The Henry County Enterprise, March 2019 - Page 1A Vol. 1 No. 3 MARCH 2019 FREE New day at historical center Henry County Ross new director Enterprise emeritus; Snead is set to publish new director By Ginny Wray monthly Pat Ross has been named di- Beginning with the April edition, the rector emeritus of the Bassett Henry County Enterprise will become a Historical Center. monthly publication. Her appointment by the center It had been published quarterly start- board came Jan. 29, a month af- ing with its inaugural issue in Decem- ter she retired from 26 years as ber. the center’s director. Her daugh- “Community journalism is what we ter, Fran Snead of Martinsville, do. We do it because we believe in the is succeeding her as director. values of connecting people with the Ross joined the center (then the communities they live in,” said Michael Bassett Public Library) in 1981, Showell, publisher. “The way we do became director in 1992 and fully Pat Ross (right) has retired as director of the Bassett Historical Society and been that is by having dedicated journalists retired as director in 2012. How- named director emeritus of the center. Fran Snead (center) has succeeded Ross as in the community listening and sharing director. At left is Betty Scott, chairman of the historical center board. ever, she remained there as vol- in a professional and objective way that unteer director. the board was just as pleased to Don’t expect many changes lets you know what is really happening Several months ago she de- have her. at the center as a result of the where you live and work. cided it was time to fully retire “It’s been wonderful for me new leadership. Ross expects to “It is because of these values that so — again. She was thrilled when to be here to watch her (Snead) remain at her desk, working on many people have reached out to us, Snead decided to apply for the di- learn and appreciate history, official business and ready to asking if we would publish a newspaper rector’s job, and historical center which she already did. She loves help Snead, the staff and patrons on a regular basis in Henry County and board Chairman Betty Scott said history, as do I,” said Ross, 77. (See Center p. 8A) (See Monthly p. 4A) Fast Track 2019 Trade show set to show off area Expo helps Event to connect mark 25th community anniversary A dog wearing a bow tie is a By Ginny Wray After 25 years of Fast Track sure hit. So are giveaways and trade shows, the events still chances to win prizes. are going strong. Those are among the strat- “People look forward to Fast egies that veteran exhibitors Track every year to see what’s have used to get their messag- new here, what’s been here es out and their names better and what’s being offered,” known in the last 25 years of said Sharon Shepherd, deputy Fast Track expos. director of the Martinsville- “It’s a great opportunity to Henry County Chamber of showcase our animals,” said Commerce which organizes Nicole Harris, executive direc- the trade shows. tor of the SPCA of Martinsville Exhibitors welcome the public at a past Fast Track trade show. This year marks the 25th expo that There also is a social side of and Henry County, which has helps area businesses and services get their names and missions out to the public. the expos, with visitors seeing taken part in the trade shows • WHAT: Fast Track 2019 tinsville, formerly Liberty • COST: $2 or two nonper- old friends and retirees some- for longer than the 12 years trade show. The theme Fair Mall, 240 Common- ishable food items that times reconnecting with for- she has been with the organi- this year is “Silver Cel- wealth Blvd. will be donated to the mer co-workers, she said. zation. ebration” to honor the • WHEN: VIP Business Community Storehouse With the theme “Silver Cel- Many people think all shel- event’s 25th year. Night, by invitation only, to give away. Children ebration” to mark the event’s ter animals have been abused, • WHERE: Former Sears 4-8 p.m. March 5; open to age 6 and under will be 25th year, Fast Track 2019 with sad eyes and cones on store at the Village of Mar- the public 4-7 p.m. March 6 admitted free. (See Connect p. 5A) (See Event p. 5A) A Pelagornis sandersi is shown in a drawing from Sci-News.com. The first SEED program’s roots life-sized model of the the massive bird will be the premier exhibit in the new growing at Patrick Henry Jean S. Adams Education By Ginny Wray Bassett, Magna Vista and Mar- Pavilion at the Virginia Last year, Isaiah Young was tinsville high schools in conjunc- Museum of Natural History. The pavilion’s construction weighing his options. Should he tion with the state Rural Virginia marks the largest expansion attend a university that did not of- Horseshoe Initiative. of the museum since it fer the exact degree he wanted and Students must have at least a 2.5 opened on Starling Avenue begin accruing debt that could take grade point average (GPA) in high in 2007. years to pay off? school to qualify for SEED, and they Or should he attend Patrick Hen- must maintain at least a 2.0 GPA at ry Community College where his the college to stay in it. The SEED Replica of massive bird to tuition, fees and textbooks would be grant was announced in November paid, earn an associate degree and 2017. A total of 368 students ap- soar above VMNH pavilion apply to a college that could take plied for the program for the fall When Jean Adams to open to visitors in monumental addition him on the career path he wanted? 2018 semester. Of those, 268 were was young, she had spring 2020. demands equally im- At the heart of his decision was enrolled in SEED; 49 did not meet high ambitions of be- The museum, on pressive exhibit ele- not the matter of staying at home the high school GPA requirement; coming an astronomy Starling Avenue in ments and being able for another year; it was about get- and 51 enrolled in other institu- expert or perhaps an Martinsville, recently to suspend a life-like ting into the right school the follow- tions or pursued another direction, architect. So it is only announced a drive to recreation of the bird ing year, Young said. according to DeWitt House, senior fitting that a new part raise $25,000 to fund with the largest known He chose Patrick Henry and nev- program officer for The Harvest of the Virginia Mu- the creation of the first wingspan from within er looked back. Foundation. seum of Natural His- life-size model of Pel- the pavilion will be a “I’ve fallen in love with PH,” SEED students are required to tory bearing her name agornis sandersi. Gifts unique spectacle for he said of the community college take 15 credit hours at PHCC so will house the first for the design and individual visitors and where he has been a member of the they can complete their associate life-sized model of an build of the display are visiting school groups.” Patriot Players theater group for degrees in two or 2 1/2 years. That extinct species of bird being accepted by the According to new- several years. “I feel like the cam- time is even shorter if they were that had the largest museum through April scientist.com and li- pus has been a second home for me dual enrollment students in high wingspan of any bird 30. vescience.com, Pel- for years now.” school. to have ever flown. “The Jean S. Ad- agornis sandersi lived The SEED program at PHCC Both Harvest and PHCC are The model of Pel- ams Education Pavil- about 25 million years played a key role in Young’s decision. pleased with the program, accord- agornis sandersi will ion marks the largest ago. The first fossils, He is one of 268 PHCC students en- ing to House and Dr. Greg Hodges, be the premier exhibit expansion of the cur- which included a skull rolled in the Student Excellence in vice president of academic and stu- inside the Jean S. Ad- rent museum facil- and some wing and Education (SEED) program, which dent success services at PHCC. ams Education Pavil- ity since it opened its leg bones, were found is a three-year $3.1 million grant Harvest “absolutely” is commit- ion, a multi-season doors in 2007,” said in Charleston, S.C., funded by The Harvest Foundation. ted to the SEED program and con- covered structure to be Dr. Joe Keiper, ex- in 1983 during exca- It provides the first two years of siders it a worthwhile investment, erected adjacent to the ecutive director of the vations for a new ter- college at PHCC free of charge for House said. museum near J. Frank Virginia Museum of minal at the airport residents of Martinsville and Henry “One of the major goals (of the Wilson Memorial Park. Natural History and there. County who graduated during the SEED program) was not only get- The pavilion and its project lead, stated Its wingspan is es- 2017-18 academic year. The grant ting kids into higher education exhibits are scheduled in a release. “Such a (See VMNH p. 7A) also helps fund career coaches at (See SEED p.