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Breaking the Mold: Meet Amanda Blalock

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Welcome to the September issue of Spotsylvania Living! It’s time for football, bonfires, and crisp apple cider! September is here— and, hopefully, bringing cooler weather with it. This month, we’re proud to feature a powerhouse entrepreneur you may already know: Ms. Amanda Blalock. You’ll meet Amanda and her awesome family and see what it means to truly show up for community.

Publication Team

Dori Stewart Publisher

Mallory Hardgrove Content Coordinator

Crissy Hall

Executive Assistant to the Publisher

Speaking of community, this issue is packed with incredible individuals making a difference. We highlight the Greater Fredericksburg Habitat for Humanity, who have been doing more than just building houses; spotlight a local family turning tragedy into impact; and showcase a student-driven charity, Helping Hands. This issue will leave you more inspired to make a difference in our backyard or connect with a new neighbor. As always, thank you to our fantastic sponsors who make each installment possible. Happy reading!

Valynda Phifer

Publisher’s Assistant

Laura Anderson Designer

Karen Presecan

Mallory Hardgrove

Photographer

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Karie Owens

Contributing Writer

Liya Zewdu

Contributing Writer

Stephanie Cox

Contributing Writer

Advertising Contact: Dori Stewart doristewart@bestversionmedia.com | 540-288-7928

Feedback/Ideas/Submissions Have feedback, ideas or submissions? We are always happy to hear from you! Deadlines for submissions are the 10th of each month. Go to www.bestversionmedia.com and click “Submit Content.” You may also email your thoughts, ideas and photos to: doristewart@bestversionmedia.com

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Table of

CONTENTS

5 6 8

Expert Contributor Why Fall is the Perfect Time to Aerate Your Lawn Charity Spotlight Building More Than Homes: Greater Fredericksburg Habitat for Humanity Pet Corner Knee-Deep in Options: What to Do When Your Dog Tears Its CCL

Resident Feature Breaking the Mold: Meet Amanda Blalock

Community How My Daughter, Jamie Lyn, Saved 37 Lives

10 16 18

Community Rural Virginia Grit: How Local Youth Are Filling Gaps in Healthcare Home Improvement Corner Why DIY Flooring Fails: The Hidden Costs of Skipping Professional Installation SE PT E MBE R 2026 | 3

Expert Contributors

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Bradford Jenner | Affordable Automotive 540-710-5400 affordable-automotive.com

Mike King | Ray’s Siding 540-710-6864 rayssiding.com

ELECTRIC LAWN SERVICE

Aaron Johnson | Uncle Onion’s Electric, Organic Lawn Care 540-448-8446 uncleonionslawn.com

HEATING AND AIR

Glenn Rohrabacher | Local Heating and Air 540-903-0061 localheatingandairllc.com

HOME CARE

Caleb Newton | Next Level Plumbing 540-645-8844 nextlevelplumbingva.com

NextHome Blue Heron Realty Group 540-328-6408 NextHomeBlueHeron.com

REAL ESTATE, ESTATE PLANNING, ESTATE ADMINISTRATION & PROBATE AND CIVIL LITIGATION Diana D’Alessandro | D’Alessandro Law PLLC (540) 412-6041 dalessandro.law

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Donte Garnette | Monster Roofing and Siding 540-395-9112 monsterroofingllc.com

Felix Gbee | Synergy HomeCare of Fredericksburg 571-752-2991 fredericksburg.synergyhomecare.com

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HOME RENOVATION

TREE SERVICE

Todd Pierpoint | Pierpoint Construction 540-659-8331 pierpointconstruction.com

INSURANCE SERVICES

Kim Oztuna | Burke & Burke Insurance 540-736-1200 / 703-751-1001 burkeandburkeinsurance.com

KITCHEN REMODELING

Zach, Matt, and Jake Lethbridge Kitchen Tune-Up Fredericksburg & Stafford 540-779-0301 kitchentuneup.com/fredericksburg-va

David Stewart | Dominion Septic 540-737-1008 dominionseptic.com

Patrick Wade | Arbor Tech Tree & Landscaping Service 540-522-6103 arbortechva.com

To learn more about becoming an expert contributor, contact BVM at doristewart@bestversionmedia.com or 540-288-7928.

