Smith Mountain Laker Magazine JulyAug Profiles

SMITHMOUNTAINLAKE.COM 45

46 May • June 2011 | SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKER SMITHMOUNTAINLAKE.COM 47

davidBALDACCIWhen not writing best-selling books, hanging out with Hollywood producers and movies stars, boating with a former president and giving his time to numerous charitable causes, the super-star author plays cards with his kids, orders pizza at Pizza Pub and putters around the dock at his Smith Mountain Lake home.

STORY BY ELIZABETH HOCK • MAJOR PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICAH GAUDIO

shorelines | PROFILE

10most memorable

Whether born and bred in the area or transplanted from other states or countries, an abundance

of interesting people call Smith Mountain Lake home. For me, that makes finding Lakers to profile in each issue of Laker Magazine relatively easy.

However, as has been the challenge with all of the other “Most Memorable” retrospectives this year – produced to commemorate our 10th anniversary – singling out only 10 was a difficult task. Ultimately, it came down to the stories our editorial staff believed were the most high-profile, heart-warming or inspirational.

One profile you may recognize as glaringly missing is the one that ran in our May/June issue on best-selling author David Baldacci (pictured left). While it definitely makes the cut as memorable, we thought it was a little too recent to include in this wrapup. However, as with the 10 profiles noted on the following pages, you can log on to smithmountainlake.com to read the original story.

We asked freelancer Lindsey Wagnon, who wrote several of the original stories, to take a look back and provide an update on these most noteworthy Lakers.

— Andie Gibson, Editor

46 July • August 2011 | SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKER

10 StorieS by lindSey Wagnon

Dan TyminskiDecember 2002/January 2003

8 SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKER.COM

“A Breath Of Fresh Air”Bluegrass star Dan Tyminski finds peace in the mountains of Franklin County

Dan Tyminski admits it doesn’t make much sense for him to make his home in Franklin County, Virginia. What with recording sessions in Nashville to attend, concerts to perform across the country, TV appearances to make and big-time awards ceremonies to attend, Tyminski burns up the interstates. So why did he choose the Blue Ridge? “I think it chose me,” said Tyminski, a native of Rutland, Vermont, and musician with the popular country and bluegrass ensemble Alison Krauss and Union Station. “I moved away three times and came back each time. I enjoy this part of the country because it’s away from the music scene. It’s a breath of fresh air. I don’t have to wear my music hat.” Launched into the public eye in 2000 as the singing voice of George Clooney in the hit movie “O Brother, Where Art Thou?,” Tyminski has soared to fame, bringing his unique brand of bluegrass to the forefront of the music industry. In 2001, he won the Country Music Association’s award for Single of the Year for “Man of Constant Sorrow” and Album of the Year for the “O Brother” soundtrack. At the Grammy Awards, the soundtrack won for the year’s top album and Tyminski took home the award for Best Country Collaboration With Vocals. An accomplished mandolin and guitar player, Tyminski spent six years as a member of the Lonesome River Band before joining Alison Krauss and Union Station in 1994. He released his first solo album – “Carry Me Across the Mountain” – in 2000 with Doobie Shea Records, an independent label located in Boones Mill. He has also collaborated on the albums of artists such as Dolly Parton, Clint Black and Randy Travis. The success is something the easy-going Tyminski takes in stride. “It doesn’t change anything, yet it changes everything,” he said. “It’s changed in that a couple of years ago I could walk into a room and not be the focus. It means having to guard my words. It means more eyes watching and with that comes a level of responsibility. … Ultimately, though, I feel so fortunate that I get to make my living this way.” The achievements have enabled Tyminski to team up with legendary artists he grew up listening to and idolizing. He spent last summer performing as part of the “Down From the Mountain” tour, which played 42 dates across the country. Among the country and bluegrass musicians he played and sang along side were Ralph Stanley, Ricky Skaggs, Patty Loveless and Emmylou Harris. And while he may be a star on the stage, at home in Ferrum he spends as much time as possible “doing normal family stuff” with his wife Elise and their three kids, ages 5, 7 and 9. “My kids go to a great school [Christian Heritage Academy in Rocky Mount],” Tyminski said. “It’s a beautiful place and they love it. That’s another one of the reasons this area appeals to me. To put them in the same environment in Nashville would be too [expensive].” Tyminski will head back to Nashville in 2003 to record another album with Alison Krauss and Union Station. He also has another solo album in the works. “Next year,” he said, “will be jam packed.”

music news

BY ANDIE GIBSON

A look back at our most memorable profiles of the past decade

THEN: Lake resident Susie Parrish shared her inspirational story in a pro-file entitled “A Special Spirit.” At the time, Parrish had beaten breast cancer twice and was a few months past treat-ment for a third battle. Not only did she fight the disease for herself, she set into motion an event that would raise more than $230,000 for breast cancer research. The Rally for a Cure golf tournament to benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Can-cer Foundation made its debut in 1996 at The Waterfront Country Club. Par-rish was awarded the LPGA’s Komen Award for her efforts in 2003.

NOW: Parrish is once again fighting cancer, but her attitude continues to be positive. “I have a wonderful life here at Smith Mountain Lake and I relish every moment I have with my family and my friends,” she said. “I am continuing in this fight to find a cure for breast cancer and to preserve my life the best I pos-sibly can.” Though she no longer orga-nizes the Rally for a Cure tournament, the annual event continues on a smaller scale. Parrish firmly believes her ordeal with cancer is part of a bigger plan. “This is the plan that was given to me. I try to use it to be a good example to anyone else who is suffering and deal-ing with dying,” she said.

