Operator Trainee or Licensed Operator needed to perform
skilled and semi-skilled technical and maintenance work in operations;
maintenance and repair of the facilities and systems at Town’s Wastewater
Treatment Plant. The position is a vital component of day-to-day operations.
Want to join our team? https://abingdon-va.gov/employment-opportunities/
We are hiring a Maintenance
Assistant to install and construct new equipment and systems; troubleshoot,
repair, or replace electrical and mechanical equipment, control systems, and
facilities at Town’s Wastewater Treatment Plant. This position is a vital
component of day-to-day operations.
Want to join our team?
https://abingdon-va.gov/employment-opportunities/
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THE 72nd ANNUAL VIRGINIA
HIGHLANDS FESTIVAL
Summer Festival Emerges from
COVID Restrictions
with Old Favorites and New
Locations
FESTIVAL DATES: July 23-August 1, 2021
ABINGDON, Va./May 26, 2021 – The 72nd Annual Virginia Highlands Festival
(VHF) is back with all the events audiences love and that many missed attending
during last summer’s shut-down. The 2021 dates are July 23-August 1.
Organizers are offering a new Festival experience by bringing together most
programming under one roof: The Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center
(SWVA Higher Ed Center).
“The SWVA Higher Ed Center offers a spacious, 6,000 square foot, Grand Hall for
our esteemed Juried Antiques and Vintage Show. It’s in a very clean,
climate-controlled environment that I’m confident will offer the best
experience for our audiences and our vendors. There is ample parking and easy
access for everyone,” said Becky Brett, executive director of The Virginia
Highlands Festival.
The live music concerts will also move to the grounds at the SWVA Higher Ed
Center, as well as Writers’ Day, Juried Fine Art and Photography exhibits, food
trucks, and more. Concerts will take place outdoors under a giant tent.
The Juried Arts & Crafts show has always been a downtown magnet attraction
and will continue in its traditional spot on the Barter Green on Main Street.
The two locations will connect by shuttle service.
All tickets will be available through the VHF website, www.vahighlandsfestival.com.
Virginia Highlands Festival Event Lineup
Antiques & Vintage Show:
Now held in the Grand Hall at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center,
the Antiques and Vintage Show features 6,000 square feet of distinctive
shopping opportunities. For many attendees, this is the focal point of the
Festival. Antique lovers spend hours browsing through booths filled with formal
and primitive furniture, high–end collectibles, jewelry, porcelain, china,
rugs, vintage clothing, linens, paintings, pottery, and more! Dealers are
constantly restocking, so be sure to visit more than once.
Early Bird Shopping is Friday, July 23, 8 a.m. - 10 a.m. Gain exclusive access
to the ever-popular Juried Antique & Vintage Show of the Virginia Highlands
Festival (VHF). Shop all the fine vendors before the general public has access.
Refreshments will be available. Tickets for Early Bird shopping are $20, with
proceeds going to fund VHF.
Regular Admission July 23-August 1, 10 a.m - 6 p.m. (closing at 5 p.m. on
Sunday, August 1) Admission is $5 per day, or purchase a season pass for $15
and visit as often as you like!
Live Music:
After a year of no concerts, VHF is thrilled to present live music again. The
Virginia Highlands Festival has organized a huge line-up of fan favorites!
Concerts will be held outdoors under a spacious tent at the Southwest Virginia
Higher Ed Center. All tickets are general admission and are $10.
This year’s lineup includes:
Friday, July 23; 7 p.m.-10:30 p.m. — Folk Soul Revival Farewell Concert with
From the Edge
Saturday, July 24; 6:30 p.m.-9 p.m.—Band of Oz with The Great Big Hug
Thursday, July 29; 7 p.m.-10:30 p.m.—Cash Revisited: A Tribute to Johnny
Cash with Willy Nelson, and June Carter Cash followed by COAL Camp
Friday, July 30; 7 p.m.-10:30 p.m.—Virginia Ground with The Honey Badgers
Saturday, July 31; 7 p.m.-10:30 p.m.—Fritz and Company followed by Tuatha Dea
Juried Arts & Crafts Show at Barter Green:
Visit the Arts & Crafts show named “Best in Virginia!” Browse beautifully
handcrafted jewelry, accessories, and clothing, unique home and garden
decorations, specialty food and soaps. Enjoy live art demos, and find
one-of-a-kind items. The show is open rain or shine, daily from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Admission is free.