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Expert Contributor

WHY FALL IS THE PERFECT TIME TO AERATE YOUR LAWN BY AARON JOHNSON, OWNER & OPERATOR, UNCLE ONION’S LAWN CARE

Fall is the best time to prepare your lawn for a lush lawn in spring. For homeowners in Spotsylvania County, core aeration, overseeding, and proper fertilization provide the strongest foundation for long-term lawn health. Why Aeration Matters Aeration creates small openings in the soil, allowing water, oxygen, and nutrients to reach grass roots more effectively. While spike and liquid aeration can provide some benefit, core aeration is the most effective method because it removes small soil plugs, relieving compaction and creating ideal conditions for root growth. Compacted soil prevents roots from accessing the air, water, and nutrients they need. Core aeration improves drainage, encourages deeper roots, and helps your lawn recover from summer stress. Why Fall Is the Best Time Cool-season grasses such as Turf Type Tall Fescue and Kentucky Bluegrass thrive when aerated and overseeded from late September through early October. Cooler temperatures and seasonal rainfall create ideal conditions for seed germination and root development before winter dormancy. The exact timing varies with weather conditions each year, so working with a local lawn care professional ensures your lawn is treated at the optimal time. Leave the Plugs Behind After core aeration, leave the soil plugs on your lawn. They break down quickly, returning beneficial microorganisms and nutrients to the soil. Although they may look messy for a short time, removing them only takes valuable soil away from your lawn.

Choose the Right Grass Seed The quality of your grass seed has a major impact on your results. We use a premium Virginia Tech-developed blend selected specifically for the soils and climate of Spotsylvania County. These improved varieties offer excellent drought tolerance, disease resistance, and a thicker, greener lawn that naturally helps crowd out weeds. Fertilizing and Watering Newly seeded lawns need the proper starter fertilizer to encourage rapid root establishment and healthy growth. Using the correct fertilizer at the recommended rate helps new grass establish while minimizing nutrient runoff. Keep newly seeded areas consistently moist by watering lightly several times each day until germination, which typically occurs within 7–21 days. Once the grass is established, reduce watering to about three times per week, providing approximately one inch of water weekly until the first frost. During winter, the grass goes dormant while its roots continue storing energy for vigorous spring growth. Trust a Local Professional While aeration equipment can be rented, professional service delivers better results and reduces the risk of damaging your lawn or underground utilities. At Uncle Onion’s Lawn Service, we customize every aeration, overseeding, and fertilization program for your lawn. Ready to give your lawn the care it deserves? Call or text 540-448-8446 or email Aaron@UncleOnionsLawn.com for your free consultation about fall aeration, overseeding, and fertilizer.

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Charity Spotlight

BUILDING MORE THAN HOMES: GREATER FREDERICKSBURG HABITAT FOR HUMANITY BY MALLORY HARDGROVE

For Maerine “Mimi” Mitchell, the moment a family receives the keys to their new home never gets old. “Seeing their smiles—and often tears—as they walk through the front door for the first time is incredibly powerful,” she says. “At that moment, they’re not just entering a house—they’re stepping into a future filled with possibility for themselves and their children.” Mimi officially stepped into the role of Executive Director of Greater Fredericksburg Habitat for Humanity on February 1, 2026, after transitioning into the position over the summer of 2025. But her connection to Habitat’s mission runs much deeper than her start date. She spent nearly a decade with another Habitat affiliate before coming to Fredericksburg— long enough, she jokes, to catch what she and her colleagues call “Habitat-itis.” “Once you have it, it stays with you,” she says. Her path into affordable housing work began during a stint as an AmeriCorps VISTA, where she first volunteered with Habitat for Humanity. The experience resonated on a personal level: she was navigating her own housing struggles after graduating college into the 2008 economic crisis. That collision of professional discovery and personal hardship set the course for her career.

