Features

Where many people see only the things that divide us — race, class, gender, belief — musician Tremayne Blair sees the common spirituality that binds human beings together.

The Galax-born singer and songwriter is pursuing a dream of spreading that message to the masses — one audience or congregation at a time, if necessary.

On Aug. 2, Blair will host a concert at Cliffview Church of God in Galax.

Registration for the Galax Old Fiddlers’ Convention increased overall for the first time in five years.

Last year was the fourth year in a row that registrations for the convention declined. Registrations for 2007 were down 130 from the previous year.

But for the 73rd annual event, overall registrations were 1,817 — up 52 contestants from 2007.

Officials with the convention’s sponsor, Galax Moose Lodge #733, say the registration numbers have never reflected actual attendance.

Even in a sluggish economy, Galax-based textile mill Blue Ridge Crest and Vaughan-Bassett Furniture Co. are managing to run all out while their operations employ nearly 1,100 combined.

“When the factories were closing a few years ago, my goal would have been to survive,” said Wyatt Bassett, executive vice president of Vaughan-Bassett. “But now, we’re beyond that, and as soon as the economy will allow it, we’d love to start growing again.”

At 17, Kristen Jennings has already stood in an operating room filled with surgeons watching patients undergo medical procedures.

And, more prestigiously, the student at Galax High and Southwest Virginia Governor's School has already presented scientific research to a board of professors and scientists.

Jennings undertook a psychological experiment as part of the governor’s school science fair, as she sought to answer the question of why and how human beings help others in need.

It was a political prank worthy of The Joker himself.

On Monday, motorists in Galax were startled, befuddled and — if they know their Batman comics and movies — maybe amused by a group of phony political campaigners handing out literature near Twin County Cinema III.

Three well-dressed teens held balloons and signs that read “Take Back Gotham City — Vote Harvey Dent.”

No, you haven’t missed Dent’s bid for president, and he’s not running for state office or city council.

Never let it be said that the folks who put on the Smoke On The Mountain state barbecue cookoff don’t go out of their way to help those who participate in the event.

On Tuesday, when word reached the event’s volunteer coordinator, Carlene Poole, that the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile had gotten into a beef with police, she mustered the courage to ride to the rescue.

Poole said she heard through a friend that the iconic vehicle had a run-in with police on its way to an appearance at the barbecue contest, which starts Friday in downtown Galax.

With only one proposal on the table, Carroll officials are still marketing 91 acres owned by the county — and a partner in the venture to build the 600-seat Mayberry Opry music venue says he welcomes competition.

Marshall Lineberry of Weststar Investments met with reporters — and Carroll Supervisors’ Chairman Sam Dickson, as it turned out — at the Crossroads Institute last Thursday to discuss the status of the Mayberry Opry project, after the county supervisors and the Industrial Development Authority members decided to market the land again.

Job losses and plant closings have made it difficult for Twin County United Way to raise money for its annual campaign, but the non-profit organization still managed to raise 87 percent of its goal of $220,000 during its 2007 campaign, which recently concluded.

TCUW raised a total of $192,000 to fund its partner agencies.

"Job loss has affected everything," said Kim Rosenbaum, executive director of TCUW. "The ones that have been givers throughout the years are now the ones who need help."

The Whitetop Mountain Band from Grayson County recently was signed by Mountain Roads Recording, a record company in Bristol, Tenn.

The traveling family band hails from the high mountains of Grayson.

In a press release, the company said “Whitetop is a region rich in the old-time music tradition; this band has deep roots in mountain music. The members have done much to preserve the Whitetop region’s style of old-time fiddling and banjo picking and are legendary musicians and teachers of the style.”