Susie ParrishAugust/September 2004

44 SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKER.COM AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2004 45

Susie Parrish A Special Spirit

John and Susie Parrish have organized a Rally for a Cure golf tournament the past nine years that has become the largest of its kind in the country and have contributed nearly

$100,000 to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

Ty Votaw (left), commissioner of the LPGA, presents lake-resident Susie Parrish with the Komen Award to honor

her contributions to raising funds and awareness for the fight against breast cancer.

(Laker Profile)(Laker Profile) written by Johanna Calfee

When the cards started piling up in Susie Parrish’s mailbox in late May – more than 350 in all – the mail carrier wondered if Parrish was celebrating a special birthday.

Unfortunately, the cards weren’t birthday greetings but get well wishes from friends and family around Smith Mountain Lake and the world who had heard the news: The breast cancer was back.

Again.After beating the disease twice in the past 16 years, Parrish

learned the cancer had metastasized to the bone in her neck. She faced immediate surgery to remove a tumor and 20 doses of radiation in four weeks.

“I think it really affected people that I got sick again,” said Parrish, who organizes what has become the largest golf tournament at the lake and contrib-uted nearly $100,000 to breast cancer research.

The Rally for a Cure began in 1996 as a ladies’ day event at The Waterfront Country Club. Sixteen golfers partici-pated, raising $450 for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Nine years later, the event has become the largest tournament of its kind out of 3,000 events around the country. Last year, Parrish donated $30,000 to the foundation.

Parrish’s efforts earned her the LPGA’s Komen Award presented by Yoplait in 2003, an honor usually reserved for corporations. Gillette, American Airlines, Titleist-Foot Joy and Lincoln-Mercury have all won the award for their contributions to raising funds and awareness for the fight against breast cancer.

“And then there’s little Susie Parrish from Smith Mountain Lake,” said her husband John Parrish, who helps organize the event. “Clearly what she has created here is very, very, very different than any of the others around the country. … It’s very exciting on that day. It’s a special spirit.”

The tournament is always held the first Monday in October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In addition to green and cart fees at The Waterfront, the $105 entry fee ($75 for members of The Waterfront, The Water’s Edge or The Westlake) includes a golf shirt, one-year subscription to Golf for Women magazine, lunch, surf-and-turf buffet dinner, silent auction and live auction.

“We’re really getting some killer prizes,” said John Parrish, mentioning trips to Ireland and the Bahamas. There will also be a chance to bid on tickets to attend the Target World Challenge in December at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, California, which features 16 of the world’s best golfers com-peting in a 72-hole stroke play event.

Finding auction items isn’t difficult, Susie Parrish said. “People want to give to the Rally for a Cure. I have people giv-ing me things all the time. They want to help because so many people have been affected by this disease.”

Parrish stresses the Rally is, first and foremost, about raising awareness about breast cancer, a disease that will kill an esti-mated 40,000 women this year. The Komen Foundation recom-mends yearly mammograms for women over age 40.

Parrish was 39 – with children ages 17, 15 and 12 –when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer. She found a lump during a routine self-exam and went immediately for a mam-mogram and biopsy, which revealed the diagnosis. She had a mastectomy and was cancer free for the next eight years until she had a rare chest-wall reoccurance. This time, in addition to surgery, Parrish endured radiation and chemotherapy.

In April, 8 years after her last bout with the disease, Parrish developed a sore neck. At first, she thought she had slept wrong and even bought a new pillow to see if she could relieve the pain.

“But it was a deep pain and it felt worse at night,” Parrish said. “By the end of the day, it felt like my head was too heavy for my shoulders.”

Parrish went through a series of tests that revealed the mestatecized breast cancer and a tumor that was pinching a nerve and impeding the use of her left arm. Immediate sur-gery was necessary to remove the tumor to avoid permanent damage. Radiation therapy over the next month was performed carefully to avoid damage to the spinal cord.

Parrish’s health outlook is now good. Doctors tell her because she has gone eight years between each occurrence means she has a latent form of cancer. She takes two medications – a bone strengthener and an estro-gen inhibitor. Both are new forms of treatment that weren’t available during her previous bouts with cancer.

“That’s a positive thing for me,” she said. “Those drugs wouldn’t have been here. Without the research, we wouldn’t have that. The money is making a difference.”

While the Oct. 4 Rally for a Cure golf tournament already has a full

field, reservations are still being accepted for the dinner, silent auction and live auction. The cost is $35 per person. Sponsorship opportuni-ties and donations for the auctions are also still being accepted. For information, contact the Parrishes at 721-7379.

By Andie Gibson

THEN: Bluegrass musician Dan Tymin-ski was calling Ferrum home and mak-ing the region proud with major music and film accolades. The accomplished guitarist and mandolin player had col-laborated with a long list of well-known talent, including Alison Krauss and Union Station, Dolly Parton and Randy Travis. Tyminski spoke about having recently provided the singing voice of George Clooney’s character in the mov-ie “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” Short-ly after, he won two Country Music Association awards and two Grammy Awards for his songwriting contribu-tions to the film.

NOW: Making his home near Nash-ville, Tenn., Tyminski has added even more achievements to his resume. He is a 13-time Grammy winner and juggles playing time between his own Dan Tyminski Band, Alison Krauss and Union Station and country suplerstar Vince Gill’s band. Tyminski is touring with Alison Krauss and Union Station and made appearances in April on the “Late Show with David Letterman” and the “Today Show.” His talent can be heard on “Paper Airplane,” the lat-est Alison Krauss and Union Station album, as well as his own Grammy-nominated album “Wheels.”


