A publication of the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives

COOPERATIVE FOCUS

Making The Cut

Making The Cut

Mercer’s passion for rocks and gemstones began as a child. He says one of his earliest memories is taking an empty chocolate candy box that his father gave his mother for Valentine’s Day, and filling it instead with colorful rocks found in his Cape Cod, Mass., hometown.

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Where There’s Smoke, There’s Opportunity

Where There’s Smoke, There’s Opportunity

Botetourt is planning to hold the Girls’ Fire Camp again this year at Lord Botetourt High School in Daleville to inform kids, especially young girls, about the option of a future career in fire rescue, and possibly to get parents interested in volunteering or becoming career employees.

Zooming into Music

Zooming into Music

Northern Virginia artist opens the door to competition for budding talents MARCH 2022 by Laura Emery, Staff Writer Like the graceful dancers that pirouette daily on the floors of the Virginia National Ballet studios in Manassas, Va., life sometimes requires a little...

Reflections of Light and Color

Reflections of Light and Color

Patricia Brennan’s artistic path didn’t run straight to the beautiful stained-glass windows she has been creating for years. Along the way, she tried her hand at various forms of art. “I was interested in learning how to make something that I could make a living from,” says Brennan.

Casting a Line

Casting a Line

BARC Electric Cooperative member Rick Robbins of Lexington, Va., can’t remember a time when he failed to enjoy fishing. “There’s a photo of me fishing when I was four. I’m 76 now, so that’s 72 years of fishing,” he says.

Welding Steel into Art

Welding Steel into Art

Some students are lucky enough to land in a class taught by a truly inspiring teacher. That happened to Albert “Buck” Doughty when he enrolled at Eastern Shore Community College in Melfa, Va., and signed up for a welding class taught by Lewis Shields.

Keeping Her Eye On the Ball

Keeping Her Eye On the Ball

November/December 2021Now she's grand marshal of a parade she once watched Growing up in tiny Palmer Springs, Va., Odicci Alexander remembers how she excitedly attended Christmas parades in nearby South Hill, an annual tradition in Southside Virginia. This year will...