General

TJ Worthington

/ absolutelyalleghany / 4 Comments

This blog began as a way to communicate the essence of what it means to live and work in Alleghany County.  It is an effort to try and capture the values of the people who call this place home.  Though they come from various stations in life, and are a mixture of those with deep and swallow roots into these mountains, collectively they define Absolutely Alleghany.

Two days ago, as I considered a new post, I ran through a mental list of possible subjects.  I made a phone call to one and we set up an appointment for next week.  I emailed a man who had been suggested to me.  So, there were two possibilities.

Then I thought that maybe I should write about TJ Worthington.

TJ 4

TJ Worthington

After all, I had known TJ for 14 or 15 years.  I knew his “story” or at least the basics.  And spending time with him was always enjoyable.  But, TJ would always be around so I pushed the thought back and figured to save him for another day.

Then, I heard yesterday that TJ died.

As I considered that previous line, I wondered how TJ would like his death referenced.  I could have went with, “TJ has passed” or that “He is no longer with us” – both held some possibility. “He has crossed over” or “Gone on” both have that element of journey that captures how TJ approached life.  Surely he would have liked a musical metaphor that he is now “resting high on that mountain.”  Those descriptors help soften the impact of his unexpected loss.  I believe TJ would say, “Keep it simple and get to the point.”

TJ died.

That struggle for phrasing may sum up the dichotomy of TJ’s life.  He managed to simultaneously live an extremely simple and basic life while being one of the most intensely intellectual and creative people I have ever known.  He loved traditional mountain and punk rock music (TJ once told me that old-time music was the original punk rock) – he posted videos of both on his YouTube channel.  He watched foreign films and read poetry and watched NASCAR racing on Sunday afternoons.  He was a painter who continually experimented with color and mediums.  At first glance at his paintings seem minimal and simplistic – closer examination reveals texture and depth and life springing from those “simple” images.  He posted to his blog, Waterfall Road, almost daily though he shrugged off most of life’s structure.  He was something of a hermit who loved people.

TJ Tom Pruitt

Tom Pruitt by TJ Worthington

I had many conversations with TJ over the years.  He told me about growing up in Kansas, a stint in the Navy, college, life in Charleston, a marriage that didn’t work, numerous jobs, moving to Whitehead, and his thoughts on painting and writing.  There were holes or gaps in his stories.  Real life is like that – some things should be forgotten or laid to rest.  He suggested books for me to read – not in a “You need to read this” kind of way.  It was more along the lines of, “This may give you a different perspective.”

We disagreed on a number of topics.  We offered differing viewpoints on political, social, and spirtual issues.  Those times when we disagreed seemed to be the most enjoyable conversations.  Those conversations were never debates – we accepted the different points of view without feeling a need to try and convince the other that their opinion was wrong.  It was okay to have differences with TJ.

TJ experienced life more deeply than most.  His painting and writing reflected raw emotion.  He described being at a punk rock concert and how he “felt the energy” of the music and the crowd.  He “felt” his paintings more than he saw them.  Mountain music moved him because “felt” the emotion of the musician.  This emotional component was especially evident in his relationships with others.

TJ loved the mountains.  It may be more accurate to say he loved the people of the mountains.  He loved the independent yet interdependent nature of his neighbors.  He recognized that his Whitehead friends, whom he described as some of the most intelligent people he had ever known, owed that knowledge to life rather than formal education.  He credited folks like Tom Pruitt with getting him through his early years on the county.  He would often tell how Junior Maxwell taught him more about life and how to live than any other single person.

TJ Little River boys

The Little River Boys – Junior Maxwell on banjo – by TJ Worthington

Maybe TJ himself summed up his life philosophy best in a blog post on 12/31/15:

“Throughout my life I have attempted to understand people not me, from foreigners to everyone I know. I am my own political correctness cop open to understanding others the best I’m able, receiving every individual in my life as he or she is within themselves. Another way of saying I go in peace. I don’t use any of the disrespectful names, except for the humor of irony with close friends who understand where I’m coming from. Like you. And this comes from a basic ethic to regard others with respect if I want respect in turn. Respect boomerangs. Disrespect boomerangs. It’s my choice in every moment of every day.”

2015 in review

/ absolutelyalleghany / 2 Comments

I have steered clear of writing Absolutely Alleghany in the first person.  My concern is one of objectivity, or at least the perception that people can be written about in an objective manner.  The honest fact is that our perceptions – my perceptions – are always filtered through bias.

