Neighbor leads effort to help family after fire
An effort is under way to help a Stuarts Draft family left homeless after a house fire on Sunday.
Trent and Marie Showalter lost everything in the fire and did not have homeowners insurance. The family of six, including four children ages 15-22, are staying with neighbors Frank and Michelle Annese, who are leading the drive to get the Showalters back on their feet.
“Everything to fit into a house is greatly needed,” said Michelle Annese.
The list of items being sought:
Kitchen supplies: pots, pans, bakeware, baking pans, canning supplies, stock pots, utensils, dish towels
Furniture: dressers, bed frames, mattresses, sheet sets, sofa, chairs, bookcases, kitchen chairs (have a table donated already) desks
Building supplies: windows, doors, flooring, bathroom fixtures, sinks, tub, kitchen cabinets, lighting
Any gift cards or cash donations for the rebuild are greatly appreciated.
To help, contact Michelle Annese at michelleannese@gmail.com.
Edited by Chris Graham. Chris can be reached at freepress2@ntelos.net.
‘Our Town’ at SDHS
Stuarts Draft High School will be presenting the production of “Our Town” written by Thornton Wilder Nov. 18-20 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 21 at 2 p.m. Tickets will be $5 for adults and $3 for students, and can be purchased at the door. Concessions will be available during intermission.
“Our Town” shows how life in a small town isn’t always as simple as it seems. There is passion, heartbreak, and coldness lurking just under the surface of our seemingly commonplace lives. Yet there is still hope, true friendship, and real warmth there as well-if only we take the time to really see it. This production shows us life as it really is: happy, sad, hilarious, and wonderfully complicated.
This production of “Our Town” is the final project for the SDHS Advanced Drama class. The culmination of a semester-long study of the work, Draft drama students are involved in all aspects of play production. rom costumes and lights, to sound design and acting, “Our Town” at Stuarts Draft High School represents a showcase of student talent.
For more information, contact Amy Neal Bussey, Drama Department Director, at 540.946.7600.
BBQ & Bluegrass: Sending SDHS drama students to Scotland
The Stuarts Draft High School Drama Team is headed for Scotland. The team has been selected as one of only 50 high schools across the entire United States and Canada to receive an invitation to perform at the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, the world’s largest performing arts festival.
Students will spend two days exploring London before taking a train to join the thousands of other actors in Edinburgh. They will have the unprecedented opportunity to stage four performances during the festival, as well as participate in master-classes and workshops taught by some of the world’s leading artists. In addition, students will have the opportunity to watch countless performances, from classical theatre, to musical, to mime, and even clowning.
In the words of drama teacher Amy Bussey, “To see SDHS listed among the top theatre programs in the U.S. and Canada is an honor unlike any I have experienced. This is a true testament to the amazing talent and dedication of our students and their parents.”
As you can imagine, a trip of this magnitude will cost quite a bit. Students are actively raising funds. You have an opportunity this Sunday, Nov. 7, to support the SDHS Drama Team, and at the same time, enjoy great barbecue and three separate bluegrass bands at the Stuarts Draft High School, 1028 Augusta Farms Road, Stuarts Draft.
It’s BBQ & Bluegrass, featuring High Ground, Loose Gravel and Blue Mountain Sunrise. Lunch starts at 1 p.m., with music beginning at 2 p.m. and going until 5 p.m. The lunch is $5/person, and a suggested donation of $10 will go a long way toward sending these students to Scotland.
Story by Stan Horst. Photo by Wes Moyer.
Proceeds from Little Debbie cookbook to benefit the United Way
McKee Foods asked employees companywide to submit their favorite family recipes for an upcoming employee cookbook, All the Right Ingredients, being published to commemorate the company’s 50th year in business.
Every cookbook purchased will be helping others in the community. All proceeds from the cookbook sale from the Stuarts Draft facility will benefit United Way of Greater Augusta.
“This is just a small way that we can help give back to the local community that has supported the bakery during the last 20 years,” said Cindy Campbell, the United Way campaign co-coordinator at the McKee plant.