A Mission Rooted in Stability Greater Fredericksburg Habitat for Humanity serves the Fredericksburg region, including Stafford, King George, and Spotsylvania, building and rehabilitating homes for families in need of safe, affordable housing. Since its founding in 1995, the organization has built more than 32 homes and completed hundreds of critical home repairs. The need is real and growing. Across Virginia, 1 in 8 households spends more than half their income on housing, forcing families to choose between shelter and other essentials like food or healthcare. “Our philosophy is rooted in the belief that stable, affordable housing is the foundation for a better life,” Mimi explains. Importantly, Habitat’s model isn’t charity in the traditional sense. “At Habitat, we don’t give homes away—we partner with families,” Mimi says. Homeowners invest sweat equity, contribute financially, and commit to their family’s future. “It’s a hand-up, not a handout, and that’s what makes the impact so lasting.” A New Development Taking Shape Currently, the organization is deep into one of its most ambitious efforts yet: a new construction development of six homes in the Mayfield area of Fredericksburg. “This project has been years in the making, and we are thrilled to bring it to life finally,” Mimi says. The organization is inviting the community to follow the build’s progress and is actively seeking sponsors, in-kind service providers, and volunteers to help cross the finish line. Those interested can learn more at fredhab.org/services/builds/davies-street.

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Community, Connection, and a Mechanical Bull Beyond the build sites, Mimi has embraced Fredericksburg’s tight-knit community spirit. At a recent fundraiser at Stockyards Restaurant & Bar, she even climbed aboard a mechanical bull in exchange for donations. “It was definitely a memorable moment and a great way to connect with people in a lighthearted way,” she recalls. New to the area herself, Mimi says she and her 14-year-old son are happily settled. “The sense of community here is incredible,” she says. “People are welcoming, supportive, and genuinely connected.” A Calling, Not Just a Job For Mimi, the work is personal. Having faced her own housing insecurity, she brings firsthand understanding to every family Habitat serves. “This work isn’t just a job for me—it’s a calling,” she says. She’s quick to point out that there are many ways for community members to get involved, whether it be by swinging a hammer, sponsoring a build, donating materials, or simply spreading the word. “It takes all of us working together to truly make a difference,” Mimi says. “Everyone deserves a decent place to live—and together, we can make that a reality right here in our community.” To volunteer, support, or learn more about the Mayfield development, visit fredhab.org.

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Pet Corner

KNEE-DEEP IN OPTIONS: WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR DOG TEARS ITS CCL BY DR. KATRINA SPIES, DVM, CHPV, CCRV, CVA, CVPP

Summer is winding down, which means a steady stream of dogs limping into the clinic after one too many enthusiastic games of fetch. If your pup suddenly came up lame on a back leg, the culprit is often a torn cranial cruciate ligament (CCL), the canine version of our ACL tear. It’s a leading cause of hind-leg lameness, leaving owners facing a big decision fast: surgery or a conservative path? Here’s what both options involve, and why integrative medicine belongs in either plan. What’s Actually Happening in the Knee The CCL is a small but mighty ligament that keeps the knee joint stable. When it tears, the shin bone slides forward from under the thigh bone every time your dog puts weight on that leg. That instability is what causes the pain, the swelling, and the telltale toe-touch limp. Surgery or Conservative Care? For young, large, or high-energy dogs, surgical repair (most often a TPLO, or tibial plateau leveling osteotomy) is generally considered the gold standard. It mechanically stabilizes the joint, gets dogs back on their feet faster, and slows down the arthritis that follows a CCL tear. Locally, a TPLO typically runs somewhere between $5,500 and $7,500 per knee, depending on your dog’s size and whether additional procedures like arthroscopy or joint injections happen at the same time. That price usually covers pre-op diagnostics, anesthesia, the implants themselves, hospitalization, and follow-up X-rays. It does not usually include rehab afterward, which I consider essential, not optional, for a smooth recovery.

Conservative management is worth a serious conversation for senior dogs, dogs with health issues that make anesthesia riskier, smaller breeds, partial tears, or when the cost of surgery simply isn’t feasible right now. Partial tears and sprains can sometimes heal on their own with the right support. Full tears cannot. And “conservative” doesn’t mean “do nothing and hope.” Without real pain control and carefully managed activity, that unstable knee will keep breaking down muscle and cartilage, and the strain is felt throughout the body. Where Integrative Medicine Comes In Whichever path you choose, pain medication from your regular vet is the starting point, not the finish line. This is where integrative therapies earn their keep, whether your dog undergoes surgery or not: • Weight management. This might be the single most underrated tool in the whole toolbox. Even a 6% reduction in body weight measurably eases the load on an injured joint and slows arthritis. • Acupuncture. Dogs compensate for a bad leg by shifting weight elsewhere, and that shows up as tight, sore muscles along the back and opposite limbs. Acupuncture helps release that tension and triggers the body’s own pain relief response. • Laser therapy and PEMF. Both use energy (light in one case, electromagnetic pulses in the other) to calm inflammation inside the joint and speed up tissue repair at the cellular level.