This blog began as a way to showcase the interesting people that call Alleghany County, North Carolina home.  People here travel myriad life paths, but all seem to reach a place that satisfies their personal longings. Over the holidays a reader from out of state told me, “Those people you write about seem truly fascinating.  When I read the blog it makes me want to come out hang out with them.”

I grow more convinced each day that everyone has a story that needs to be told.  Yet, like the question asked in many different forms, are the stories really told if no one reads them?  Fortunately, many of the 2015 Absolutely Alleghany stories were read.  Below is a 2015 annual report prepared by WordPress for this blog. Thank you all for reading and sharing these posts.

Now, on to 2016. There are more stories to tell.

Here’s an excerpt:

The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 11,000 times in 2015. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 4 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

Tres Fordham – Laurel Ridge

/ absolutelyalleghany / 6 Comments

Those in the faith community realize (much to their chagrin) that their personal desires sometimes conflict with God’s plan for their life.  And even when there isn’t conflict in those desires, a member’s timing may not align with God’s.  For Tres Fordham, it took nearly 25 years to achieve that alignment.

A military brat, Tres was born in Germany.  He traveled the world with his family until his father retired from the Army and settled the family in Clemmons, NC.  Tres went on to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and graduated in 1985 with a degree in Recreation Administration.  In 1989 he applied for the position of director at Laurel Ridge Camp, Conference and Retreat Center.

Laurel Ridge was founded by the Southern Province of the Moravian Church of America as a “location for relaxation, recreation, reflection and renewal.”  The original 115 acres was purchased in 1953 and summer camps began in 1960.  The facility has grown to 688 acres and is situated at the junction of Alleghany, Ashe and Wilkes Counties in the Laurel Springs community.

deck

View from Laurel Ridge

For a young man in the Moravian Church, a job at Laurel Ridge would be a dream come true.  But, the administration in 1989 wanted someone with a ministerial degree to fill the director role.  Tres was turned down for the position.

As often happens in a life journey, Tres changed directions and spent the next five years building houses.  Then, he switched again and went into the grading business.  After ten years in the construction field he questioned whether he was using his education and gifts in the proper manner.

He visited with the management of the YMCA in Clemmons and inquired about getting back into the recreation field.  He was given a job and encouraged to go back to school since much had changed in the previous ten years.  Tres enrolled in the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and juggled work, school and family for five years before receiving his graduate degree in Leisure Studies.  He worked his way through a number of positions before becoming the assistant director of the West Forsyth YMCA.  Then in 2003 he became the director of the new YMCA in Yadkin County.

moravian logoTres grew up in the Moravian Church.  The Moravian Church was organized in 1457 and began its reformation movement some 60 years before Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to the door of All Saints Church in Wittenberg, Germany.  That Moravian call for reformation can still be found in the church’s motto: “In essentials unity; in nonessentials, liberty; in all things, love.”  Those roots run deep for Tres and when the executive director position opened at Laurel Ridge, he applied once again.  This time the timing was right and Tres became the camp’s director in May of 2014.

The position brought with it a number of challenges.  Tres has found that many in Ashe and Alleghany Counties know little or nothing about the camp.  And those that do often view it purely as a retreat for Moravians.  So, he and his staff have set out to develop a higher community profile.

higgins

Higgins Lodge

Campers come from varied denominational backgrounds.  Summer mission camps send campers out into the surrounding communities to conduct mission projects.  The center hosts an annual appreciation dinner for the Laurel Springs Volunteer Fire Department.  Events such as the Moravian Mountain Christmas are open to the public. The Higgins Lodge has 48 sleeping rooms and four meeting rooms. The Lodge hosts a number of events, conferences and retreats for a wide range of groups.  Those visitors can take in views from the deck that stretch for miles and hike miles of mountain trails.  Guests are encouraged to visit Sparta and to shop locally. Laurel Ridge has a true community orientation.

IMG_4110

Tres Fordham

When faced with rejection we tend to ask the question, “Why.”  Yet, hindsight often gives clarity to those life events that make little sense when we are caught up in the moment.  A childhood of travel, 10 years of construction experience, and nearly 20 years in non-profit management creates a unique skill set. Couple those skills with a 600 year-old theology that emphasizes relationships with God and community, and Tres Fordham is ideally prepared manage Laurel Ridge.  It may not have made sense in 1989, but today the alignment is perfect.

AbsolutelyAlleghanyLogoSm

If you are interested in learning more about ways you or your group can utilize Laurel Ridge or if you would like to recommend a summer mission project, contact Tres Fordham at 336-359-2951 or by email at tres@laurelridge.org

“Laurel Ridge is a mountain place set apart for forming disciples of Jesus Christ who learn and live in community to serve in the world.”

