Orange County brothers GW and Ben Plumb are semifinalists in a national contest for a handicapped accessible vehicle.
More than one million people submitted names of their local heroes and voted online during the first National Mobility Awareness Month.
Voting ended May 13, and the Plumbs were among the top 10-percent of entries with the most votes.
Officials will review the stories of those nominated and pick three winners of wheelchair-accessible vehicles, valued at about $40,000 each.
“We’re excited, but now it comes down to the most deserving,” said Conway Faulconer of Faulconer Hardware, who nominated the brothers. “If they don’t get it, that just means there’s someone out there that needs it more.”
GW and Ben, who are 26 and 24, have Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a rapidly worsening degenerative disease. Since the boys were born, their parents, Jane and George Plumb, have tried to provide as normal lives as possible for their sons. Both young men work—GW at the hardware store and Ben at Virginia Tractor—and continue to hunt and fish with adaptive wheelchairs.
The family pays all its medical bills without any government assistance, even though they probably qualify for various programs.
They can’t afford a van that’s big enough for two wheelchairs. Jane Plumb carries both men in and out of their vehicle as she takes them to work, doctors’ appointments or to other activities.
The Plumbs leave one electric wheelchair at home for each son and another at their work places.
At first, the family was reluctant to broadcast their story because they didn’t want to be seen as a charity case. But Ben, especially, said he came to realize that people in the community just wanted to help, and he appreciated that.
More than 1,700 people with varying handicaps and of all ages were nominated as local heroes. The Plumbs were among the 170 with the most votes, even though they didn’t get into the contest until two weeks after it started.
“Obviously, people did a lot of work to catch up,” Jane Plumb said. “We’re totally surprised and excited.”
Another complication was that the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association website, which sponsored the contest, allowed only one vote from the same IP address every 24 hours.
Many people who wanted to vote for the Plumbs don’t have computers at home, Faulconer said. They tried to vote at work, school or the public library and often couldn’t because computers on those networks shared the same IP address and were limited to one vote per day.
“But it’s all good,” Faulconer said. “We’re very grateful for everyone who voted.”
Winners will be notified in early June.
Here’s a link to the website about the contest and to the original story on the brothers.
Here’s an offer from the Virginia Kincheloe Spay/Neuter Clinic in Spotsylvania County.
Residents can get a cat neutered for free after they pay to have a cat spayed.
The email from the clinic announced: “Spread the word even if you don’t have a cat!! Let’s do all we can do about the cat overpopulation and get some cats spayed and neutered.”
More information about the clinic is available here.
4-H members line up beef cattle in the annual show.
The 65th annual 4-H/FFA Fredericksburg Area Junior Livestock Show and Sale was held on May 9 at the Fredericksburg Livestock Exchange. The event attracted 78 4-H’ers from nine counties: Caroline, Essex, Hanover, King George, Lancaster, Northumberland, Spotsylvania, Stafford and Westmoreland.
The show had 38 market hog entries, 31 beef entries, 28 market goat entries, and 25 market lamb entries. Beef animals sold for an average price of $2.83 per pound, lambs for $5.80 per pound, goats for $6.19 per pound and hogs for $3.02 per pound. The total sale value was $147,716.
HERDSMAN TROPHIES: Based on exhibitors’ attitude, ability and appearance, awards went to Kayse Pendergrass of Stafford, lambs; Kelsey Trainor of Stafford, beef; Morgan Minor of Westmoreland, hogs; and Bill Johnson of Westmoreland, goats.
SPIRIT OF SHARON AWARD in memory of Sharon Jimenez, Kelsey Trainor of Stafford.
SILVER TRAY for the Hog Sweepstakes, sponsored by the Virginia Pork Industry Association, Adam Gaines of Spotsylvania.
OUTSTANDING DEDICATION to the 4-H Livestock Program and Virginia Cooperative Extension: Hazel Brummette.
MARKET HOGS: Champion single: Shelby Murrell of Stafford. Reserve champion single: Andrew Gaines of Spotsylvania. Champion pair: Adam Morris of Spotsylvania. Reserve champion pair: John Hall of Caroline.