The Cooper SistersMay/June 2006

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Laker Feature by Jerry Hale

Shor

elin

es

The Cooper Family Raises Cows, Horses & Slalom Champions at SML

Serious Skiers

Photos by Sam Dean

THEN: Sisters Suzanne, Michaela, Ran-dolph and Caroline shared not only the same last name but similar infatuation with and talent for slalom water-skiing. Our spring 2006 profile covered how the four were introduced to the sport (parents Ashley and Lori grew up ski-ing) and detailed their competitive accomplishments. Trophies filled the family room and the sisters were at-tracting national publicity and college scholarship offers. When not practicing technique on Smith Mountain Lake, the girls attended Christian Heritage Acad-emy in Rocky Mount, played soccer and helped around the Cooper family farm.

NOW: Over the past five years, each sis-ter has kept up intensive water-ski ac-tivity. When not training or competing, they have lent their skills to coaching or leading a local ski group. Suzanne (22) graduated in 2009 from Auburn University where she was captain of the varsity water-ski team. She recent-ly married and is attending graduate school at Auburn. Michaela (21) is a Rollins College graduate and won first place at the Junior U.S. Open Water Ski Championships in 2010. Randolph (18) is a recent graduate of Christian Heri-tage Academy with plans to attend the University of Georgia and compete for the Bulldogs’ water-ski team. Still in high school, Caroline (16) earned fourth place in the 2010 Junior Masters Water Ski & Wakeboard Tournament at Robin Lake in Pine Mountain, Ga.

THEN: The spring 2007 issue of Laker Magazine put the spotlight on Karen McNew, news anchor for WSLS Chan-nel 10 and a resident of Smith Moun-tain Lake. The feature revealed Mc-New’s journey to the anchor desk and detailed her other interests, including running and involvement with non-profit groups. The story also show-cased the many reasons McNew and her husband, Matt McGuire, enjoy liv-ing at SML. “We water-ski, especially down at Bull Run Creek,” Karen said. “Matt’s a pretty good wakeboarder; I’m just learning. … And I love just hanging out on the dock or floating on a life belt.”

NOW: McNew is still at Channel 10’s anchor desk on weekday evenings and nights. Her reporting coverage focuses on community service and health is-sues. Committed to fitness, McNew completed the Richmond Marathon last fall, finished her fourth half-mar-athon recently and is a regular at the Smith Mountain Lake YMCA. Her on-water skills have improved, too. “I’ve mastered jumping the wake on my wakeboard, which was exciting to me,” she said.

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any Laker magazine readers have no-doubt tuned in to WSLS “10 On Your Side” for area news, weather and sports. Not so many, however, know that Channel 10’s accomplished evening and late-night news anchor is also a Laker.

“I never thought I’d love the Lake as much as he does,” says broadcaster Karen McNew, referring to husband Matt McGuire who grew up weekending at Smith Mountain Lake. “But living here is something we both treasure.” The couple bought a home on a secluded Blackwater cove in the fall of 2003, shortly after becoming engaged. “We both had condos in Roanoke, neither of which was well-suited to married living,” Karen recalls. “We figured a waterfront home was out of our range but went ‘What if?’ shopping just to see what living at the Lake would be like.” They stumbled across an appealing home, made an offer they could afford, and ended up proud owners of a Lake weekend retreat. Karen’s route into broadcasting was a bit like the drive across Windy Gap from SML to Roanoke – lots of twists and turns and a few ups and downs. Bit parts in two high school plays in Blacksburg put “Hollywood, here I come!” on her brain, but Karen’s mom convinced her to attend Virginia Tech first. She earned a degree in broadcast journalism and completed an internship with Roanoke’s WSLS her senior year. “I loved it and wanted to work there in the worst way,” she says, “but without real work experience, it wasn’t going to happen.” Many resumes later, she landed a night producer’s job in Bluefield, W.Va. “…editing tape midnight to 9 a.m., but with occasional chances to cover stories as a fill-in reporter.” Her on-camera work earned her a morning anchor’s job where she was live every weekday until a similar position opened at WSLS in February, 1998. Before long, station executives promoted Karen to the 5 p.m. newscast. Later she earned the lead anchor job for the entire 90-minute evening news broadcast plus each weekday’s concluding newscast at 11 p.m. A bit of a night owl, Karen doesn’t mind the late hours. “I have mornings, early afternoons and weekends for home life,” she says, and she finds the drive to and from Roanoke relaxing. “Not much traffic…and it’s a time when

I can listen to Spirit FM, talk with God about my day, and reflect on my many blessings.” When they lived in Roanoke, Karen and Matt often met for dinner during her hour or so of downtime between the evening and 11 p.m. broadcasts. Now she’s more likely to unwind at the gym. And the couple’s “together time” is focused on SML. “We water ski, especially down at Bull Run Creek,” Karen says. “Matt’s a pretty good wakeboarder; I’m just learning.” Boat rides into the many coves along the Blackwater, often with a picnic aboard, are peaceful and relaxing. “And I love just hanging out on the dock or floating on a life belt.” She giggles as she admits to periodic romps down the hill and off the dock to “…see how far out I can jump.”