The Little Debbie Cookbook not only has employee recipes, but cookbook also features recipes from the McKee family and oh so delicious treats made with Little Debbie® snacks.
The cookbooks are being sold to the community for $15 plus tax. Reserve your copy by contacting Cindy Campbell at 540.943.7101, ext. 2209 or Bonnie Burnett at ext. 2215.
Edited by Chris Graham. Chris can be reached at freepress2@ntelos.net.
Local student honored by Kohl’s
Kohl’s Department Stores has named Jonathon White, 11, of Stuarts Draft, as one of 10 outstanding national winners earning a total of $10,000 in scholarships for post-secondary education through the Kohl’s Kids Who Care® Scholarship Program.
According to a 2009 “Trends in College Pricing” report by The College Board, college tuition and fees have risen nearly five percent annually for the last decade. In 2010, Kohl’s increased national scholarship amounts and celebrates 10 years of rewarding stand-up kids through the program. In addition to recognizing Jonathan for remarkable volunteerism, Kohl’s will also donate $1,000 to a nonprofit organization of his choice.
When Jonathon was 9 years old, he learned about the Appalachian regions in school just weeks before Christmas. Surprised at the poverty in the region, he became committed to making sure children in that region had a Christmas to look forward to, just as he did. For the next six weeks, he collected toys and washed, folded and packed more than 50,000 clothing items to donate to families, and did the same the following year. Jonathon has spent countless hours collecting items and working with local shelters and organizations to distribute them. The items he’s donated are valued at approximately $500,000.
“Kids like Jonathon embody the true meaning of volunteerism. He has demonstrated through his collection efforts that people – regardless of age – are capable of remarkable and inspiring accomplishments,” said Julie Gardner, Kohl’s executive vice president and chief marketing officer. “Kohl’s is very proud to recognize and support the education of these extraordinary individuals and hopes their selfless acts will inspire more young people to make a positive difference in their community.”
Edited by Chris Graham. Chris can be reached at freepress2@ntelos.net.
Sweet Dreams made in Draft
This year marks the seventh annual Sweet Dreams Festival in Stuarts Draft. Saturday, July 24, thousands of people will show up to buy from local businesses, artisans and crafters and enjoy the stage with musical entertainment by S.A.L.T and Steve Losh.
The Festival begins at 9 a.m. and goes until 5 p.m.
Venders lined up Friday morning at an early 7:30 a.m. to get a prime location for their tent. These early birds included Kathryn McMillan of Cutter Conversions. McMillan has been doing this event for four years.
“This is the best place to get business. People come here ready to buy,” McMillan said.
Also among the venders was Melissa Howell of Barefoot Books and MDH Events, a new business. This is Howell’s second year in the festival, and she says the event is a good place to get the word out about the Barefoot Books, which are for people of all ages, because most of the books are not sold in local stores.
Kristen Printy, one of the coordinators for this event, was out there ready to go checking people in this morning as cars flooded the park.
“With McKee and Hershey both right here in Stuarts Draft, we have dubbed ourselves the sweetest place in Virginia,” Printy said about how this whole event came about.
Although the festival does not begin until 9 a.m., Printy, along with other workers, will be at Stuarts Draft Park at 5 a.m. in order to let vendors come in and set up their merchandise.
Events will be going on all day starting with a pancake breakfast at Stump Elementary School going from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. At 7 a.m. there will be a 5K run, followed by tournaments including horseshoe and cornhole as well as softball. Numerous contests will be taking place throughout the day, ranging from a baking contest to a Little Debbie look-a-like contest.
Story by Jenny Hypes. Jenny can be reached at jenny.hypes@emu.edu.
Derby to host Spring Rally Weekend
Edited by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
The Blue Ridge Soap Box Derby Classic is supporting a local Spring Rally Weekend to be held in Stuarts Draft on Saturday, April 24, and Sunday, April 25. Read more
