Making Ripples: post-corporate adventures in Floyd County Virginia

Floyd Town Jubilee - a celebration of community spirit

Saturday's celebration in downtown Floyd Virginia was billed as a one of a kind celebration of music, art, food, and community spirit.

Visitors enjoyed live music in the new Warren G. Lineberry Memorial Park and sampled tasty food and cold beverages under a mostly sunny sky. 

They brought their children, their dogs, even a falcon. Everyone seemed to be having a good time.

High winds blew over a few of the tents and others turned into spinnakers and threatened to sail away, but bystanders helped furl them and the celebration continued with topless booths in some areas.

The Station on Locust Street was open to the public for the first time. This new commercial and living space featured apartments upstairs and artist studios and wine tasting on the main floor.

Not all studios are finished yet, but a few resourceful tenants like the Blue Ridge Art Connection  and the Troika managed to set up their shops during the few hours between the departure of the last contractor on Friday and the opening on Saturday morning.

 




Visitor traffic was brisk almost all day and most Floyd merchants and artist groups reported good sales. It was more like a homecoming party than a business event as people met up with other folks that they had not seen for months.



In addition to local craftsmen like Tom Phelps, there were local writer/publishers like Ron Campbell and Fred First with new products to display.

An ongoing musical performance by Tina Liza Jones and Eric Root in the Floyd Artist Association's booth attracted visiting performers and a clogger. This constantly changing presentation was a big hit with visitors and their children.

During the afternoon, visitors were also treated to a short childrens parade led by a girl on a unicycle followed by two bellydancers and a troupe of young children in facepaint and some teenagers in goth regalia and tattoos. This procession wound it way through the booths and down the street before I could get a picture of them.

Floyd's nine foot tall fairy (Alina Ever) was granting wishes to Jubilee visitors. I had to admire how she dealt with the heavy wind gusts that buffeted the town center when she was out and about. When the tents were blowing over, she simply tacked against the wind instead of disappearing over the adjacent rooftops in a whirl of blue fabric.

There was a continually changing audience enjoying the performers on the Turman Log Homes bandstand in the Lineberry Memorial Park. Jane Cundiff sent us an image of spectators and dancers that perfectly captured the mood of this jubilee.

Congratulations to all who planned this event and to the many volunteers who worked so hard to make it a success! It was an historic moment and should become an annual celebration.

Remembering Fallen Heroes of Floyd

We attended a Memorial Day service at the Zion Lutheran Church cemetery to honor some of Floyd's military veterans who served our country ever since it was founded.
 
Under somber skies, a color guard composed of American Legion/VFW, Sons of the American Revolution and Sons of Confederate Veterans posted the colors behind a full-scale model of the granite monument which will be installed later this year.

After the Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all, Pastor Richard Giessler gave the Invocation. It was an inspiring and memorable speech that brought tears to our eyes.

Miss Malory Coartney read the Oratory and Thomas King, SMSGT, USAF (retired) began reading the Roll Call of the Fallen. The names included veterans of almost every war since the Revolutionary War.

It seemed entirely appropriate that a light rain began falling as the names of the Fallen were being read. It continued during the 21-gun salute by the VFW/American Legion rifle squad and the sounding of Taps by the American Legion bugler.

The Benediction by Pastor Giessler was followed by the Retiring of the Colors.

It was a fitting way to give thanks to those who have served to uphold our way of life.

The granite monument to be installed on this spot later this year is the result of a project sponsored by the Zion Cemetery Committee:  Woody Farley, Sue  Quesinberry, Bill Gardner, Rhonda Daiber, Pat Burton, and Thomas King.  Tom King is the project coordinator.

Every good idea starts with one person, and this monument project started when retired Senior Master Sergeant Thomas King discovered grave sites that went back to the Revolutionary War in an older part of the cemetery at Zion Lutheran Church.

One of these graves belonged to Private George Sowers who served in the Revolutionary War. He was born in 1750 and died in March 18, 1834.