So what’s it like to be already familiar to many Lake people you meet? “I’m really flattered to hear they enjoy watching Channel 10 News,” she admits. But she promptly dismisses the idea of “celebrity.” “Mom taught me to treat everyone the way I want to be treated – with dignity and caring.” She does her best to answer viewer email and routinely smiles an acknowledgement to strangers who notice her in a restaurant or crowd. Karen’s evident compassion

also drives her support of area non-profit organizations — Roanoke’s Jingle Bell Run, Rescue Mission, Spina Bifida Association, Mended Hearts, the Discovery Shop and SPCA. “My one-eared beagle, Lucky, is a really important part of my life. Both of us are indeed ‘lucky.’” And with that word, the Karen McNew interview returns once again to how much she loves Smith Mountain Lake. “Most of my jogging routes include Lake views, and I always slow to a walk and say a prayer of appreciation and thanks at those spots. Matt and I are so enjoying being part of the Lake community.” Karen’s in-laws, Gene and Linda McGuire, also live on the Lake. “There’s a spectacular view of the Cliffs from their deck,” Karen effuses, “and it’s a neat place to tackle my latest challenge: learning to play a respectable “Margaritaville” on the guitar.” One thing Karen loves about her job: “You never know what will happen on any given day.” But she says she knows what to expect from Smith Mountain Lake: “Serene, calming, friendly, picturesque – just a great place to call home!”

MSTORY BY JERRY HALE PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICAH GAUDIO

Channel 10’s Karen McNew treasures life in the SML community

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Anchoredat the Lake

Karen McNewMay/June 2007


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Smith’s numerous assignments included jobs as an ICBM test and evaluation officer and as a liaison between Strategic Air Command headquarters and the Space and Missile Systems Office during Minuteman III development. From 1976-1979, Smith served as the Chief Policy Officer for the Secretary of the Air Force during the transition from the administration of President Richard Nixon to that of Jimmy Carter. “I was an advisor to the secretary on political matters. I wrote statements and speeches on his behalf for presentation to Congress and the public,” Smith said. “That threw me right into the political environment in Washington. It was a very turbulent time.” Smith completed National War College and was named assistant deputy commander at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, heading up the missile-maintenance organization. In 1981, he assumed command of the 351st Strategic Missile Wing with responsibility for 150 Minuteman II ICBMs. He held that position until 1984, when he returned to SAC headquarters in Nebraska as director of ICBM requirements and assistant chief of staff. Smith, who was promoted to brigadier general in 1985, later served as command director for the American Aerospace Defense Command in Colorado Springs, Colo. “A lot of interesting things happened during that time, including the Challenger explosion and a lot of airline hi-jackings,” Smith said. “One of the many challenges of that job was monitoring data from satellites in the Western Hemisphere for indications of a Soviet attack. In the beginning, the Soviets would test-launch missiles into the Pacific, and we wouldn’t know if it was a test or an accident. [President Ronald] Reagan was able to negotiate a protocol of prior notification of a test launch. That took a little bit of the heat off.” Smith’s final Air Force assignment was as a senior military negotiator for air defense and space talks in Geneva, Switzerland. Though tensions had cooled between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, Smith said negotiations continued because of Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative, commonly referred to as “Star Wars.” “For 27 years, I had worked to develop defenses against

the Soviets. Now I was sitting face-to-face across the table from them,” Smith said. “I did that for two years and didn’t make much headway because a lot of people in Washington opposed the policy. My Soviet counterparts would come into meeting with copies of the New York Times and point out how lawmakers in the U.S. didn’t support the treaty we were pushing. That made it tough.” After retiring from the military in 1988, Smith worked with a research and development company in Arlington developing arms control verification technologies. He then became a self-employed consultant, advising private companies on prevention of infrastructure attacks. Smith and his wife now enjoy quieter times on Smith Mountain Lake, which they discovered while participating in antique boating events. Smith is president of the SML Chapter

of the Antique & Classic Boat Society and owns a fully restored 1952 Chris Craft, which he bought in 1984 while stationed in Missouri. “I saw an ad in an antique boat magazine for this boat in Alabama,” he said. “So a buddy and I drove down with a trailer and hauled it back up.” Hence, the boat’s name: Birmingham Baby. Smith also is working on a 1949 racing boat in his home workshop that he plans to finish

over the winter and display at the 2008 SML Antique & Classic Boat Show. Smith, who enjoys spending time on the lake with his three children and seven grandchildren, said he doesn’t miss the stress of military work and is content in knowing he made a difference during a turbulent time in U.S. history. “During the Cold War, I was really involved in some big-time, life-and-death issues – potential for what people called the unthinkable, if we ever went into a nuclear war,” he said. “I was leading people who were dedicated to preventing that, and that provided me a real sense of accomplishment.”

Flash back several decades. While most of us were reading in the newspaper about Cold War negotiations, intercontinental ballistic missiles and space-based defense systems, Roger Smith was right in the thick of it. As a career Air Force officer, Smith was instrumental in strategic planning, intelligence and systems programming for U.S. missile systems. “Some people today say it was a lot to do about nothing, but at the time we really didn’t know. We were on the brink of catastrophe every day,” said Smith, who retired to Smith

Mountain Lake with his wife, Sybil, in 2003. “You could see the dedication from the youngest airman to top officers – and that’s really what it took. There was no room for error when you’re dealing with intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).” A native of New Jersey, Smith joined the Air Force in 1959, embarking on a 29-year military career during which he would rise to the rank of Brigadier General and earn the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Air Force’s highest peace-time award for defense.

Shorelines PROFILE

Laker Roger Smith was instrumental in Cold War defense

“During the Cold War, I was really involved in some big-time, life-and-death issues.”

Below from left: Roger Smith shows off the engine inside his 1952 Chris Craft; Medals earned during Smith’s 29-year Air Force career are displayed in his homeGENERAL

TheGENERALThe

Roger SmithNovember/December 2007

THEN: With plenty of military credentials and stories to share, former Air Force general Roger Smith provided an intriguing look into Cold War-era defense tactics. Laker Magazine readers got a glimpse of what it was like for Smith to advance in the Air Force, contribute to military planning, intelligence and systems programming, and ultimately serve as Chief Policy Officer for the Secretary of the Air Force during the transition from President Richard Nixon to Jimmy Carter. In 2003, Smith and his wife, Sybil, retired to the lake and became active with the SML Antique & Classic Boat Society.