Juried Fine Art and Photography Competitions:
VHF is thrilled to support local artists and photographers with its annual
competitions and galleries. Intake days for both competitions will be Saturday,
July 17 and Sunday, July 18 from noon-5p.m. at the Higher Ed Center. Entry
forms, rules, and other information will be available on the Festival website
by June 1st.
Culinary Arts and Traditions:
VHF Welcomes celebrity chef Vivian Howard to this year’s Festival in
conversation with local favorite, chef Travis Milton. Howard is a best selling
author and semifinalist (4 times) for a James Beard Foundation (JBF) Best Chef
Southeast. This past year she took home a JBF award for Best Television
Personality.
Howard and Milton will chat on stage under the big tent at the Higher Ed Center
on Sunday, July 25 at 2 p.m. Tickets will be $60 per person. Ticket price includes
a signed copy of Howard’s cookbook and a special jar of “Community Organizer”
sauce.
Local History:
Local history activities have always been an important part of the Festival, since Abingdon was the most important town in the region for over 100 years. There will be downtown walking tours, ghost tours, a Sinking Spring Cemetery Living History event, and several lectures on topics related to regional history. The always popular historic homes and buildings tour will allow visitors to see the interiors of many Abingdon properties.
Outdoor Adventures:
Come explore the outdoors with guided nature hikes, bike rides, and vineyard tours! The focus this year is on the new Clinch River State Park. A talk, film, kayaking, and hike will reveal the beauty of the Clinch River area. Some activities require advance registration, so check the specific events on the Festival website.
Writers’ Day:
This year’s Writers’ Day workshops focus on the theme
“Telling Our Stories” by using memories to write poetry, drama and fiction.
Writers’ Day welcomes writers of all genres and skill levels as they unite to
create, collaborate, and appreciate literature. Participating writers include
Sharyn McCrumb, Jim Minick, Bekah Harris, Rita Quillen, and Eugene Wolf. The
publishing panel is composed of Tammy Robinson Smith, Greg Lilly, and Victoria
Fletcher. Cost for Writer’s Day is $30.
In
the week before Writers’ Day, the Virginia Highlands Festival is offering
Sampling Sessions: “Finishing the Manuscript: Overcoming Writer’s Block”
(Presenter Greg Lilly), “Capturing Memories for your Memoir” (Presenter Linda
Hoagland), and “Writing to Market: How to Find Your Best Selling Niche”
(Presenter Bekah Harris). Each sampling workshop is free with admission to the
Antique and Vintage Show ($5). For more information visit https://www.vahighlandsfestival.com/writers-day
For a complete listing of Festival activities happening from July 23 - August
1, including registration requirements, advance ticket purchases, parking and
shuttle info, and more, visit www.vahighlandsfestival.com.
###
About the Virginia Highlands Festival: Founded in 1948, the Virginia Highlands
Festival is an annual, ten-day event devoted to the celebration of Southwest
Virginia heritage and rich Appalachian tradition. Held in historic Abingdon,
Virginia, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Festival attracts
thousands of visitors each year. The 72nd Virginia Highlands Festival
will run from July 23-August 1 and feature live concerts, a juried arts and
crafts show, and an antique market, as well as workshops, lectures and tours.
To learn more about the Virginia Highlands Festival and this year’s events,
please visit www.vahighlandsfestival.com
Link to Download High-Resolution Photos https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1K33vFrOnZc5HD4zbwNQa_3lwWti22-fR?usp=sharing
🌟Small Business Spotlight🌟
Abingdon Gifting Company,
nestled right in the heart of downtown Abingdon is a gift shop like none other.
