Room Accommodating 15 People

Free Local Calls

Smoke-free Location

Complimentary USA Today

Outdoor Pool

Free Cable with HBO

In-room Coffee Makers

In-room Microwaves and Fridges

Electric Door Locks on Guest Rooms

Jacuzzi Rooms Available

100% Satisfaction Guarantee

High-speed Wireless Internet

Reservations: (800) 426-7866

Present this ad to receive $5 off room rate.

FIRE PROTECTION

Fire protection services

within Washington County

and the towns of Abingdon,

Damascus and Glade Spring

are provided by nine

independent volunteer

fire departments.

E-911 SYSTEM

An enhanced 911 emergency

telecommunication system

serves Washington County

and the towns of Abingdon,

Damascus and Glade Spring.

The system is operated by

the Washington County

Sheriff’s Office – Central

Dispatch and maintained

by the County Department

of Transportation.

RECREATION

Harry L. Coomes

Recreation Center

300 Stanley St.

Abingdon

623-5279

Washington County

Recreation Department

205 Academy Dr.

Abingdon

525-1385

GARBAGE PICKUP

Abingdon

628-6611

Damascus

475-3831

Glade Spring

429-5134

Washington County

Waste Management

(423) 323-7143

BFI (800) 551-3747

RECYCLING

Washington County

Recycling Coordinator

676-6216


378 Comm Pro.indd 51 6/18/08 3:51:37 PM

DR. ROGER & LINDA NEAL, INNKEEPERS445 E. Valley St. • P.O. Box 1745 • Abingdon, VA 24212

(276) 628-4560 or (276) 608-4329E-mail: [email protected] • www.innontowncreek.com

Experience Serenity HereThis is possibly the finest bed and breakfast in Virginia, furnished in elegant antiques and

collectibles. Located on four landscaped acres one block from the historical district, it lends itself to weddings and special occasions. Ask about our corporate accommodations.

Mon.-Fri.11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Sat.12 p.m.-9 p.m.

Innovative cuisinein a casual atmosphereHandcut Steaks • Pasta

Fresh Seafood • Chicken • PorkDaily Chef’s Features

967 W. Main St.Abingdon, VA 24210

(276) 623-0530www.thepeppermill.com

TOWNS IN WASHINGTON COUNTY

Town of Abingdon

(800) 435-3440

www.abingdon.com

Town of Damascus

475-3831

www.damascus.org

Town of Glade Spring

429-5134

GOLF

Glenrochie Country Club

(Private)

Exit #17 I-81

Abingdon, VA 24210

628-3572

Clear Creek Golf Club

732 Harleywood

Bristol, VA

466-4833

Deer Field Golf Course

33517 Golfer’s Dr

Damascus, VA

475-5649

Greenway Creek Golf Course

36012 Lee Hwy

Glade Spring

429-2626

The Virginian Golf

Club (Private)

22512 Clubhouse Ridge

Bristol, VA 24202

645-7050

www.thevirginian.com

FISHING

Excellent fishing amid

dramatic mountain

beauty awaits you

in Southwest Virginia.

Whitetop Laurel, Taylor’s

Valley, Green Cove,

Big Tumbling Creek,

Hidden Valley, and the

forks of the Holston

are just a few of the

streams that will delight

and challenge any angler.


Community Profile

378 Comm Pro.indd 52 6/18/08 3:51:38 PM

ANNUAL EVENTS

March

WHITETOP MAPLE FESTIVALlast Sunday in March

388-3257

April

MID-ATLANTIC REGIONAL GARDEN FAIRE676-6309

HIGHLANDS JAZZ FESTIVAL(800) 435-3440

May

DAMASCUS APPALACHIAN TRAIL DAYS middle weekend of May

388-3257

PLUMB ALLEY DAY 676-2282

June

ABINGDON SUMMER CONCERT IN THE PARK SERIES June-early fall

676-2282

July

FOURTH IN THE PARK 676-2282

VIRGINIA HIGHLANDS FESTIVAL July 26-Aug. 10, 2008

623-5266

Our Services:Adult & Geriatric Medicine

Pediatric Care • Adolescent CarePharmacy • X-Ray & Laboratory

Minor Surgery • Emergency MedicineHospitalization

Sliding Fee Scale for Qualified Patients

www.SVCHS.com

Our Locations:

Corporate Office – (276) 496-4492319 Fifth Ave. • Saltville, VA 24370

Meadowview Health Clinic – (276) 944-399913168 Meadowview Sq. • Meadowview, VA 24361

Saltville Medical Center – (276) 496-4433308 W. Main St. • Saltville, VA 24370

Tazewell Community Health – (276) 979-9899583 Riverside Dr. • N. Tazewell, VA 24630

Troutdale Medical Center – (276) 677-418767 High Country Ln. • Troutdale, VA 24378

Twin City Medical Center – (276) 669-51792195 Euclid Ave. • Ste. 6 • Bristol, VA 24201

Veterans Program308 W. Main St. • Saltville, VA 24370

Whitetop Community Health – (276) 388-306716309 Highlands Pkwy. • Whitetop, VA 24292

Migrant Health Network – Saltville, VA

Mt. Rogers Medication Assistance ProgramAvailable at each location

SOUTHWEST VIRGINIACommunity Health Systems, Inc.

