There’s something different in the air in Mendota this fall. For some reason, people are becoming optimistic that our little community is revitalizing. I thought about this today and wondered out loud to Mike whether this was wishful thinking on my part or was it reality? Perhaps you and I together can find the answer.
It started, believe it or not, with our Mendota Cemetery Quilt sale. We sold $2100 in tickets for our quilt. For a large community, this might not be significant, but for Mendota…a community without even a store, this is impressive. Was it just a pretty quilt?
And there are other signs. Literally. Do you see two signs in the photograph below of “sprouts” of vitality in Mendota? If you did, you missed one.
Gary Barker retired from the Washington County School System and opened a garage in Mendota. The Kiser family operates a successful organic farm in Mendota. The third “sign” is that corn in the background — that belongs to River Gate Farm — one of Southwest Virginia’s largest dairy farms located right here in Mendota.
Then…as I climbed back in the truck….interruption here to say I love Luckie and she and I roll in a truck!
Back to whatever I was talking about.….I looked over at Gordon Barker Jr.’s farm and saw….more! I recalled two years ago when Mike, Marc, Mary and the boys and I drove across Clinch Mountain to a pumpkin stand and tiny farm maze. I asked the owner “where did you get your pumpkins?” He replied “Gordon Barker, Jr. in Mendota, Virginia.”
Here’s some awesome news…I’m going to the doctor next week, and I’m riding my bicycle to get there. HMG has reopened the Mendota Medical Clinic (pictured below). The days are Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The phone number is 276.645.6710, and the beloved Dr. Andy Brockmyre is our doctor. Great medical care right here in Mendota. He bikes to work…we might just bike beside each other on the day of my appointment!
Katie had her store open last Saturday. She’s percolatin’
She had some cute pillow slip dresses and a stack of stuffed punkin’s…
Here’s the dresses made with antique pillow cases…nice.
There’s several folks that operate businesses from their homes….
I know of three men in the valley who make beautiful jewelry. Tom Ilowiecki made this bracelet. It sells for $35.
Like a little table with barn siding? Mike makes those. Personal note: are you happy Pat Statzer? This is for you!!!
So there’s all sorts of bits of optimism! So…another thought for Mendota. We could have our own Quilt Trail. The Timmons’ barn has one, and look what is going to go up soon at RiverCliff Cottage! Are there more to follow?
Next spring is going to be fun for Mike and me. We are working to have our property on the North Fork of the Holston work for us. There’s a business plan, there’s lots to learn and there’s a lot of work, and we’re still in the “almost decided for sure phase” of what we want to do. I’ll share it with you as each step becomes concrete. But I can tell you, we’ll be down at the shop often enough to make sure my flowers get watered.
In the meantime….we are keeping it all in perspective. One step at a time.
Thought some of you from Mendota or with ties to Mendota might enjoy The Villager. It’s a peek into life in our rural life. Margie Dean puts this together for our community. If you like seeing this on this blog, please leave a comment so that I’ll know. I could do it for our future issues, too.
Sep/Oct/Nov 2014 THE VILLAGER
MENDOTA COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION NEWS
Thoughts from MCA President (Bill) Porter – Wake Up Mendota! There are wonderful things taking place in your community! The MCA Board is actively serving you. We are working to maintain the community center in good shape. We work hard to keep the pantry stocked and serve the needs of the people weekly. We explore fundraisers to help supplement the county grant. We are working to promote Mendota so businesses will want to open in Mendota. We plan and work tirelessly. We speak positive about beautiful Mendota and the surrounding area. If you want to expand your boundaries and give a helping hand, show up at the next MCA meeting. We need your help and support! We had a great energetic group at our September2 meeting and we believe God has good things in store for Mendota and YOU! Be a positive influence for Mendota!
Welcome HMG! Mendota Health Center opened September 3. Holston Medical Group announces the expansion of primary care services with the opening of HMG Primary Care at Mendota. “We’re very pleased to partner with the Mendota community to provide primary care services to this area,” says HMG President & CEO Scott R. Fowler, MD,JD. “Dr Andrew Bockmyre, a local physician and long-time HMG physician now provides the community with the peace of mind of excellent care, close to home, decreasing travel time and expense to the members of the community.”
Board-certified family physician Andrew Brockmyre, MD, began caring for patients at the Mendota location on September 3. Office hours are Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, from 8am to 5 pm.