Featuring an extensive and ever-changing selection when it comes to anyone on your
list, you can literally find something new and wonderful every time you come
in! The novelty of the business is the “build your own” nature of services they
offer. If you have time to browse the wide variety of gourmet foods, luxurious
spa products, and locally crafted goods, you can handpick the perfect gift, and
have your items thoughtfully curated into a stunning display that is sure to
leave a lasting impression. If you are in a hurry, stop in and choose from the
seemingly endless selection of ready-to-go gift baskets. Whether you are
gifting for personal reasons, or your next big business event, Abingdon Gifting
Company can accommodate any size order on any budget. Specializing in corporate
business, AGC has many options when it comes to branding your gifts, including
custom printed boxes, printed ribbons, and even personalized items to be added to
each gift. If your loved one is close, have it delivered locally. If you need
to stay connected from states away, take advantage of their in-house shipping.
Abingdon Gifting Co. is truly your one-stop gift shop!
Located at 266 West Main
Street (next to Necessities), you can call them at 276-492-6987, and they are
open for walk-ins Monday from 11 AM-4 PM, Tuesday through Friday from 10 AM-6 PM,
and Saturday 11 AM-4 PM.
TOWN
OF ABINGDON
133
WEST MAIN STREET ·
P. O. BOX 789 ·
ABINGDON, VIRGINIA ·
24212
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:
Tenille Montgomery
May 25, 2021 (276) 206-3683
Update on Sports Complex
We are rounding second base with the Town of Abingdon Sports Complex… Things are moving along and we thought we would provide an update and aerial photo to show the progress.
The
contractor has completed electrical and communication fiber conduit
installation. Installation of field underdrains and irrigation systems
continues. The fine-grading and installing infield mix on the baseball and
softball fields are being completed. Footers and plumbing have been finished
for the Concession Stand/Press Box and Maintenance Building, and the concrete
floor slabs will be poured this week. The contractor is working on utilities for
the facilities. Grading for the multi-use fields, access road, parking lots,
and walking trail is being done as the construction sequence and weather
allows. Installation of the fencing for the baseball and softball fields has
started.
TOWN OF ABINGDON
133 WEST MAIN STREET · P. O. BOX 789 · ABINGDON, VIRGINIA · 24212
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:
Tenille Montgomery
May 24, 2021 (276)
206-3683
Abingdon
Tree Giveaway Program
The Town of Abingdon will be giving away FREE trees to
interested individuals. Each person can receive up to three (3), one-gallon
size trees of any mix or match variety. The species of trees offered are White
Dogwood, Redbud, Black Gum, and White Oak. If interested, you must call Kevin
Sigmon, Town Arborist, at 276-492-2135 to reserve the trees. Each person
receiving trees will receive a packet with valuable tree planting and care
information.
The pick-up date for the trees is June 12, 2021, at
the Coomes Recreation Center from 9:00 AM-11:00 AM. Trees that are not picked
up will be given away to other interested individuals.
Thank you to Food City, Sustain Abingdon, Abingdon
Garden Club, and Bartlett Tree Experts for sponsoring this giveaway.
*Pictured
are mature-sized specimens of the trees that will be offered.
PUBLIC NOTICE
TRAFFIC CONTROL CHANGE – MEADE DRIVE AND VIRGINIA CREEPER TRAIL
During the
week of May 17-21, 2021, the Town of Abingdon will be changing the traffic
control configuration at the intersection of Meade Drive and the Virginia
Creeper Trail.
In order to
be consistent with other trail/roadway crossings, and to be compliant with the
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Manual of Uniform Traffic Control
Devices, the existing traffic signal will be removed and replaced with a STOP
sign control for trail users. The vehicular traffic on Meade Drive will no
longer have to stop at the intersection unless a trail user is
already in the crosswalk.
If you have
any questions, please contact Abingdon Public Works Director John Dew by email
at jdew@abingdon-va.gov, or by telephone at 276-628-3167.