THEN: Few people were more closely connected to the happenings on Smith Mountain Lake than Karl Martin, District Supervisor for the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. The role demanded a wide range of responsibilities, including safety enforcement, accident investigation and safety education. It was easy for Martin to love the job that incorporated so many of his outdoor interests - hunting, boating and fishing. What made it even more appealing, he said, was the knowledge that his job was to help others stay safe while enjoying the lake and its waterways.

NOW: In his 39th year with VDGIF, Martin said the lake has become safer in the four years since the profile ran. “Things are working out very well,” he said. “We can see an improvement in boating safety on SML.” In March, Martin received the SML Water Safety Council’s Karl Martin Water Safety Award, the first of what the group expects to become an annual award named in his honor. Martin said one of his favorite off-duty activities is spending time with his grandchildren. He is especially proud of his oldest grandson, a third-year Marine recently deployed overseas.

NOW: The Smiths are still enjoying life at SML. Roger finished restoring the 1949 racing boat he had been working on at the time of the profile and moved on to a 1940 Chris-Craft named for and belonging to Sybil. The couple is still involved with the SML Antique & Classic Boat Society. “We’re traveling more now to see family. It’s a lot fun when they come here to visit. Our oldest grandchild is 13 and he loves to get out on the water when he’s here,” said Roger. “We still love the lake and we plan to be here many more years.”

Sgt. Karl MartinJuly/August 2007

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ou probably recognize his name, have read his quotes in news articles and are familiar with the image of the man with the closely cropped, graying hair wearing fatigue pants, boots and a polo-style shirt with the Virginia Game Warden badge embroidered over the left pocket.

In most instances, Lt. Karl Martin is the man in front when there’s an incident of any kind on Smith Mountain Lake. As District Supervisor for the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Martin’s job includes investigating accidents on the Lake. But the 35-year veteran is quick to point out there’s much more to the job of a game warden. “There are fewer than 200 game wardens in the state. Because of that, we have a bit of an identity crisis as to what we do and what our responsibilities are,” said Martin, who has spent his whole career with the agency, which is charged with managing Virginia’s wildlife, providing opportunity for all to enjoy wildlife and outdoor recreation, and promoting safety in connection with boating, hunting and fishing. “People in this part of the state probably know more about what a game warden does because of Smith Mountain Lake,” he said. “In this part of the state, we get a great deal of attention, not necessarily because of incidents, but because the Lake – Memorial Day to Labor Day – is the busiest in the state and one of the busiest in the Eastern U.S.” Martin was born in Canada, the son of a career Army father from Virginia and a Canadian mother. He grew up in numerous locales, including post-World War II Germany. His family returned to Virginia and Martin graduated from Franklin County High School in 1963. He took management classes at several area colleges and worked farm jobs, retail and sales positions before joining VDGIF on Jan. 1, 1971. “I was looking for something outdoors that I could make a living at,” Martin said. “I was into anything outdoors – hunting, fishing, farming,” – activities that he said he no longer has much time for. “That’s one of the drawbacks of the job. I tell people I manage to hunt, fish and golf one day a year. But I’m one of the lucky people who got to do exactly what they wanted to do straight out of school.” Martin has been a district supervisor since 1980 and currently manages 12 game wardens within the counties of Franklin, Pittsylvania, Henry and Patrick. Martin is also a member of Virginia’s transportation safety board, providing information to legislators on boating safety. In addition, he taught classes at the state’s law enforcement academy in Richmond on topics such as boating and hunting accident

investigation for 20 years. “The job of a game warden is a lot different than you might imagine in that we’re trained heavily not only in hunting, fishing and boating, but due to the events of 9/11, we’re trained extensively on secondary issues that involve the outdoors,” Martin said. “We have additional weapons and training so that all officers are prepared in the event of a terrorist attack.” Martin explained that game wardens must complete the same academy requirements as all sworn police officers and then train with their own academy at the Department of Criminal Justice Services. Applicants must also pass psychiatric and polygraph tests as well as an extensive background check. Once they’re hired and complete academy work, Martin said, game wardens must work in the field with another training officer for three months. He said it’s “probably another two years before they get a real feel for Smith Mountain Lake.” Martin works out of offices in Forest and Rocky Mount, but is in the field most of the time – always accessible by mobile phone. Onboard computers on patrol boats have also changed the way game wardens carry out their duties, providing radar capabilities and the ability to collect data and map locations of incidents. “It’s something different every day and definitely something different with every season,” said Martin, who works nearly every weekend year-round. That leaves limited time to spend with his wife of 19 years, daughter, stepson and five grandchildren (ages 6-17). “It takes a lot of understanding for families of anyone who does police work. In addition to the fact that it can be dangerous, plans with your family are often interrupted by emergencies.” In his more than three decades on the job, Martin said he has seen many changes at Smith Mountain Lake, which he remembers fishing as it was being filled in the early 1960s. One significant change has been in the attitude of those using the Lake. “The atmosphere and behavior has improved to the point where people realize that in order to enjoy one of the most beautiful places in Virginia, everyone needs to follow the same rules,” Martin said. “Even though people have let their guard down and have been cited, the majority receive the citation differently than they did 20 years ago. I’d estimate half – when they receive the citation – say thank you. … They realize the rules can make the Lake a lot more enjoyable for all – and safer, too.”

YSTORY BY ANDIE GIBSON PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICAH GAUDIO

Lt. Karl Martin is charged with keeping the waters of SML safe

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You want a bank that knows Smith Mountain Lake.