Jeramiah Hampton – Alleghany Veterans Service Officer

/ absolutelyalleghany / Leave a comment

At 11:00 am on November 11, 1918, the guns of war fell silent in Europe.  For almost four years, soldiers along entrenched lines fought to a near stalemate.  In part because of technology that was advanced beyond military tactics of the day, World War I resulted in a staggering 38 million military and civilian casualties.  That number includes 11 million military and 7 million civilian deaths.  The carnage was such that when the Armistice of Compiègne went into effect on “the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month” the event was marked as a day of observance around the world.  President Dwight Eisenhower signed a bill on May 26, 1954 that expanded Armistice Day to include all veterans.  The national holiday became known as Veterans Day.  It is a day set aside to honor all who have served in the armed forces.

What does it mean to “honor” those who have served?  Parades?  Ceremonies?  Statues and monuments?  Of course, all those things are ways we show honor.  Yet for some, showing honor has a more practical meaning.

Jeramiah Hampton is the North Carolina Division of Veteran Affairs service officer for Alleghany County.  He is responsible for assisting the approximately 1000+ Alleghany County veterans and their families with their military service benefits.

Many locals remember Jeramiah from his high school days.  He excelled in football, baseball and wrestling.  In his junior year he finished third in the state finals as a wrestler.  The next year, he moved toward the state finals ranked number one in the state in the 171 pound class.  He was talking with Appalachian State University (ASU) about wrestling in college.  His future seemed clear and certain.

Then two days before the state finals began, he injured his knee in practice and ended his high school wrestling career.  A long recovery was in store.  The coach from ASU offered encouragement and told Jeramiah to still consider college wrestling when his knee was healed.

So, Jeramiah plotted a new course.  He enrolled at Surry Community College with the thought of knocking out his general education requirements before heading to ASU.  But, he found that college life wasn’t for him and after that first year he was considering other options.

Both of his grandfathers served in the military.  Jeramiah recalled visits with the Marine recruiter when he was in high school.  So, in July of 2008, he enlisted in the Marine Corp’s delayed entry program.  He signed an open contract which meant he could be assigned wherever he was needed.  For Jeramiah, he hoped that meant an infantry assignment.

Jeramiah home from Marines

Jeramiah and brother, Jake – 2011

In December of 2008 he arrived in boot camp at Parris Island, SC.  Still an athlete, the physical training was tough but bearable.  He describes the most difficult challenge as dealing with the mental and emotional tricks played by the drill instructors.

Afterwards, Jeramiah was assigned to nuclear and biological chemical defense.  This led him back to the very place he joined the Marines to avoid – the classroom.  He was assigned to 2nd Marine Headquarters in Camp Lejeune, NC.  In June of 2010 he was meritoriously promoted and reassigned to the 3rd Battalion 9th Marines.  Jeramiah and the 3/9 were deployed to Afghanistan in 2010 as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.

While in Afghanistan, Jeramiah served as the battalion watch chief.  As watch chief, he was responsible for tracking patrols, events, and threats.  He split his time between administrative duties and going out on patrol.

jeramiah shooting

Memorial service for fallen Marines in Afghanistan

Jeramiah returned to North Carolina and was assigned to Camp Geiger’s School of Infantry.  There he served as a combat marksmanship coach to new Marines.

After his four year enlistment, Jeramiah returned to Alleghany County.  He took a job with the Alleghany Wellness Center and became a certified trainer in 2012.  He enrolled at Wilkes Community College (WCC) and balanced a full-time class load with his new job duties.  Formerly a marginal student, Jeramiah graduated from WCC in 2014 with a perfect 4.0 grade point average (GPA).  He is currently enrolled at Concordia University – St. Paul and is majoring in exercise science.  He is set to graduate in December 2015 and is anticipating another 4.0 GPA.  He continues to work as a trainer and conducts martial arts classes.

Some would define Jeramiah Hampton as an overachiever.  And that is exactly what the veterans of our community need as they wade through a river of bureaucracy.  They deserve someone who speaks their language and who can talk straight with them.

Jeramiah & Teea 2015

Jeramiah Hampton and fiance, Teea Triplett

We sometimes ascribe superhuman traits to those who have served in the military.  And when we hear accounts of their deeds it is natural to view them as heroes.  While we should never downplay or dismiss those courageous acts and deeds, maybe we should focus more on who these veterans are.  They are sons and daughters; husbands and wives; and fathers and mothers.  They were farmers, mill workers, and students.  They were from big cities and small towns.  They were high school athletes.  They are truly representative of our communities.  We have 1000 veterans spread across Alleghany County.  This year at the “the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month” reach out to one of these individuals and offer a heart-felt thank you.