Small Business Spotlight
NEWS RELEASE
The Gallery @ Barr Photographics announces the spring-summer installment of the
Corner Gallery’s 2021 exhibition series with a collection of mixed media
paintings entitled “There Will Come A Time” by award-winning,
Unicoi, Tennessee artist, Michelle O’Patick-Ollis.
In her biographical sketch, Michelle states, “I am an
intermediate school art teacher and practicing artist who resides in Unicoi,
TN. Trained as a printmaker, I received my BFA (1995) from East Tennessee State
University and MFA (1999) from Arizona State University. After college, I worked as a vitreography
printer for Harvey Littleton Studios.
Later, I accepted the position of Exhibits Manager at Hands On Regional
Museum where I worked as a muralist who designed and enhanced the
permanent/traveling exhibits. I
continued with grad school and received a Master of Art in Teaching. East
Tennessee State University (2005) and have been teaching Art for the past 15
years. My artwork can be found in
collections across the country such as The New Britain Museum of American Art
in Connecticut, Scottsdale Contemporary Museum of Art in Arizona, University of
Washington Book Arts and Rare Book Collection in Seattle, Washington, North
West Art Center in North Dakota, and Tucson Museum of Art in Arizona, among
others.
Mrs.
O’Patick-Ollis reveals in her artist’s statement, “A
work of art which did not begin in emotion is not art.” This is the famous
quote that described Cezanne’s philosophy of art. When I first read this quote, I immediately printed
it and put it on my studio wall. I had
found a kindred spirit. For me
personally, if I cannot express emotion with artwork, or elicit emotion from
the viewer, I am not interested in creating it. I aim to visually describe what
I feel, and in doing so, artmaking becomes a cathartic experience for me. At the same time, I invite the audience to
share in my personal experiences hoping to engage them. When viewers
cry while looking at my artwork/reading stories about my family, I know it
isn’t caused by sympathy or empathy for the characters in my visual novel. They cry because my work causes them to
recall their own personal experiences.
It brings buried feelings to the surface where they can be felt again
and ultimately released. The viewing
experience becomes the very definition of catharsis. It provides
psychological relief through the open expression of emotions”.
Michelle also states, “My body of work is a collection of
realistic portraits. Through a variety
of media including coffee painting/mixed media drawings, writing, and story
quilts, my work depicts the challenges of the aging process. Largely influenced by my role as a caregiver
for my parents, my drawings tell the story of a mother with Parkinson’s disease
and a quadriplegic father with dementia, enduring the winter of their
lives. The stories I tell through my
drawings are personal in nature, yet they speak to anyone who has watched loved
ones grow old and become imprisoned within their withering bodies”.
Michelle further reveals, “As I watched my parents’
health and happiness decline, I longed to help them. I wanted to make them happy again. Ultimately, I was unable to change the
reality that each would have to reckon with; however, I was able to create a
different reality for them within my artwork.
A frail, slender figure smiles and dances. An immobile, frozen body is presented in
motion. I was able to depict my parents
in a way where they seem to be at peace or joyful, yet upon closer inspection,
the viewer is able to see a visual hint to the truth of the situation. Transparent, fading figures emerge. Wheelchairs are present. A body that appears to be dancing is actually
jerking with tremors. There were days
filled with anxiety, sorrow, or pain for both my parents and myself. My drawings became a way of cataloging good
memories and a way of working through some of the more difficult times. It has been a grieving process for me, a way
of dealing with what is already lost and a way of hanging onto what will
inevitably disappear.
“There Will Come A Time” will
be celebrated with a mask required, reception and gallery talk by Michelle O’Patick-Ollis, to which the public is cordially invited,
on Friday, 14 May from 7 - 9:00 PM in The Gallery @ Barr Photographics, 152 E. Main Street, Abingdon, Virginia. “There
Will Come A Time” will hang, through 31, July. During the exhibition
time, there will be opportunity to pre-order giclee prints from selected images,
contact the gallery for ordering information!
The Gallery @ Barr Photographics is housed in the Greenway Trigg
Building, located in the heart of Abingdon’s main street historic
district. Please call 276- 628-1486 or
visit http://barrphotographics.com
for further information.