Tom King started asking questions about the old cemetery and found that the records were incomplete. He joined the Zion Cemetery Committee and enlisted the help of organizations like the DAR, the United Daughters of the Confederacy and the Sons of the Revolution to help him locate information on the veterans buried in the old cemetery.

More people got involved and the idea of a monument was born. You can read about this project on the project website: fallenheroesoffloyd.org

The Meadows - a treasure trove of casual clothing in Floyd

There is a special feeling about a small clothing store that offers carefully selected lines of clothing and real personal service. Shopping in one of these stores and finding that they carry what you need is a pleasure moment that you remember for a long time.

We are fortunate to have one of these clothing stores here in Floyd, Virginia. This converted house is called The Meadows and it is located on Route 8 opposite the Harvest Moon.

Recently I needed some walking shoes and after weeks of browsing in stores in surrounding cities, I thought of The Meadows and wondered if Barbara had something I could use.

In my first five minutes at The Meadows I found a pair of Merrill walking shoes  which fit better than any shoes I have purchased in recent years. I am delighted that she had them, but I am crestfallen that it has taken me so long to discover the full range of what she does offer.

Owner Barbara DeRemer has created a unique shopping experience for men and women looking for quality outer wear, organic cotton clothing and Merrill shoes at reasonable prices.

Her shop has room after room of tasteful casual clothing at reasonable prices. The Meadows carries brand names like Smartwool, Columbia and Woolrich as well as jewelry by local artists.

There is also a sales room with 30-50% discounts. The hours are 1-5 Monday and Tuesday and 10-5 Wednesday through Saturday.

I have been shopping for gifts at The Meadows ever since it opened in January 2006 and have never failed to find something appropriate for the recipient. Barbara's advice often came in handy when I could not make a decision. However, I have never really checked out all of the lines of merchandise she offered.

Like many guys, I go shopping, find the things I need, and then leave. This means that there were, and are, all sorts of clothes in The Meadows that I have never looked at.

It's time I remedied that lack of information.

If you would like to learn more about The Meadows, click on the thumbnail to see an article from the Floyd Press.
 
Here are a few more views of what The Meadows has to offer. Click on images to enlarge.

If you have not taken advantage of what The Meadows has to offer, I suggest you drop in and visit. It might just make your day.

 

If you own a Cittern, you might want a Vornbrock gig bag

A few days ago I saw Tina Liza Jones playing her custom designed Cittern and it was a sight to behold. The 10-string instrument has metal strings, is played with a plectrum, and is sheer beauty from any angle.

The modern Cittern is also called an Irish Bouzouki and is similar to an overgrown Mandolin. There are many different variations including flat or curved backs and eight, ten or twelve strings. Tina's Cittern is just one of many variations and this design was created by her husband Eric Root.
 
Citterns have been around a long long time. Vermeer included a number of these beautiful 10-string instruments in his paintings. The image below is a detail from The Love Letter.

In more recent times, the Cittern has been used to perform Celtic music.  Visit these sites for more information on the Cittern and the Bouzouki.

So, today, I was wandering by the Art Gallery under the Winter Sun and I happened upon this timeless scene like something right out of history, a musician getting an instrument measured for a carrying case.

Tina Liza Jones was getting one of Betty VornBrock's custom Gig Bags for her Cittern and it is a fitting choice. The Cittern deserves a carrying case that complements the the beauty of the instrument.

Betty's quilted instrument cases are works of art. You can see some of the detail in Tina's guitar bag, made by Betty several years ago.

Betty Vornbrock creates instrument cases and Gig bags under the Autumn Wind name and can be reached by email at autwind-at-embarqmail-dot-com.

Betty is also a musician herself. She is an accomplished fiddler in several different traditional styles and created the "Reed Island Rounders" with her husband Billy Cornette.

Do children come prewired for Internet access now?

I ask because, in Floyd, it often seems like anything is possible.

Porter is one and half years old. When I saw him at the computer at the Cafe Del Sol, I was taken aback at his certainty.

I asked his mother if she thought this was his first lifetime using a computer.
She just smiled.

