First frost of the season reported

Someone told me this old timers way of preserving produce while it is “green”! Wrap it in newspapers and place in a paper bag and store away in a cool dark area. I remembered my Grannie Graham did this with big “pears” in the fall and by Christmas they were mellow and delicious, this is a fact. We have “lots” of green tomatoes on those two tomato vines so I picked the biggest and greenest of the “Mr. Stripey” wrapped them in newspaper and put them in a bag and stored them in our dark cool basement. I will let you know how the tomatoes turn out by Thanksgiving and maybe Christmas.

FROST

Appalachia residents woke up to a big frost Monday to celebrate Columbus Day and temperatures down to 32 degrees!

NEWS FROM JENNY GALLOWAY

It was so nice to receive a telephone call from a Post subscriber and a former resident of East Stone Gap and Big Stone Gap currently living in Kingsport, TN. Virginia (Jenny) Galloway  (Lawson) was very well known and loved in our area.

Her father Rev. Billy Galloway and his wife “Grannie” Galloway as she was well known and loved dedicated many years of their life at Oak Grove Freewill Baptist Church in the Southern section of Big Stone Gap. I got to know Jenny in the 1960’s when I worked for Clara Sanders at their beauty shop and these dear ladies were customers of Clara Mae’s.

Jenny is now 95 years old and is still teaching Sunday school, driving where she needs to go, does all her house work and misses the good old fashion church services we all use to have when a time clock was not put on the service. Services lasted for hours! Jenny has friends living in North Carolina and they have requested a copy of Howard Cummins book A View from the Mountains —to the people in the Valley’s.

Once again we are so glad to hear from our Post newspaper subscriber and share the news of their lives and happenings. If you would like to contact me the information is at top of the column.

OPEN HOUSE

Stone Mountain Health Services at the Appalachia Family Health Center held open house on Friday, October 11. Welcoming from Gary Bush (Appalachia board chair). Present were the people who helped to make the journey a reality, Greg Edwards (Chairman of the Board of Stone Mountain Health Services), Richard “Dick” Houchins (Architect with Thompson and Litton), Mayor Teddie Collins, Rick Colley, Executive director Wise County, City of Norton Chamber of Commerce. These were the people in attendance. This facility is dedicated to the physical and behavior health needs of those in Appalachia and the surrounding areas to bring the best care available at a reasonable price. Everyone was able to tour the facility and enjoy some light refreshments. This facility is located across the road from the former AHS currently Parks & Rec. The former parking lot of AHS is easy to park and enter the building.

CHRISTMAS CACTUS

To have the Christmas Cactus Bloom at Christmas time place them in a dark place 55 to 60 degrees and leave them til time to bloom. I have mine in our basement. It worked last year and it was beautiful.

SYMPATHY

We extend our sympathy to the family of Hugh Campbell. His sisters are Helen Wright and Phyllis Reece. Hugh graduated from Appalachia High School in 1958. He served 23 years in the military. He grew up in Roda, VA. He lived in Morristown, TN and was laid to rest there on Saturday, October 5.

VISIT AT THE LAURELS

We visited The Laurels on Friday for the apple butter cook off and it was a very enjoyable afternoon. Leave are beginning to fall. We sat at the tables and enjoyed the beautiful autumn weather. Garnet Gilliam, Howard Cummins, Nancy Buchanan, Gary and myself enjoyed talking about our former years and all the good memories. We all have remembering our past. Then we got caught up watching the residents play each other the game “Corn Hole” it was good exercise and they all participated. Before we knew it we had been there over three hours, but we enjoyed visiting and talking and the residents are glad to participate and have fun at whatever they do.

Nancy Buchanan is very happy to live there and enjoys and participates in all the activities and road trips.

Mr. Howard Cummins is in room 210 if you would like to pay him a visit. Howard also is very satisfied living at The Laurels and enjoys all the activities and foods.

WILLARD FLEENOR

It was sad to hear of the passing of Willard Fleenor, 97 years old, a very gentle spirited man. He worked for many years for the town of Big Stone Gap mainly parks and recreation and loved football games. We knew him also as the uncle of Danny Harkleroad, a nephew he loved as a son and was extremely proud of. Through the years we would see him at the grocery store or Hardee’s for breakfast. Willard was a veteran of World War II. People like Willard are rare to find and they will leave a place in our heart forever.

SUPPORT UNION BEARS

Former players and fans from Appalachia Bulldogs and Powell Valley Vikings united to support the Union Bears football team and cheer them on to a win over Ridgeview. The team was made up from Clintwood, Haysi, and Ervinton students.

Consolidation of the schools has made the sports team larger and more competitive to play the larger schools. Union Bears win over Ridgeview 32 to 26. I reflect on how Rodney Aistrop loved his Bulldog team and how he would enjoy watching his grandson Cody Crest play but Rodney passed away a few years ago before he could watch.

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

Sunday, October 20 a very special couple in Appalachia will be celebrating their “58” wedding anniversary Charlotte and Sam Green. We wish these dear friends a blessed anniversary as their whole life is blessed from their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

VISITS IN GEORGIA

We visited our daughter Sabrina at their home in Smyrna, GA last week. We travel in the mid week and on Saturday to return due to the traffic, it seems the traffic is a little less hectic at this time of the week. It is always good to visit your family.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

October 15 Faye Hall Bush celebrated her birthday! Faye has survived more than her share of life threatening illnesses but she is surviving with the help of God and her family. Faye still loves to cook big meals for the church and her family, she lives with her daughters, Cathy and Vickie and granddaughters on Callahan Ave. Happy belated birthday to Faye!

MAUDE JERVIS

Our condolences are sent to the family of Maude Jervis. Maude celebrated her 91st birthday last March. I remember Maude as an office worker at Wise Hospital in Wise checking patients in and out. Her parents Mr. and Mrs. Jim Smith lived in Inman and I saw Maude visiting her parents and sister Katie and brother Elmo Smith several times weekly. She was always dressed in style and was a very attractive lady and always smiling and laughing.

Maude was very close to her brother Herb Smith. She was married to the late Rev. Dan Jervis and he was a Methodist Pastor to several local area churches. We attended AHS with her sons Danny, Pat and David.

For the last few years Maude was unable to live alone and her daughter-in-law Benita and son David shared their home with her. Maude attended the Andover Methodist Church. Maude entered internal life on October 13, 2019.