• Regenerative medicine. Joint injections like hyaluronic acid or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) restore joint fluid quality and reduce inflammation in the joint capsule. • Rehabilitation. Underwater treadmill work and guided exercise rebuild muscle and improve balance without putting excess strain on the healing joint. • Shockwave therapy. Sound waves stimulate the body’s own tissue repair process at the injury site. • Supplements. Fish oil (omega-3s like EPA and DHA), anti-inflammatory herbal blends, and injectable joint supplements like Adequan can quietly round out a recovery plan. None of these replace surgery or rehab, but they support the rest of the plan, and it’s worth running any supplement by your vet first. The Bottom Line There is no one-size-fits-all answer when a dog tears their CCL. Deciding between the operating room and conservative management comes down to your dog’s unique needs, lifestyle, health, as well as your family’s unique circumstances. What matters most is knowing you don’t have to choose between “surgery or nothing.” Regardless of the primary path you take, adding integrative modalities ensures your dog heals safely, manages compensation pain, and protects their long-term joint health. Ready to build a comprehensive recovery plan for your pet? Reach out to Comfort Paws today to set up a consultation and get started.

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Resident Feature

smaller for the comfort of others,” she says. “I live it to experience real happiness and genuine joy in a relationship that feels healthy, honest, and fulfilling.” That joy peaked, she says, at Roy’s 2024 birthday — a surprise party that started small and grew until the room reserved for it hit capacity at 50 guests. Roy never suspected a thing. “His reaction, his tears, and the look on his face are moments that will live with me forever,” Amanda recalls. The couple plans to marry in the summer of 2027. Building a Career, Betting on Herself Professionally, Amanda has worn many hats: airline supervisor, Spotsylvania County School Board member, and now a licensed real estate agent in both Virginia and Maryland alongside her work as a property manager. In 2024, she left a salaried position to build her own brand full-time. “It has been one of the best decisions of my life,” she says. Rooted in a Mississippi upbringing that prized hard work, she’s driven by the following mantra: “For me, the sky is not the limit. It is just the view.”

Breaking the Mold:

MEET AMANDA BLALOCK

BY MALLORY HARDGROVE

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KAREN PRESECAN PHOTOGRAPHY

For Amanda Blalock, home has never been about a perfect mold. It’s about showing up. “Families are often expected to fit a certain mold, but in our home, we believe family can take many forms,” she says of the household she shares with her fiancé, Roy Person, and her twins, Bebe and Jackson, both 18 and recent graduates of Riverbend High School. “Ours is built on love, loyalty, and showing up for one another every single day.”

Roy, meanwhile, spent more than twelve years as a federal supervisor with the Army Corps of Engineers before moving into the private water treatment sector to make room for more family time. He also DJs on the side, a creative outlet the family says brings music into nearly everything they do. Twins Chasing Big Futures Jackson and Bebe have grown up steeped in Spotsylvania’s schools and activities. Jackson has played soccer since he was 18 months old and has competed for both a travel club and Riverbend High School, balancing athletics with membership in the National Honor Society, DECA competition, tutoring, and a self-taught interest in piano. He hopes to study neuroscience and cognitive brain development in college.

A Love Story That Didn’t Fit the Script Amanda and Roy met in 2023, and by her own admission, she almost didn’t give him a chance. “I will be the first to admit that I almost wrote him off immediately because of his age alone,” she says. But what changed her mind wasn’t circumstance — it was character. Roy, who lost his mother to cancer at 16 and later lost his younger sister in a car accident in 2020, had already lived through more loss than most people face in a lifetime. That adversity shaped him into what Amanda describes as an old soul, someone whose “smile still truly is his calling card.”

Bebe has cheered since age five and captained a competitive All-Star squad while also cheering for Riverbend’s football, basketball, and competitive teams. A leader in her own right, she held office in FFA, represented Spotsylvania County in public speaking, and served on both the Superintendent’s Advisory Committee and the district’s Strategic Planning Committee. This fall, she heads to the University of Mississippi with hopes of joining the Trent Lott Institute to study public policy — a path she believes will lead to law school and, eventually, public office.