AbsolutelyAlleghanyLogoSm

For information on military service benefits contact Jeramiah Hampton at 336-372-4850. Or stop by his office at 90 South Main Street, Sparta, NC from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm.

map

from Google Maps

Uvaldo Piedras – Teaching English as a Second Language

/ absolutelyalleghany / 3 Comments

Most of us from rural communities, especially here in the mountains, have experienced a degree of prejudgment based on how we talk.  Those who are “more enlightened” often subtract IQ points as soon as they hear our accents.  Some time back a worker in Alleghany County faced a similar experience as he was considered for a job promotion.  Though he possessed the knowledge and ability to handle the new workload, his English language skills were lacking.  It was feared that those missing skills would be an impediment to customer service.  The job went to someone else.

Uvaldo, Elisa, and Nyjah

Uvaldo, Elisa, and Nyjah

Uvaldo Piedras experienced that struggle with language firsthand.  He came to Sparta from Mexico in 2003 when he was ten years old.  When he began elementary school classes he was unable to speak English.  Since kids generally have fewer inhibitions, he picked up the language in its basic form in 6-8 months.  This began his integration into Alleghany County life.

By 8th grade Uvaldo was fully engaged, participating in sports, specifically wrestling and track.  In high school he added football and power lifting.  At age 15 he could bench press 315 lbs.

In addition to his athletic ability, Uvaldo’s possessed strong math skills.  Back in Mexico, students didn’t use calculators.  Instead, they worked through math problems using pencil and paper.  Once he arrived in Sparta, Uvaldo still relied on pencil and paper.

But work sometimes got in the way of school activities.  Beginning at age 13 and all through high school, he worked in Christmas trees during the harvest season.  His father had spent 20 years working in Alleghany County before he brought his family to Sparta.  He instilled a strong work ethic in Uvaldo while stressing that education is the key to success.

After high school, Uvaldo worked at the New River Campground and the El Torito Restaurant before landing a job at the Parkdale Plant just outside of Sparta.

Then he faced a pivotal moment in life.  He became a father.

This news and the impending responsibility kicked his work ethic into overdrive.  He often worked 60-70 hours a week.  Recalling his dad’s advice on education, Uvlado enrolled in Wilkes Community College (WCC).  He volunteered for double shifts on the weekends so he could devote more time to school and being a parent.

At WCC, his talent for math was awakened when he took an accounting class.  He was told of an accounting job at TruLine Truss.  He applied and received the job.

At 23 years of age, Uvaldo’s life was on track.  He had a good job, was finishing his degree work at WCC, and was balancing work and school with being a single parent of two children.  He volunteered as a youth soccer coach.  Yet for all his personal success, he realized there were others in the community whose needs weren’t being met.  Many were hardworking individuals that lacked basic language skills to help move them to the next level of economic security.  Even though virtually every minute of his life was filled, he volunteered to help start an English as a Second Language (ESL) class at WCC.

MIguel Barientos

Uvaldo printed flyers and posted them around the county.  He contacted people he thought would be interested in the class.  The first night 35 adult students showed up and they had to move to a larger classroom.   The class now averages 15-20 with the harvest season siphoning off some students.

Imelda Sanchez

Utilizing a combination of PowerPoint presentation, lecture and practical exercise, the classes are set up based on the students’ needs.  A recent topic dealt with the language skills necessary for a doctor’s visit.  A student later reported that for the first time she made her own doctor’s appointment and attended without a translator.  Another student worked on skills that helped her successfully pass her United States citizenship test which led her to a better job.  The students are encouraged to use polite words such as “please” and “thank you” and Uvaldo challenges them to expand their vocabulary with college level words.  He urges them speak with confidence.

Melitza Velazquez

What’s next for Uvaldo?  He credits mentors at WCC with encouraging him to continue his education when he graduates from WCC next spring.  He has visited Berea College in Kentucky and hopes to attend there next fall.  The work/study program at Berea seems a perfect fit for Uvaldo.  He plans to begin preparing for his citizenship test.  Long-term he hopes to obtain his Certified Public Accountant license and return to Sparta.  He describes Alleghany County as a great place to live, work and raise a family.

AbsolutelyAlleghanyLogoSm

Opportunities exist to volunteer with the ESL program.  A special need is for childcare workers while the parents are in class.  Call The Alleghany Center of Wilkes Community College at 336-372-5061 for more information on volunteering or enrolling in classes.