Meanwhile, Porter made a determined effort at logging in on Netflix.

Only in Floyd - music with your groceries

John Houston's Sweet Providence Farm Market & Bakery in Floyd, Virginia, offers fine live music along with locally raised meats and produce.

Martin Scudder and Bernie Coveney entertained a group of fans yesterday on the timber frame verandah overlooking Route 221 far below.

Martin's red violin sounds like no other and makes a perfect counterpart to Bernie's inspired guitar stylings.

Bernie has recently recorded his new CD, Whispering Pines and Martin had copies of his new CD on hand, Chapter IX Stepping Forward.

Rumor has it that they are recording a new CD together. It should be quite popular. Bernie and Martin are pros and they make great music.

Sweet Providence Farm is presenting live music every Saturday afternoon all through the summer. Check their website for a schedule of performers.

Keeping a small business on track

Life is interfering with blogging again. This is a clear example of the well-known principal that sufficient immersion in any activity prevents one from blogging about it as it happens. It is only after prolonged immersion, that ideas force themselves to be expressed.

Currently, we are experiencing a rush of custom picture framing business and it is taking up my every waking minute. Fortunately, my wife Gretchen has been able to lend a hand in keeping things organized.

She actually freed things up enough that we were able to attend a July 16 Business After Hours event sponsored by the Floyd Chamber of Commerce.

This month's event took place at the Hotel Floyd amphitheater with hors d’oeuvres provided by Chef Scott Hutchinson and music provided by acoustic blues and roots performer Scott Perry.

It is one of the few times I get to see the other small business owners of this county. We all have a great time swapping notes.

It appears that most of us are having to work harder to overcome rising costs and to attract new business in the face of a continuing drop in discretionary income.

The saving grace is that people still want and need things to celebrate life or to deal with the problems of life and it is a matter of providing customer experiences that encourage customers to visit and have their choices validated.

If a small business can make a customer feel good about a transaction or series of transactions, that is good for all concerned. The challenge is to provide that service or product in a way that allows the business to prosper.

This is a worthy challenge for any business, large or small:

How do we provide excellent customer experience and make enough profit to continue doing so?

Your comments are invited.

Prosperity happens to the extent we create it

With all of the doom and gloom promoted by mass media, it can be easy to miss the fact that the economy is kept going by a lot of hard working individuals putting their money and their effort into creating better services and products for their customers.

We have a number of these individuals in Floyd, Virginia.

Coffee shop owner Sally Walker and artist/sign painter Greg
Locke plan a window sign to highlight Cafe del Sol specialties
so they can be easily seen by people driving by.

Sally Walker is an excellent example of an entrepreneur who has created a pleasing experience for lovers of good coffee and tasty snacks. Her Cafe del Sol offers gourmet soups, sandwiches and salads along with a wide range of expresso-based beverages. She and her capable staff also cater for local functions.

She has managed to survive and stay cheerful in spite of cranky air conditioners, lack of space, and the usual problems that plague any startup operation. She has invested in training her staff and the results show it. You get cheerful service and tasty food even when Sally is away from the Cafe.

Visiting the Cafe del Sol is one of the high spots in my frequent trips to Floyd. I never know who or what I am going to see there, but it is always a good value and that is what keeps an economy and a business going.

What are businesses in your area doing to make things go right in this uncertain economy?

The magic of the Friday Night Jamboree

The Friday Night Jamboree leaves an indelible impression on all who experience it. Tonight I observed something that has escaped my attention until now. The magical quality of the Friday Night Jamboree is a product of the street that it is staged on.

Some people will tell you that it is the pervasive sound of Bluegrass and Old Time music being played on the street by groups of musicians who play for the love of it.

Some will assure you that it is the ambiance of the Floyd Country Store and the crowded dance floor full of cloggers beating out a thunderous accompaniment to a riotous dance tune that has been a popular favorite for many years.

Others will nod quietly and smile, content in their knowledge that it is the music in the hearts of the men and women who carry their instruments from their cars to the groups that welcome them to join in and play.