Their relationship crosses lines of age, race, geography, and religious upbringing — Amanda raised in the Deep South of Mississippi, Roy from Southern Maryland– and she’s candid about the assumptions that come with that. “I do not live my life to meet other people’s expectations or to make myself

“We could not be more proud of both of them and cannot wait to see where their hard work takes them,” Amanda says.

That philosophy extends well past their front door — into a deep, hard-earned love for Spotsylvania County itself.

10 | SPOT SYLVA N I A LI VI N G

In addition to the twins, Amanda’s family also includes older, now adult children, who are living in various parts of the country. Amanda takes great pride in “watching them flourish and build lives of their own.” A Community That Shows Up Ask Amanda what she loves about Spotsylvania, and the answer isn’t scenery — it’s people. Between 2014 and 2016, she battled a serious illness, and the community carried her through it. “Neighbors, schools, and friends carried my family when I could not,” she says. “This is not just where I live. It is where I was supported, protected, and reminded that I was not alone.” That experience is woven into everything the family does locally. Amanda currently serves as Booster President for Riverbend Boys Soccer. She supports organizations including Treasure House and the American Cancer Society, building on a decade of service from 2007 to 2017 on the Spotsylvania County School Board. The family chose the Sawhill community in part for its strong sense of belonging and the county’s STEM-focused school programs — though Amanda is quick to note her appreciation for all the district’s schools. “I love that my children have all been educated by Spotsylvania County schools,” she says.

Her devotion to the area runs deep enough that it doubles as a promise. “Spotsylvania County was there for me when I needed it most, and I will always be here for Spotsylvania in return,” she says. “My loyalty to this community is lifelong. I love this county.” Family, Music, and a Dog Named Shadow The Blalocks’ home is filled with pets, music, and memory. Their two dogs, Deonte and Shadow, hold special places in the family’s heart — especially Shadow, a hunting dog given to Bebe by Amanda’s late father. When he offered his prized dog’s pup, Bebe looked him in the eye and named her on the spot. “She’s older now, but still going strong,” Amanda says. “Shadow is a constant reminder of my dad, and having her with us feels like keeping a piece of him close.” Left-handedness and musical talent run in Amanda’s family — a legacy from her mother, one of thirteen siblings, all left-handed and musically gifted, and the subject of an impressive feature article in their local newspaper. Amanda carried that sense of connection into her own children’s names, choosing Bleu and Skye as their middle names to intentionally link the twins together. Travel remains a family love language, too. Amanda and Roy return to Jamaica every July for Sumfest, the island’s largest music festival, while Bebe and Jackson have toured Europe through Riverbend High School’s ACIS travel program, including a trip to Venice, Salzburg, Vienna, and Prague this past summer. As the twins prepare to leave the nest— the first time they’ll ever live apart— the Blalocks are marking the end of one chapter and the start of several new ones: a wedding, a college send-off, and a continued commitment to the county that has never stopped showing up for them— and one that they’ll continue to give back to however possible.

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HOW MY DAUGHTER, JAMIE LYN, SAVED 37 LIVES BY JIM HOOVER

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY THE HOOVER FAMILY

The moment I got in my car, I asked God to keep her alive until I could make the 14-hour drive from Virginia to the hospital in Fort Lauderdale. That’s what a father does. You pray, and you keep going. I’m a retired Marine. I deployed after 9/11. I served as an instructor at Quantico right here in Virginia because this Commonwealth has always been home for our family. I remained committed to serving our country and training service members. I kept my flak jacket on because that’s what the job demands. You don’t stop. You complete the mission. Virginia is where our roots run deep. It’s where my youngest daughter, Jamie Lyn, was raised and became a proud graduate of Riverbend High School. She grew up on these roads, played soccer on these fields, and built a life here before the world opened up to her. People called her my twin, the girl version of me. She had my stubbornness and my fire. But she was more than that. She made everyone around her better without being asked. After eventually moving to Fort Myers, Florida to chase her dreams, Jamie Lyn had her whole life in front of her. Then one night, the unthinkable happened, and she was gone at just 23 years old. Marines aren’t built to fall apart. But grief doesn’t care what you’re built for. The hardest thing I’ve ever done was learning to take my flak jacket off and endure the most heartbreak my wife, older daughter, and I have ever experienced. A decision Jamie Lyn made years earlier when she got her Virginia driver’s license gave us the gift of certainty in the middle of indescribable pain. Because of this, we knew how to honor her wishes. She decided to register as an organ, eye, and tissue donor at 18. And that one decision lives on, beyond the moment she was called home. Thirty-seven people’s lives have been saved and healed because of our girl. A 63-year-old woman is alive today because she received Jamie Lyn’s heart. A 62-year-old woman breathes with Jamie’s lungs. A 65-year-old man got a second chance at life through her liver. A 32-year-old woman received one of her kidneys. An 18-year-old young man, just a few years younger than Jamie Lyn, received the other. Two different people can see the world clearly again because of her corneas. And 30 more lives are being healed because of her tissue donation.