“I am excited to be practicing in my home town and look forward to providing quality care to my neighbors and friends,” said Dr. Brockmyre.
Brockmyre received his doctorate of medicine from Michigan State University School of Medicine and has been practicing at Holston Medical Group since 1997 where he has continued to provide compassionate, attentive care to patients in all stages of life.
Mendota, go to the Clinic and welcome Dr. Brockmyre and staff!
The Mendota Community Association meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 7:00 pm. Residents of Mendota are encouraged to be a part of this active leadership group. Everyone is invited to attend the meetings and if you have ideas or concerns, please contact Bill Porter at 276-386-7063 or 423-914-5156 or Cobenna Barker at 276-466-4551. Our goal is to keep the building maintained in good shape, inside and out, for many years and that everyone will continue to enjoy many community events sponsored by the MCA and other groups.
Community Center rental is available by calling Wanda Riner at 276-645-2362.
Activities Coming Soon – (Place on Your Calendar)
Mendota Heritage Festival, Sat, September 13
Mendota Pumpkin Patch Event, Tues, Oct 28
Veterans Day Appreciation Dinner, Tues, Nov 11
Christmas Dinner/Tree Lighting/Concert, Friday, Dec 5
Mendota 5K River Run – Saturday, March 21, 2015
Neighborhood Watch
Residents of Mendota area are encouraged to attend the meetings on the first Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm at the Community Center. A representative from the Washington County’s Sheriff’s Office leads the meetings. The meetings are very informative and interesting. The September 4 meeting welcomed Sergeant Jamie Davis, District Supervisor of Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Sergeant Davis talked about and distributed literature and pamphlets on Wildlife Crime Watch, Hunting & Trapping, Rabies Vaccination Program and Living with Black Bears in Virginia. Check out the community center bulletin board for information on Wildlife in Virginia and pick up the September copy of the Neighborhood Watch Newsletter for telephone numbers and websites to report suspicious wildlife related activities.
The October Neighborhood Watch will welcome Washington County Sheriff Fred Newman on Thursday,
October 2 beginning at 7:00 pm. Come and visit with Sheriff Newman. He wants to meet you and listen to your concerns and thoughts on how to enhance the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in the Mendota area. Place October 2 on your calendar today so you will not forget this important meeting. Please come and bring a neighbor.
Mendota Heritage Festival, Sat, September 13
Come and enjoy the wonderful activities that are planned for you and your family. The children will enjoy a petting zoo, bubbles in the field, button making in the Library, and archery – all free. Also, guessing jars filled with goodies could be yours if you can guess the number of items in the jars. Adults will enjoy the music, vendors, horseshoe, archery, quilt show, and a cake walk. Everyone will enjoy the K-9 Demonstrations by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Library book sale, and photo contest. Come and welcome HMG’s Dr. Brockmyre and staff to the Mendota Health Clinic. Good food too!
Mendota Food Pantry
The MCA is delighted to serve Mendota and surrounding area with a food pantry that is open weekly on Thursdays from 4-7 pm. Now, we are serving from 35-49 families weekly. The food pantry accepts monetary donations along with non-perishable food items. We have been blessed with continued donations from Churches plus donations of food from several individuals that contribute weekly. We extend a very heart-felt “Thanks” to everyone. Your support is valuable to the success of the pantry. If you haven’t been contributing to the food pantry, think how you might help.
Also, we need a chest type freezer for our pantry, if you happen to have one to donate.
Alive 55 Senior Group
The Alive 55 Group continues to enjoy their monthly activities. The July meeting was a health program by Dr. Donna Fraysier that everyone participated in and thoroughly enjoyed. The August meeting was a fun meeting with a scavenger hunt for unusual items of empty spool of thread, a used crayon, rubber band, finishing nails, and a match stem. After finding these items, everyone enjoyed using them and learned to make “creepers”. Then, we had a creeper race that was won by Jo Mutter. We played bingo and had ice cream sundaes and banana splits. Barbara Hays brought watermelon – delicious. The September 16 meeting will be a cook-out at Nottingham UMC Picnic Shelter at 3 pm. But first, some seniors are going to the Creations Kingdom Zoo located about 15 minutes from Nottingham, leaving about 1 pm from Nottingham and arriving back at 3 pm for the meeting.