Steve HuffSeptember/October 2009

THEN: In the profile entitled “Simple Needs, One Solution,” lake resident Steve Huff shared how helping others in impoverished nations requires hard work, perseverance and continual fundraising. The Virginia Western Community College professor’s non-profit organization, World Relief Now, was actively addressing the needs of people in the poorest parts of northern Africa. Huff gave insight into the 2003 trip that inspired the formation of WRN and the many projects that had successfully provided relief to tens of thousands in Third World countries.

NOW: Huff continues to tackle Third World relief from his SML home. World Relief Now is still the link between donated resources and funds and delivery to those who need it most. “We have had some exciting developments in the past year,” he said. “We have delivered large amounts of vitamins to Senegal and Nepal. We have also completed the coloring-book project which was referenced in the 2009 article. Also, a school which WRN helped fund in Storms River, South Africa, has been completed and is now benefitting hundreds of students.”

THEN: Overcoming adversity was the theme of local resident Pam Rickard’s profile. The avid distance runner shared openly about her long struggle with alcoholism and the events that led to her recovery. Three DUIs, seven marathons and three months in the Roanoke City Jail were all part of the journey to her life motto: “It is well with my soul.” Rickard was celebrating three years of sobriety at the time of the article, an achievement she credited to her relationship with God, a supportive family and love for running.

NOW: Rickard celebrated five years of sobriety in April. She has partnered with internationally known runner and Run7on7.com founder Linda Quirk to raise money and awareness for drug and alcohol addiction treatment and long-term recovery services. Rickard, who plans to run her first 100-mile desert race in November, works full time as the Regional Liaison and Alumni Coordinator for the treatment center where she was placed after her third DUI. “My joke is, when I checked into the Farley Center at Williamsburg Place, they took my cell-phone. Now, they pay for it. That’s the power of what real recovery can do,” she said.

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After living for yearswith an addiction to alcohol,Pam Rickard is blazing a new pathSTORY BY LINDSAY HOCK • PHOTOGRAPHY BY KIM DILLON AND COURTESY OF PAM RICKARD

my soul It is well with

Pam Rickard crosses the finish line at the Boston Marathon in April.

Rickard's story was among several featured in a book about the 2007 New York City Marathon written by Liz Robbins of The New York Times.

favorite running shirt is red, Nike brand, nothing fancy like the ones she sees on other

runners. It has traveled from Bedford to Boston, to New York and back. It has endured millions of pavement-pounding strides and has soaked the dripping sweat of a marathon runner. She wore it last year in the Johnny CASA 5-miler at LakeWatch Plantation, where she beat out younger, less road weary runners. But it is something else, just six simple words that make the shirt Pam Rickard’s favorite. A white, fabric-painted quote adorns the back, a constant reminder of where she’s been and where she’s going, both on the road and in life: "It is well with my soul." Rickard, a Franklin County resident, 47-year-old mother of three and recovering alcoholic with more than three years of sobriety, has much to be thankful for this holiday season. But it was not always this way.

The Road to Bottom Rickard’s first experience with running distance races was the result of an alcohol-induced dare. Like many of her peers at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, in the 1980s, alcohol was part of the college experience. One Friday night while partying, a friend dared Rickard to run a University-sponsored 5k the next morning. "I did it, and it wasn’t so horrible that I didn’t want to do it again," recalled Rickard. "Even though I was hung over, I liked the race and knew I would do more." Running soon became "her thing" in a time before the sports-crazed and exercise-centric 1990s. "None of my friends ran. It gave me an identity, and I liked that," she said. "I was Pam, the runner." After college, Rickard continued running — and drinking. A marriage to her college sweetheart, Tom, the current librarian at Dudley Elementary, to whom she is still married, a move to Roanoke and a job in advertising followed graduation. While her friends cut back, Rickard found herself still drinking at night to unwind.

"I found myself drinking wine at night after dinner. Everyone else did too — friends or dinner guests — but I always drank much more than everyone else. I would black out a few nights a week," she said. It was during that time that Rickard also became most serious about her running, which in turn, justified her drinking. "I was running marathons. How could I be an alcoholic? That was the reasoning I used," she said. "I was going to work, being a good mother, running more than most people could dream of. Drinking problem? Me? No way." Rickard ran seven marathons as an alcoholic. She also received two DUIs. Her third DUI, in February of 2006, turned out to be the turning point in a long line of alcohol-fueled missteps.

Hard Time and Hard Lessons After receiving her third DUI conviction in two years, Rickard entered a rehab facility in Williamsburg where she learned the 12-step program she still uses to maintain her sobriety. She was five months sober when she was sentenced to three months in jail. She served 33 days. A judge also indefinitely revoked her license to drive. She is a convicted felon. "That was rock bottom. I couldn’t stand myself. I had been drinking to numb the pain, and now here I was, in jail," said Rickard. "I learned, literally, at the Roanoke City Jail, they can take everything from you — they take everything from you except your wedding ring. I was five months sober, and I thought, ‘No one can take away my sobriety and no one can take away my relationship with God.’ "

"Life is Good" Now sober for more than three years, Rickard is still running. She completed the New York City Marathon in 2007 and 2008 and the Boston Marathon earlier this year. Both are considered among the most prestigious races in the world and require an extremely competitive qualifying time. However, Rickard has not forgotten her journey to the bottom and back. She works as a consultant out of her Boones Mill home and recently was featured in a book published by HarperCollins. "A Race Like No Other," by The New York Times reporter Liz Robbins, is about the 2007 New York City Marathon. Rickard’s story is one of several in the book that tell about the race and New York City itself. "I feel so grateful. Running and life are such a gift to me. To be healthy and out there is a pleasure," said Rickard. "I drank to not feel. Now, I love to feel. Period. Life is good."