Strangers from far places marvel at the easy grace with which musicians join with one another and celebrate life with music and song on the streets of this tiny town in southwest Virginia.

Spectators cluster around performers in rapt attention and reward each tune with generous applause. Cameras click and spectators murmur as music touches the heart again and again. Some spectators are so stirred by the melodies playing that they burst into impromptu dance performances.

Children dance along the sidewalks to the delight of all concerned. Their enthusiasm for the music transforms their faces.

Those who sit in the alcoves along Locust Street and watch the show will be tapping their feet while chatting with neighbors and passers-by.

These are components of the magic, but the real magic of this Friday Night Jamboree is that it all occurs in a space that encourages and facilitates easy communication.

The magic that I see occurring every Friday night in front of the Floyd Country Store in Floyd, Virginia, is that all of the things I describe happen in a bounded area that is large enough to allow free movement and free discussion without being overwhelmed by sound volume and is small enough that you can walk from one end to the other in a matter of minutes.

By accident or by design, the Friday Night Jamboree is small enough for a feeling of intimacy and distributed enough so that you can carry on a conversation with everyone you meet without annoying others or having to shout over the music.

It has all of the elements of a successful party or mixer, lots of great music that doesn't overwhelm, a place to dance with a lively crowd on the dance floor, multiple musical groups offering Gospel, Bluegrass, Old Time Music, Blues, and Jazz, and places for uninterrupted talk with friends.

My take on it is that a number of Floyd citizens and County officials have contributed to this magic by creating a unique environment on Locust Street which has all of the elements needed for a successful party for up to 500 people.

Woody and Jackie Crenshaw have created enhanced the Friday Night Jamboree by their expansion of the Floyd Country Store which is the glowing center of the Friday Night celebration. Local and regional musicians gather weekly to jam in freeform musical clusters up and down Locust Street. The new broad sidewalk with spacious alcoves for musical performances provides a structure that encourages performances by all who desire to play.

The Cafe del Sol, the El Charro and the Floyd Country Store have delicious food and snacks for the floods of visitors roaming Locust Street on Friday nights, so there is no reason to wander further unless you want to sample the cuisine at Oddfellas Cantina or the country goodness of the Blue Ridge Restaurant or the Pine Tavern.

If you have ever attended a party that was held in a space that was too small or way too large, you know how the setting can make or break an event. The Friday Night Jamboree occurs in a space that is just the right size for the current number of attendees.

As attendance grows in the future, care must be taken so that the musical activity can spread out gracefully and that people can still wander freely about and converse during the evening. Easy communication amongst the visitors will keep the magic of the Jamboree alive.

Indianapolis bluegrass musicians enjoy Floyd sunshine and hospitality

Mark Conway and Craig Stinson were entertaining us in downtown Floyd, Virginia today because they had read in a book that if you came to Virginia, you had to visit Floyd.

They are just two more of the many musicians that have been drawn to Floyd from all over the world to perform for the receptive audiences that can be found here. The streets of Floyd are definitely not paved with gold, but Floydians have good hearts and they appreciate good music.

Floyd did not disappoint them as they found a ready audience on the newly constructed South Locust sidewalk. Customers of the Floyd Country Store were enjoying their ice cream treats to the toe-tapping bluegrass music when I stopped to interview them.

Popular local musician Bernie Coveney made them feel right at home when he stopped by for a brief discussion of their music and of the musicians they knew.

Conway and Stinson plan on being in town for a few days and hope to join in the Friday Night Jamboree jam sessions at the Floyd Country Store.

These young musicians are personable and I found their  music appealing. I will buy a copy of their CD "Legal Grass" before they move on.

You can learn more about them from their MYSpace page Legal Grass

UPDATE:

On Friday night, Mark and Craig were jamming with local musicians in the alley next to the Floyd Country Store. This was just one of several sessions they joined .

It should be noted that there were many visiting musicians this particular night. I counted at least 40 musicians playing on the sidewalks of Floyd and probably half of them were from out of the county.