MARKET STEERS: Champion: Caleb Durheim of Stafford. Reserve champion: Brett Trainor of Stafford. Heifer champion: Turner Minx of Stafford. Heifer reserve champion: Zachary Proctor of Caroline.
FEEDER STEERS: Champion: Carissa Emory of King George. Reserve champion: James Simpson V of Northumberland. Heifer champion: Kelsey Trainor of Stafford. Heifer reserve champion: Katie Barnum of King George
MARKET GOATS: Champion single: Bill Johnson of Westmoreland. Reserve champion: H. Baine Self Jr. of Westmoreland. Champion pair: Carson Gray of Stafford. Reserve champion pair: Colin Gray of Stafford
MARKET LAMBS: Champion single: Jennifer Cook of King George. Reserve champion single: Luke Barnum of King George. Champion pair: Hannah Williams of Stafford.
STOCKMEN’S CONTEST is a written test on beef, lambs, swine and goats. ) shown during this event. Novice: Benjamin Williams of Stafford, Kristina Atwood of Stafford and Natalie Hall of Caroline. Junior: Abby Durheim, Zachary Williams and Caleb Durheim, all of Stafford. Senior: Aldyn Abell of King George, Rachel Wright of King George and Brandy Harris of Spotsylvania.
The family of David Pearson, the 18-year-old who died Friday of brain cancer, wanted people to know that David wanted donations sent to two cancer centers and one local charity, the Fairy Godmother Project, a Stafford County group that helps families of children with cancer. Here’s the address for each:
Fairy Godmother Project
43 Town and Country Drive
Fredericksburg, Va. 22405
Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure
1717 Rhode Island Avenue
Washington, D.C. 20036
The Childhood Brain Tumor Foundation, Inc.
20312 Watkins Meadow Drive
Germantown, Md. 20876-4259
David died on Friday after a 20-month battle with brain cancer. He was able to get his diploma from Stafford High School during a special graduation ceremony last month. Here’s the video.
David’s family will host friends and family tonight, May 14, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Laurel Hill Funeral Home, Spotsylvania. A funeral will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday, May 15, at the funeral home. There will be a celebration reception after the funeral at 5 p.m. at Conway Elementary, 105 Primmer House Road, Fredericksburg. The reception will have displays of David and friends, foods that he liked (and didn’t like) and a video/photo show of David’s life.
People can still go off the deep end at Pleasant Valley Swim Club—and that’s a good thing.
In fact, the 10-foot section, complete with diving board, is one of the main attractions of the older pool, tucked away in a quiet neighborhood off Forbes Street in southern Stafford County.
“We’re like the hidden jewel of Falmouth,” said Deborah Bowler, who volunteers as the group’s marketing director. “Nobody even knows we’re there.”
The swim club is one of several community pools in the Fredericksburg region owned and operated by private stockholders. Typically, neighbors in a subdivision raise money to build the pool, then operate it each year with membership dues. Volunteers buy the chemicals, vacuum out the leaves and dirt, cut the grass and hire the lifeguards, the only people paid.
It’s no different at Pleasant Valley, where the late Olympic medalist Mark Lenzi did some of his first dives.
The pool was built in 1971 when the original membership from Spring Valley and Pleasant Valley subdivisions incorporated. Members of the construction committee included Bill Lucado, Lyle Johnson, Roy Holloway and Dick Ford, the group’s chairman, who still visits the pool occasionally.
The committee commissioned a pool with a design that’s rarely seen these days, Bowler said.
The pool is shaped like an L. The long part is 20 meters, where the club’s former swim team, the Piranhas, used to compete. Off to the right is the deep section.
There’s a separate, fenced-in baby pool and a wide concrete deck around the main pool with chairs and picnic tables.
Mature trees surround the area and offer shade to the “pool ladies,” older women who sit near the gate and greet every visitor, said Barbie Smith, who supervises the pool maintenance.
“There’s nothing like Pleasant Valley,” she said. “There’s no bond between any of us except the pool. It isn’t a neighborhood, it isn’t a school, it’s not anything but the pool. You get these friendships with people you would never have been friends with before.”