HER

Shorelines | PROFILE

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SML resident Steve Huff, helping people is not just one way to live life – it’s

the only way. Huff, a professor at Virginia Western Community College and head of its Communication Design program, founded a non-profit organization called World Relief Now in October 2005. After traveling with wife Stacey to northern African in 2003 and seeing first-hand the poor conditions in which people live, Huff realized he needed to help,

though he had no idea where to begin.“Naiveté and the desire to do

something make a great combination because you don’t know what’s

impossible,” he said. “If you know the road blocks ahead of time, you might not do something.” Since 2005, Huff has made several trips to Third

FOR

Simple Needs, One SolutionSML-area resident's non-profit organization is making strides in impoverished countries

World countries, most often to those in Africa, to deliver supplies to villages. He estimated that the organization’s efforts have helped improve life for tens of thousands of people. Projects have included delivering mosquito nets, multivitamins for children, medical supplies, vaccines and adhesive bandages to remote villages. The group has also helped fund classrooms to promote children’s education. Huff said he is especially proud of a project in which Keen Footwear donated 1,000 pairs of new shoes to a remote village in Senegal. Huff said the Oregon-based company asked for nothing in return for the $50,000 worth of shoes. WRN also delivers “life straws” to villages with poor water quality. The personal water filters, which are designed to prevent water-born illness, cost $5 each and work for up to two years. Huff is even working on putting together coloring books, which will be delivered to children along with packs of crayons. “They’re ethnic-themed for each village, so we’re designing them with words in

specific languages. The pictures will show clean sanitation habits, simple things like washing your hands to prevent diseases. It’s a simple, yet effective, way to reinforce the message of practicing sanitary habits,” he said. Huff calls his work with WRN a labor of love. He personally oversees every project and uses his vacation days from work to travel to other countries for field work. WRN has no paid employees, and Huff emphasized that every penny donated to the organization goes toward projects that help those in need. The group works from project to project instead of saving money for the future. Huff said that although it may not be a good model for a traditional business, it works for WRN and it seems to make people more willing to give to the cause. WRN lives and dies off donations, Huff said. Some product donations, such as clothes, aren’t accepted by foreign governments because they can put local shops out of business, so the best way to help is by donating time, money or services. It can cost thousands of dollars to deliver

goods overseas, so WRN is always looking for money to cover shipping costs. “A lot of people say, ‘If you do the project, we’ll fund it,’” he said. “This is a grassroots initiative, so it helps just to be aware of what we’re doing and spread the word about it. We can always use help at rallies or events, like people running information booths, or we could use someone donating their translation services for our Web site or printing services for the coloring books. Everyone can contribute.” Although Huff said the work is tiring and difficult, it’s rewarding to know it’s making a positive change in other people’s lives, he added. Life is for living, he said, and he tries to live as quality a life as possible by helping others. “When I turn 80, I want to look back and say, ‘Remember when we did that?’ not, ‘I wish we had done that,’” he said.

For more information on World Relief Now, visit worldreliefnow.org.


Pam RickardNovember/December 2009


Chinah HelmandollarMay/June 2010

Sara Elizabeth TimminsJanuary/February 2010

THEN: Miss Virginia titleholder Chinah Helmandollar was profiled and graced the cover of our May/June 2010 issue. That year, the James Madison University graduate also was able to see her theatrical endeavors rewarded with an opportunity to intern with Life Out Loud Films and work on the production of “Lake Effects,” a movie set and filmed at SML. Helmandollar shared details about her days as Miss Virginia, which were filled with travel, speaking engagements and advocacy for her platform, Serving Virginians with Disabilities.

NOW: Helmandollar continues to live at SML and work with Life Out Loud Films as production coordinator. Her work with disability organizations also earned her another title. “The Miss Virginia Wheelchair Organization has a program every year that selects a female representative for the disability community,” she said. “I’ve always volunteered with them and, in the past year, I became co-executive director.” Perhaps Helmandollar’s most exciting life step came in May when she married Bradley Jewell.

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Chinah Helmandollar never wanted to be your ideal. She didn't grow up dreaming of becoming the "she" in "There She is, Miss America," the beauty/scholarship pageant's signature song. And when she grew up, Helmandollar set her sights on what some might see as a less-lofty goal. The homegrown beauty from Hardy insists she just wanted to be Miss Virginia. Nothing more. A veteran competitor and Miss Smith Mountain Lake 2009, Helmandollar said young women are attracted to pageants for different reasons. "Some want a scholarship, other people want to go on to be Miss America," she said. "For me, I was always in it for the Miss Virginia job." The state title, said Helmandollar, offers many of the advantages of pageantland's top job without some of the drawbacks. "I always thought that preparing for Miss America had to be the most stressful event. Being Miss Virginia is like being Miss America, only in my own state," she said. "You don't have to deal with all that travel. And yes, I have a life." The petite 23-year-old seems to have embraced her new job with enthusiasm, almost as if she can't believe her good fortune. That's understandable, because she came by the job in a circuitous, almost-unbelievable way. And Helmandollar, who has competed in nine local pageants, will tell you in earnest that not receiving the crown in the traditional manner does nothing in her eyes to tarnish it. In fact, it couldn't shine any brighter if it had been placed on her head to end the Miss Virginia Pageant a year ago at the Roanoke Civic Center. Being Miss Virginia is more important than how she got to be Miss Virginia, Helmandollar said. The tiara that rests atop her head of thick brown hair