July 26-Aug. 10, 2008

623-5266


378 Comm Pro.indd 53 6/18/08 3:51:39 PM

PATTY CALLEBSABR, CRB, CRS, GRIBroker/Owner

201 W. Main St. • Abingdon, VA 24210(276) 628-2583 • Cell: (276) 356-1631 Fax: (276) 676-1161E-mail: [email protected]

LawsonHatch

Financial Services

599 E. Main St.(276) 628-5633

Bruce Hatch, Jr. CFP®

Certified Financial Plannertm

William F. Lawson CLU, ChFCChartered Financial Consultant

Robert L. AshleyFinancial Consultant

This space provided as a public service. ©2004, The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

It’s about honoring survivors and those

who’ve lost the battle. It’s about raising

funds for research, education, screening and

treatment. The Komen Race for the Cure® is

about support, not competition. Join us at

komen.org or 1.800 I’M AWARE®.

Sometimes winning a race is not about beating

the other runners.

Serving You First and First in Performance

Whether buying or selling your most valuablepossession, call the Realtor with a proven sales record!

PAT McDONALD, ABR, GRICell: (276) 356-6789

E-mail: patmcdonald6789@embarqmail.comwww.patmcdonald.featuredwebsite.com

Record-setting volume in residential sales for SWVA Association of Realtors & Callebs Realty since 2000

201 W. Main St. • Abingdon, VA 24210 • (276) 628-2583

J. Vann RoarkABR, GRI

Owner/Broker/Auctioneer

Licensed in VA/TN

AUCTIONEERS & REALTY, INC.Full Service Real Estate & Auctions

Residential Sales • EstatesAntiques • Auction

17572 Lee Hwy.Abingdon, VA 24210

(276) 628-9588Fax: (276) 628-9580

E-mail: [email protected]

Sales • Service • Parts

Interstate 81 • Exit 14 • Abingdon, VA 24210

(276) 628-2127Harold Crabtree, Owner

If it’s Important to You,We’ll Help You Protect it.

The single source for ALL your insurance needs: • Auto • Home • Financial Products • BusinessCall me … Stop by … Log on – it’s your choice!

Mickey E. Tyler325 Cummings St. • Abingdon, VA 24210(276) 628-8109 • (800) 697-8109Fax: (276) 628-6085www.nwagent.com/mickey_tyler.html


378 Comm Pro.indd 54 6/18/08 3:51:44 PM

CHOOSE FROM HANDMADE RUGS AND MACHINE-MADE RUGS

from around the world.

Region’s only Gallery18150 Lee Highway, Exit 13 • Abingdon, VA 24210 • (276) 628-9821

www.abingdonrug.com

Southeast Region’sLARGEST Selection

Over 20,000area rugs

40%-70%off every day

Sources:www.washingtonvachamber.org, portal.washcova.com/portal/public/,www.abingdon.com

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Washington County Chamber of Commerce179 E. Main St.

Abingdon, VA 24210

Phone: 628-8141

www.washingtonvachamber.org

September

WASHINGTON COUNTY FAIR AND BURLEY FESTIVAL Sept. 8-13, 2008, 628-8141

HAYTER’S GAP FESTIVAL 944-5867

WHITETOP MOLASSES FESTIVAL 388-3480

October

MEADOWVIEW APPLE BUTTER FESTIVAL 944-3500

November

MISTLETOE MARKET Nov. 7-9, 2008

628-5005

KIWANIS CHRISTMAS PARADE Nov. 21, 2008

676-2282

HOLIDAY CRAFTS FAIR Nov. 21-23, 2008

623-5279

December

COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING 676-2282

CHRISTMAS IN HISTORIC ABINGDONMonth of December

676-2282

CHRISTMAS TOUR OF HOMESDec. 14, 2008 676-2282


Community Profile


378 Comm Pro.indd 55 6/18/08 3:51:46 PM

Charles R. Day(276) 628-5123

(276) 628-7038 Fax

BEESON & BEESON

R C H I T E C T S I N C .

P.O. BOX 650 • ABINGDON, VA [email protected]

One of America’s Oldest Dealers

BOS INC.BRISTOL OFFICE SUPPLY INC.