Our October 21 meeting will be a fun time and preparing for our Silent Auction scheduled in November and “The Gift Tree” for Mendota’s children and elderly that might need a little extra love and care for Christmas. Also, we will work on shoeboxes for children in foreign countries through Samaritan’s Purse. Our November meeting will be featuring Mendota’s talented Oscar Harris. In December, we will celebrate Christmas with a program, games and Christmas goodies.
Come and see what’s happening at Alive 55. You’ll be glad you did!
Snow Removal from Mendota Health Clinic – HMG.
If you have equipment to remove snow from the clinic parking lot and would be available to scrape the parking lot on days the clinic is open, please contact Bill Porter at 423/914-5156.
Daylight Saving Time ends Sunday November 2, 12:00 am – Remember to set those clocks back one hour.
MENDOTA
Heritage Festival
Sat – Sept 13, 2014, 11am-3:30pm
MUSIC – Beginning 11:00 am
Jeff Millsap 11:00 am
Blood Bought – D.C. & Mary Hess- Noon
Savior’s Call – 1:00 pm
Candice Bennett – 2:00 pm
Liz, Gregor, Micah – 2:30 pm
Karen Vermillion – 3:00 pm
God’s Grace – 3:30 pm – Patty Odum
Free to Enjoy all Afternoon
PETTING ZOO
Enjoy all Afternoon – Free
K-9 DEMONSTRATIONS 1:00pm
Washington County Sheriff’s Office – Free
QUILT SHOW – Free Admission
Bring Your Quilt and Win the Blue Ribbon
HORSESHOE CONTEST
Free of Charge
ARCHERY – FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS
BEGINNERS AND EXPERIENCED
FOOD
Hot Dogs, Nachos/Cheese, Chips, Brownies, Cookies, Sodas, Water, Baked Goods and ice cream cones
CAKE WALK – Noon & 2pm
15 Cake Walks Tickets – 2 walks for $1.00
MENDOTA BRANCH OF THE WASHINGTON COUNTY LIBRARY BOOK SALE Special Button Making for Children
Photo Contest – Children & Adults – Call Ray @645-2374 for Details
MENDOTA HEALTH CLINIC – HMG
WELCOME Dr. Brockmyre and Staff
GOODSON KINDERHOOK VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT.
BUBBLE FUN FOR CHILDREN IN THE BALL FIELD – 3:00 PM
CAKE AUCTION – 11:45am
We Welcome Mendota Community residents and friends to share in a day of family entertainment.
Mendota Community Center
2562 Mendota Road
Mendota, Virginia 24270
276-645-2362
THE VILLAGER
MENDOTA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
We invite everyone to worship with us Sundays, 6 pm and Wednesdays, 10:30 am. Thanks Be to God! We are planning our Advent and Christmas studies and look forward to supplying shoe boxes for children with Samaritan’s Purse in November.
MENDOTA MINISTERIAL GROUP
The Mendota Ministerial Group – Pastor’s meetings are to encourage and pray together, for each other, the Mendota Community and, as the Spirit leads, for ministries for the Mendota area. We invite all area ministers to join us. We meet the second Thursday, at 6:30 pm; but if that is not a good time/date for you, let us know and we will try to find a date that will work for most.
The Mendota Gathering Bowl, a ministry of the Mendota Ministerial Group, will continue weekly on Thursdays in January 2015. Summer Picnics, compliments of Saint Peter Presbyterian Church, have served almost 100 individuals monthly at the community center. Thanks Wayne and Barbara Hays and the Mendota Parish. We appreciate you!
Today was the Mendota Heritage Festival. It was such a beautiful fall day, and I think things went well. I was not involved other than to make a cake, eat a hotdog, and walk thru taking pictures. It was nice.
Helene, aka. Dr. Helene Holbrook, was at the Mendota Medical Clinic taking blood pressures, etc. Here we are…
Helene: “Eva your blood pressure is very normal, but how about those chipmunk cheeks? Have you been eating walnuts and storing them for the winter…in your cheeks?”
Here we are playing “Mendota Clinic!”
So many hours of work and dreams brought this clinic into the world and now it’s closed. I think it will open again. I do not know when or under what circumstances, but I just have that feeling. Meanwhile, this little lady waits…
And the Mendota Community Association keeps the birdhouses “bird ready” waiting on that special family to move in…
And those of us who believe lift this clinic up in a more effective manner than texting…