is not tainted, only treasured. In January, the theater major and recent graduate of James Madison University, decided to leave the pageant circuit and focus on her career when she received a phone call that would change everything. "I was thinking that it was the time in my life for me to work. My grandma was sick and I was taking care of her, interning with a film company and working at [local gift shop] The Cottage Gate," recalled Helmandollar. "I had given it my all for two years, and I was ready to move on." When Caressa Cameron of Fredericksburg won the Miss America title and was unable to fulfill her Miss Virginia duties, pageant officials offered the state crown to the first runner-up. She declined as did the second, third and fourth runners-up. They were all local title holders and, presumably, wanted to continue on to compete for a shot as Miss America. Finally, the title was offered to the fifth runner-up, who didn't even know she was the fifth runner-up. Helmandollar made the top 10 but was not named one of the five finalists, even though in her first competition at the state level the year before, she had been fourth runner-up as Miss Greater Franklin County. "I was disappointed when my name wasn't called for anything," she recalled. Helmandollar was not disappointed months later when she got a call from her mother while working as an intern for Sara Elizabeth Timmons of Lake Effects, a film company planning to produce a movie at SML. She told her daughter that pageant officials were trying to reach her. When Helmandollar learned she had been fifth runner-up and the title was hers for the taking, she made the most of the opportunity.

State title is the crowing achievement for SML native Chinah Helmandollar

our

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VIRGINIAMiss


VIRGINIAMiss

THEN: The profile “Embracing A New Role” detailed how Sara Elizabeth Timmins had made the risky move from Hollywood actress and film producer to founder of Life Out Loud Films, working to create her first film at Smith Mountain Lake. Timmins’ brainchild, “Lake Effects,” was inspired by a visit to her parents’ house in Union Hall in December 2007. A few days of quiet reflection along its shores inspired the concept of a film on which she immediately set to work.

NOW: “Lake Effects” was filmed mostly in the fall of 2010 and included actors Jane Seymour, Madeline Zima, Richard Moll and Ben Savage. The project completed post-production in May and is in the hands of a distributor. A release date has not been set. “We finished with post-production within budget and schedule, that’s the good news,” said Timmins, who added she is especially thankful for the support from the SML community. “A number of local businesses and people who have donated or volunteered time to the film have been tapped by Hollywood companies to work on other projects or have been asked to put in bids. That’s something I’m very proud of.”

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EMBRACINGa new role

something about Smith Mountain Lake that tends to transform those who spend time

along its shores. For those seeking refuge, it can provide serenity. Others find a sense of peaceful reflection not unlike the lake itself. Sara Elizabeth Timmins, a 33-year-old Hollywood actress and film producer, found a visit to her parents’ home in December 2007 changed her life. "I had been working on a project for two months and was living out of a suitcase," said Timmins. "I felt that something was missing in my life, but I couldn’t figure out what. I came out to the lake to clear my head and went on a walk. It was almost instantaneous; everything became clear. I suddenly felt that I wasn’t searching anymore." Timmins’ experience at Smith Mountain Lake proved to be a turning point in her life and career. Until that visit, the 1999 graduate of Xavier University in Ohio had spent 10 years living the hectic lifestyle of an actress and film producer. "I always knew that performing was my passion. I started off as a dancer and it went into theater," she said. "I was president of my high school and was very involved in a lot of leadership activities in college. I realized a strong point of mine was leadership. My dad told me I should produce. I took my passion for acting and my strengths for organizing and it led me to my passion today, producing films." Timmins’ career has included acting in various theater and film roles as well as production work in independent films, movies and television shows such as Cold Case and The West Wing. She’s worked alongside a number of famous actors, including Tom Cruise, Jamie Foxx, Lynda Carter and Anne Hathaway. In addition to acting and producing in California, Timmins travels to schools as a motivational speaker. "I love to inspire and motivate people. I help students understand the importance of their choices today and how it affects their future," she said. Despite years of performing, producing and speaking, Timmins had a lingering longing. During that walk at Smith Mountain Lake two years ago, she discovered what was missing. "I’ve always been go, go, go, not living in the moment, never appreciating what was around me," she said. "There is a magic to the lake. For me, it was about getting away from the city, the cellphone, the go, go, go. What was missing was what I would speak about: making an impact." Timmins returned to Los Angeles with a renewed perspective. The soul-searching journey inspired her to create a film company, Life Out Loud Films. "My mantra in life has been, ‘Dare to live life out loud.’ Dream. Act. Risk. Embrace," she said. "I was putting 800 percent into other people’s projects and I thought maybe it’s time to do my own." A new and radical risk was the next step for Timmins –

creating and producing a film from start to finish. The main character? Smith Mountain Lake. "I see the lake representing family, nature, recreation ... it’s a film about searching. So many people are searching for something but in the wrong place. The lake offers a reflection of themselves, where they can find the answers," she said. True to her commitment to make an impact, Timmins plans to use the production of the film, titled Lake Effects, to influence the SML community in a positive way. "We want to give back to economic development and tourism," she said. "We aren’t changing the name of the lake – we want people to know where it is. It’s not my film anymore, it’s the community’s film." Timmins relocated to Smith Mountain Lake last fall to continue overseeing film production and wrap up financing. She considers herself among the many Lakers who haven’t grown up here, but have been drawn to it like she was. "There are a lot of transplants at SML," she said. "People have chosen to be here, which is very powerful. Everybody here has found it just like I found it. It’s very easy to be here and not appreciate it. I try to remind myself every morning to appreciate the beauty of the lake."

Filming for Lake Effects is scheduled to begin in the fall. For more information, visit lifeoutloudfilms.com.

Film producer finds peace and inspiration at Smith Mountain Lake

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Smith Mountain Laker Magazine JulyAug Profiles

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