Office supplies & furnitureCanon copiersCanon full line servicing dealer

28 Moore St., Bristol, VA 24201 (276) 669-7131 or (800) 654-7687

511 W. Main St., Wise, VA 24293(276) 328-2259 or (800) 422-6025

Serving SW Virginia and NE Tennessee since 1932

www.bos-inc.com

Everyday moments can be learningmoments with your kids. For more tips, visit bornlearning.org

I spysomethinggreen.

P.O. Box 977 • Abingdon, VA 24212-0977

(276) 628-5191Toll-free: (866) 868-3305

Fax: (276) 628-1695E-mail: [email protected]

www.farmcreditofvirginias.com

SALES • AUCTIONS • APPRAISALS

"Real Estate Services Since 1982"

549 W. Main St., Abingdon(888) 828-3789

www.meaderealty.com

MEADEREALTY

HICOK, FERN, BROWN & GARCIA CPAS

Thomas M. Hicok, CPA, CVA, CFFAJames H. Fern, CPA, CVADavid B. Brown, CPAJuan Garcia, CPA

(276) 628-1123E-mail: hicokfern&[email protected]


378 Comm Pro.indd 56 6/18/08 3:51:47 PM

Abingdon Convention & Visitors Bureauwww.abingdon.com

Abingdon OB-GYN

Abingdon Orthopedic Associates PCwww.abingdonortho.com

Abingdon Quality Inn & Suites www.choicehotels.com

Abingdon Rentals www.abingdonrentals.com

Abingdon Rug Outlet www.abingdonrug.com

Barter Theatre www.bartertheatre.com

BB&Twww.bbandt.com

Beeson & Beeson Architects Inc.

Blue Ridge Orthopedics & Sports Medicine

Bristol Offi ce Supply Inc. www.bos-inc.com

Brown Dental Associates PC www.browndentalassociates.com

BVU Optinet www.bvu-optinet.com

Callebs Realty www.callebsrealty.com

Callebs Realty – Pat McDonald www.realtor.com/southwestva/patmcdonald

Comcast Cable www.comcast.com

Ear, Nose & Throat Specialty Center

Edward Jones www.edwardjones.com

Emory & Henry College www.ehc.edu

Empire Ford Inc. www.empireford1.com

ETSUwww.etsu.edu

Farm Credit www.farmcreditofvirginias.com

Farris Funeral Service Group www.farrisfuneralservice.com

First Bank & Trust Company www.fi rstbank.com

Grand Court www.brookdaleliving.com

Hampton Inn of Abingdon www.hampton.com

Hicok, Fern, Brown & Garcia CPAs www.fi rmcpa.com

Highlands Community Services www.highlandscsb.org

Highlands Realty Inc. www.highlandsrealtyinc.com

Highlands Union Bank www.hubank.com

Inn on Town Creek www.innontowncreek.com

Jamea Blevins – State Farm Insurancewww.jameablevins.com

Johnston Memorial Hospital www.jmha.org

K-VA-T Food Stores www.foodcity.com

Lawson Hatch Financial Services

Meade Realty www.meaderealty.com

New Peoples Bank www.newpeoplesbank.com

R&R Auctioneers & Realty Inc. www.rrauctioneersandrealty.com

Radford University www.swcenter.edu/ru/

Southwest Virginia Community Health Systems Inc.www.svchs.com

The Bank of Marion www.bankofmarionva.com

The Mahaffey Agency www.themahaffeyagency.com

The Martha Washington Inn www.marthawashingtoninn.com

The Peppermill www.thepeppermill.com

The Virginian Golf Club www.thevirginian.com

Tyler & Associates – Nationwide www.nwagent.com/mickey_tyler.html

Universal Fiber Systems www.universalfi bers.com

Virginia Highlands Community Collegewww.vhcc.edu

Washington County Industrial Development Authority www.washcova.com

Washington County Public Schoolswww.wcs.k12.va.us

Washington County Skill Center www.wcskillcenter.org

William King Regional Arts Center www.wkrac.org

Visit Our Advertisers

Looking for ways to save money

on gas and help the environment?

The EPA wants to share some

smart driving tips that could give

you more miles per gallon of gas

and reduce air pollution. Tips

like making sure your tires are

properly infl ated and replacing

your air fi lter regularly. And

where possible, accelerate and

brake slowly. Be aware of your

speed ... did you know that for

every 5 miles you go over 65 mph,

you’re spending about 20 cents

more per gallon of gas? If you’re

shopping for a new car, choose

the cleanest, most effi cient

vehicle that meets your needs. If

we each adopt just one of these

tips, we’d get more miles for our

money and it would be a little

easier to smell the fl owers. For

more tips and to compare cleaner,

more effi cient vehicles, visit

www.epa.gov/greenvehicles.

Save Money. Smell the Flowers.


378 C2,C3,C4.indd C3 6/18/08 3:51:29 PM

378 C2,C3,C4.indd C4 6/18/08 3:51:30 PM

Documents

Images Washington County, VA: 2008