Now think about everyone in their lives: their spouses, kids, parents, and grandchildren. All of them with more time, more mornings, more ordinary days, because Jamie Lyn decided at 18 that many never get around to making. This gift of certainty gave us comfort in knowing that we were honoring her wishes. When the funeral director heard that Jamie Lyn was a donor, she broke down. Her own daughter had received a heart transplant at age 10. Without that gift, her daughter wouldn’t be alive. She wouldn’t be a grandmother today. That’s what donation does. It saves entire families. The medical team treated us with more grace than I can put into words. The organ procurement organization respected our space to grieve and process; they kept us fed, and they answered every question we had at two in the morning. They recorded Jamie Lyn’s heartbeat for us. Angela, Tricia, and Melody. I’ll never forget them. Since Jamie Lyn passed, more than 39 people (as of 8/10/26) have registered as organ donors in her name. A scholarship now carries her name through My Veteran Passion, the organization she worked with to help veterans through their darkest moments. Her story keeps moving. She was a 23-year-old from a military family who wanted to do something good. Approximately 3,000 Virginians are waiting for a transplant. Across the country, about 15 people die every day waiting for a transplant that never comes.If you haven’t registered as a donor, please consider it today. It could mean everything to a father sitting in an ICU right now, praying the same prayer I prayed when I turned that ignition. Maybe the person waiting on that list is 18 years old. Maybe they’re 63. Maybe they’re someone’s twin. She was God’s child before she was mine. He called her home. I didn’t like it. But Jamie Lyn saved multiple lives and healed dozens more. She was a miracle. And Virginia is where that miracle grew up. Jim Hoover is a medically retired U.S. Marine and father of Jamie Lyn Hoover, who has changed 37 lives through organ, eye and tissue donation. To learn more about Jamie Lyn’s legacy and the Jamie Lyn Hoover Memorial Scholarship through My Veteran Passion, visit jamielynhoover.org. You can also register to be a donor at registerme.org/campaign/jamie_lyn_hoover_organ_ donation_registration_event. SE PT E MBE R 2026 | 13

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Community

RURAL VIRGINIA GRIT:

HOW LOCAL YOUTH ARE FILLING GAPS IN HEALTHCARE BY CORA SHIELDS

Hi Neighbors! My name is Cora Shields, and I am a senior at Riverbend High School. For ten years, I lived in the Pipe Run neighborhood before my family moved to Fawn Lake. I have come to deeply appreciate my home here in Old Dominion, surrounded by farmland, close-knit communities, and a rich sense of history. Growing up, I was inspired by the stories of great Virginians who came before me—stories that taught me to forge ahead into the unknown, stand firm for what I believe in, and build something meaningful from the ground up. I carried these values with me during my freshman year, when I first learned about period poverty. Many girls in less developed countries are forced to drop out of school simply because they lack adequate menstrual supplies. Determined to help, I organized a donation drive and witnessed firsthand the generosity of Virginia women who care deeply about girls around the world. Together, we purchased 568 pairs of period underwear, which I personally distributed on a medical mission with International Medical Relief. The trip was physically demanding (I returned home sick), but it taught me a great deal. My time in Peru opened my eyes to how resource gaps shape lives, and it wasn’t long before I began noticing similar gaps closer to home. During my sophomore year, I applied to intern at medical research labs, only to discover that most accept exclusively local applicants. These labs are almost always located in larger cities, effectively shutting out students from 16 | SPOT SYLVA N I A LI VI N G

rural Virginia. I found the same pattern in science competitions, leadership programs, and volunteer opportunities. Because our area is classified as “rural fringe,” we lack the resources that help students in more urban areas engage meaningfully with healthcare-related projects. Helping Hands in Healthcare (HHH) was born from that frustration. I used my own savings to establish an LLC and build a website. From there, I reached out to students who shared an interest in healthcare-related service, and together we formed a board of directors made up of some of the brightest students in our area. Through my volunteer work at Culpeper Hospital, I learned that children in remote areas often don’t receive Jared Boxes or similar care packages that are standard in larger hospitals. So my board and I set out to raise funds and assemble care packages for kids receiving healthcare across rural Virginia.