Smith runs a massage therapy business when she’s not checking for problems in the pool’s old pump house. She got the job as “pool man” about three years ago, when problems surfaced and the pool didn’t open until July. She was so irritated, she was determined to make sure it didn’t happen again.
Smith is one of the club’s tireless volunteers, Bowler said. Michael Sizemore has served as president for seven years, even though he has an in-ground pool in his back yard. Sherrie Hession pays the bills and files the taxes, while Jim Shelton and Tim King help with daily operations.
Volunteers devote hours of time so the next generation can enjoy the old-fashioned environment at the pool, Bowler said.
Members can bring floats, noodles or water guns with them, as well as grills to cook their own food. Potlucks and birthday parties are common.
The pool isn’t crowded, and everyone knows everyone else and their children, including the lifeguards.
“There’s no blowing of whistles, nobody going crazy,” Smith said. “The lifeguards just say, ‘Hey Johnny, stop it.’”
ABOUT THE POOL
Pleasant Valley Swim Club is off Forbes Street in Falmouth, at 1011 Wythe Court. It opens on weekends Saturday, May 19, and daily from June 15 through Labor Day.
Visitors are invited to swim free during two open houses: May 19 and 20 and June 2 and 3. The pool is open on those weekends from noon to 8 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Seasonal memberships at the pool cost $335 for families, $215 for singles and $195 for seniors.
More information is available by calling 540/907-5099 or online here.
The Pleasant Valley Swim Club pool opens early, with a block party open house and free swim on May 19.
Sue Gill, the journalism adviser at Stafford High School won the Mentoring Excellence Award in The Washington Post’s Young Journalists Development Program Competition.
The Post’s awards are in recognition of significant achievements and contributions to high school journalism in the Washington area. Winners were chosen by a selection committee consisting of mentors and reporters from The Washington Post and will be honored during a ceremony at The Post on Wednesday, May 16.
“Strong high school journalism programs yield college journalists who go on to staff newsrooms across the country. Along with promoting excellence in journalism, these awards were launched to focus attention on students and advisers who have contributed to the growth and quality of scholastic journalism,” said Marcus Brauchli, executive editor of The Washington Post.
David Pearson, the Stafford High School student with brain cancer, got his wish last month.
David received his high-school diploma during a special ceremony at Amy’s Cafe in Falmouth. As his condition has worsened, his family asked the school if David could get his diploma earlier than the rest of the class, and the school obliged.
During the ceremony, David thanked all those who made the event possible. During previous interviews, he’s made a point of thanking all those who have helped his family, saying he was eternally grateful.
The Pearsons have received a lot of community support during David’s illness.
Stafford resident Robyn Uglow in last month's Big Sur Marathon.
Here’s an update on an incredible young woman I wrote about in January. Robyn Uglow, the Stafford County woman who runs despite a congenital hip defect, recently finished her second marathon. She completed the Big Sur Marathon on April 29 with a time of 4 hours, 51 minutes.
Uglow and her parents, Robert and Kathryne Louzek, lived in Monterey in 1999 and 2000 during the 30 years Robert Louzek was in the Navy. “The runners in the family decided it would be fun to go back for a visit and run the marathon,” Kathryne Louzek said.
Uglow was joined in the race by her father and husband, Drew. The race started in Big Sur and ended in Carmel Valley. “I love this picture that was taken near the finish because you can see the sign that says 26 miles to Big Sur,” her mother said.
Uglow was 5 weeks old when she was diagnosed with what’s currently known as developmental dislocation or dysplasia of the hip. She endured various treatments over the years, from being in a harness as a baby to wearing casts and using crutches or a wheelchair as a child.
Uglow, 28, stayed as active as her condition allowed as a child, then decided in recent years to run as her father does. She started with the Army 10-Miler in October 2010, and figured if she could do that, she could run a half-marathon.
When she finished a 13-mile race the next spring, she thought, why not a full marathon? Her first was the Marine Corps Marathon in October 2011. Read the earlier story on Uglow, which ran in the Healthy Living section.
