Harry Johnson (1938-2020)

Coach Harry Johnson is a native of Danville, Virginia, where he has spent most of his life. He is a product of the Danville Public School system and received a B.S. degree from Virginia State University and a Masters Degree from the University of Virginia. Before beginning his career in education, Harry played professional... Read More

Local

December 9, 2022

Stay Humble. Practice Patience (and Lots of It)

Matt Doss grew up in Pelham, North Carolina, but has called Danville home for most of his life. After high school at Bartlett Yancey, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Averett University. Doss sings lead for local favorites, The League of Ordinary Gentlemen (LoOG). Music has been part of Doss’s life since middle... Read More

Arts + Music, Local Notes

December 6, 2022

Reviving a Classic

Almost four years ago, Mayor Jones and I were discussing ways we could provide more positive outlets for the youth of our region. At some point, the conversation turned to the old Holiday Shootout basketball tournament that had been a staple in our community for many years before eventually falling by the wayside. We believed... Read More

Confessions of a 30 Something

December 3, 2022

Behind the Scenes of The Harry Johnson Holiday Classic

Much hard work goes into a basketball tournament with the magnitude of the Harry Johnson Holiday Classic. The tournament takes place for three days at the end of each year, but the event is a year-long process. “The committee will start meeting in mid-January to evaluate the tournament that was just completed while it is... Read More

Local, Sports

December 1, 2022

Requiem for Robert Marsh…

Although I never enrolled in an art class taught by Robert Marsh, he and I had a running conversation about art that lasted for decades. Often, our chats occurred in his Averett University studio while he was printing an etching or touching up an image with cray pas, his oil pastels. My appreciation for his... Read More

Culture, Local, People

November 18, 2022

The Community That Built Me

I am a product of my community. A product of this community. Long before the Love where you live movement. Before the fashion of older buildings and exposed brick. Before the idea of downtown restoration, there was me. A shy little girl raised right near the poverty line in a trailer park in this community.... Read More

Pickled Proverbs

November 16, 2022

Keep Learning and Taking Musical Chances

By day, Norm Aquilo and Sarah Moss teach our children. Aquilo teaches at Sacred Heart Catholic School, while Moss is at Twin Springs Elementary. Aquilo is also the director of music at Sacred Heart Church. He added, “I have a few guitars, two dogs, and a mortgage.” Outside of teaching, Moss enjoys traveling, staying active,... Read More

Local Notes, Music

November 10, 2022

What Makes a Community Strong?

The Community Strong edition of Showcase is always one of my favorites for the year because it highlights the great people who go above and beyond to make the Danville region an awesome place to live. As we dove into this year’s edition, I thought: what makes a community strong? The answer that likely comes... Read More

Confessions of a 30 Something

November 8, 2022

2022 Community Strong Business of the Year: URW Community Federal Credit Union

Local 831 United Rubber Workers formed the URW 831 Members Credit Union in 1970. It started out of a shoe box, making $50 loans. From that humble start, URW opened its doors to the community in 2003. Today, URW is over 33,000 members strong with branches in Virginia and North Carolina. Showcase caught up with... Read More

Community Strong, Local

November 4, 2022

2022 Community Strong Business of the Year: Danville Toyota

Darrell Wiseman, a legend in his time with Toyota, started the family owned and operated dealership, Danville Toyota, in 1984. Wiseman has won many awards and accolades during his over 45-year career with Toyota. His son, Ryan, and two daughters, Tracie and Teresa, are all actively working daily at the dealership now. Danville Toyota currently... Read More