Our first major fundraiser, Chips for Change, was a full-scale casino night featuring professional table games, dealers who taught guests how to play, and prizes donated by local businesses. I used my own savings to reserve the venue and secure the necessary licenses. Knowing that it takes money to make money, our goal was to raise $2,500. I was genuinely afraid we might end up in debt, but the community’s response was incredible. Once again, I was amazed by the generosity of local donors and businesses, and ticket sales exceeded our expectations. In the end, we provided care boxes to three hospitals, a mobile health clinic, and an inpatient facility for teen mental health. We also raised enough funds to become an officially recognized nonprofit, and we are now a registered 501(c)(3) organization. I witnessed the impact of our work firsthand when I handed one of our care boxes to an injured child in Culpeper’s ER. Within minutes, he was lying on his belly, absorbed in play with his new toys—his pain, for the moment, forgotten. We are now reaching out to local news outlets to share our story and show that high school students can succeed in projects like this one. We may live in a rural area, but we carry rural Virginia grit. We have everything we need to forge into the unknown, fight for what we believe in, and build from the ground up. I encourage others to dream big and start now. Looking ahead, HHH is applying for grants to expand our model. If funded, we hope to offer $500 mini-grants to students who demonstrate meaningful progress on projects that improve healthcare in our region. We are also training younger students to lead a local chapter of HHH once our current board members graduate and move on to college. In the meantime, Helping Hands in Healthcare is preparing for our next Casino Night on September 12th. It promises to be a wonderful evening and a great value. We welcome prize donations and sponsorships, and tickets go on sale August 1st. For more details, visit www.helpinghandsinhealthcare.com. We would love to see you there!

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Home Improvement Corner

WHY DIY FLOORING FAILS: REFRESH YOUR HOME FOR BACK-TO-SCHOOL SEASON BY KARIE OWENS

That weekend flooring project on YouTube makes it look easy: rip out the old floor, click the new planks into place, done by Sunday night. But flooring is one of the few home projects where the mistakes don’t show up right away; they show up six months later, when boards start cupping, seams separate, or a warranty claim gets denied. Here’s what DIY installation actually risks. Subfloor Prep Gets Skipped Every successful flooring job starts below the surface. A subfloor has to be level, clean, and structurally sound before a single plank goes down. DIYers often skip this step entirely, or don’t have the tools to catch a subfloor that’s out of level by more than the manufacturer’s tolerance. The result: floors that flex, squeak, or develop stress cracks within the first year. These problems are

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY NK FLOORS

far more expensive to fix after the new floor is installed than before. Moisture Testing Is the Step Nobody Thinks About Wood and moisture don’t mix, and neither do many types of engineered flooring. Professional installers test subfloor moisture content before installation because even a small amount of excess moisture can cause warping, buckling, or mold growth under the new floor. Without a moisture meter and the knowledge to interpret it, a DIY installer has no way of knowing whether the subfloor is safe to build on until the damage is visible. Warranties Only Protect Professional Work Here’s the part most homeowners don’t find out until it’s too late: most manufacturer warranties explicitly require professional installation.

If a floor fails and the installation wasn’t done or documented by a certified installer, that warranty claim can be denied outright. A $6,000 flooring investment with a “lifetime” warranty on paper can become a $6,000 loss in practice, simply because of who put it down. The Real Cost Comparison DIY installation seems to save money upfront. But factor in tool rental, wasted material from cutting errors, the cost of fixing subfloor issues after the fact, and a voided warranty, and professional installation is often the cheaper option in the long run. At NK Floors, every installation starts with subfloor inspection and moisture testing, and every job is backed by both our workmanship and the manufacturer’s warranty. Quality flooring deserves a foundation that protects it.

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