Kristie and Jacey Hurst, who has a condition called Williams syndrome. Photo by Reza Marvashti
Kristie Hurst believes everything happens in life for a reason, and never has that belief been more apparent than with the birth of her daughter.
“I feel like she overcame quite a few obstacles to be here,” Hurst said about her baby girl. “There’s got to be a reason.”
Hurst had her tubes tied after her second child was born, then got the surprise of her life almost eight years later.
That’s when she became pregnant with Jacey, who was born on Aug. 27, 2010.
Medical websites differ on how often women conceive after tubal ligation, or having their fallopian tubes tied. Some say the method is 99 percent effective in preventing pregnancies. Others say it can fail two to 10 times per 1,000 women, depending on how the procedure was done.
The pregnancy was the first of several shockers for Hurst and her husband, Johnnie, who live in Unionville in Orange County.
Hurst, now 38, learned the day she came home from the hospital with Jacey that she’d lost her job with a community agency.
Soon after Jacey was born, Hurst, who has two older sons, Philip, 18, and Johnnie, 10, noticed that “something wasn’t right” with Jacey, but couldn’t identify the problem.
That “something” later was identified as Williams syndrome, a genetic issue caused when part of a chromosome is deleted during conception.
In most cases, the child with Williams syndrome is the only one in the extended family to have it, according to the Williams Syndrome Association.
The syndrome causes various types of cardiovascular disease, including some so severe, open-heart surgery is required. It also includes a range of developmental issues, learning disabilities and problems with eating and hearing, kidneys and hernias.
Now 20 months old, Jacey has pulmonary stenosis, narrowing of the artery from her heart to her lungs, which causes shortness of breath. She’s had surgery to correct the way her eyes turn in, and her mother suspects she has issues with depth perception.
Hurst has met a lot of health-care providers who never heard of the syndrome, so she’s doing what she can to educate others.
“I feel inadequate trying to explain Williams syndrome because I don’t understand it myself,” the mother said. “But I just have to feel like I’m doing something for her.”
Read the full story about the Hursts in Sunday’s Healthy Living section.
Jacey Hurst
ABOUT THE EVENT
This is the third year for Williams Syndrome Association Week, May 5–13. Hurst has organized the first local observation, planned Saturday, May 12, at the Ron Rosner YMCA pavillion in Spotsylvania County.
The event begins at noon and includes face painting, picnic lunch, a raffle and a walk. The Williams Syndrome Association will provide free t-shirts to registered walkers.
The cost is $15 per person or $40 for a family of four. More information is available at walk4williams.org or 800/806-1871.
The Heritage Shrine Club is sponsoring a free screening clinic to evaluate children with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries and cleft lips and palates.
The clinic will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 12 at the Orthopedic Specialty Clinic, 2800 Wellford St., No. 100, in Fredericksburg.
Shriners Hospitals for Children provide ongoing treatment for youngsters with various issues. Screening clinics are open to any child, no matter the parent’s financial situation, said Allen Clark, president of the Heritage Shrine Club.
At the screenings, a physician reviews the child’s medical status, takes X–rays as needed, consults the parents and makes recommendations to the Shriners hospital. This is done without cost to the parents.
Burn victims and those needing orthopedic treatments may be treated for their entire childhoods, Clark said. Prosthetic devices are fitted and refitted, and children regularly need minor spinal adjustments.
The nearest hospitals are in Greenville, S.C., and Philadelphia, but the local club has patients traveling to four other hospitals. Transportation is offered by the Shrine Temple and may be by van or airplane.
Patients receive care until they’re cured or turn 18, or in rare cases even longer, Clark said.
The Heritage Shrine Club was formed in 1981 by Shriners in the counties of Caroline, King George and Westmoreland and the city of Fredericksburg who wanted a more local club. At the time, the closest one was in Tappahannock, Clark said.
Currently there are about 24 members, including a group of “Heritage Mini-Truckers” who ride mini tractor–trailers in local parades.
More information about the clinic is available by calling Clark at 540/273-0052 or emailing him at allen.r.clark@gmail.com.
Cathy Dyson covers King George County government for The Free Lance-Star. She also writes about interesting people and places in the region. See accompanying blog.
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