Temperatures were on a roller-coaster this week, going from 76 degrees on Wednesday to a snow-covered Thursday. Here an early spring arrival – grape hyacinth – pokes through the blanket of March snow. The light snow was a reminder that 33 years ago the region was battling feet of snow during the so-called “Storm of the Century.”
Folk legend Judy Collins is set to play the Millwald on April 3.
Folk legend Judy Collins has played many of the biggest and most famous venues in the world.
On April 3, she will grace the stage of Wytheville’s own Millwald Theatre.
During a phone interview from New York on March 10, the 86-year-old singer said she could not recall if she had ever previously visited Southwest Virginia. However, she is eager to perform in Wytheville, knowing that the Appalachian Mountains are home to the English, Scottish and Irish ballads she fell in love with at a very young age.
Collins, who has played piano since she was 5 years old, was captivated early on by folk songs that originated in the region because of the stories they tell.
“I was very lucky to be exposed to all of that when I was growing up and also when I joined the Denver Folklore Society in 1955,” she recalled. “I was privileged to hear all of these wonderful artists perform all of these wonderful songs.”
Her debut album arrived in November 1961. More than six decades later, her most recent release — in 2022 — became the first album of her career consisting entirely of her own compositions.
At 86, Collins says she still has virtually the same voice she had when she was around 20 years old. While grateful for that gift, she credits the voice teacher with whom she worked from 1965 until his death in 1997: the legendary Max Margulies, whose pupils included Sir Laurence Olivier.
“On his deathbed, he told me not to worry about anything except clarity and phrasing,” she said. “He taught me the bel canto method of singing that most Italians use.”
Bel canto, which means “beautiful singing,” emphasizes technical precision, breath control and sustained vocal agility.
“There are so many singers who have lost their voices because they didn’t know what to do to sustain them,” she noted. “I know what to do because Max taught me.”
Throughout her long career, Collins has covered many of the most important songwriters in the music business, from Bob Dylan to Paul McCartney and John Lennon. Her Grammy Award-winning recording of Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now” became her most famous Top 10 hit and continues to bring tears to the eyes of devoted listeners.
Yet despite her many accomplishments, Collins does not consider any one achievement more important than another.
“Everything I’ve ever done has been important — good and bad,” Collins said. “Each accomplishment is a link to where I am now and who I am. It’s all helped shape me and my career.”
She has also been present at significant moments in American history, testifying during the trial of the Chicago Seven and singing during the peace marches of 1968 in protest of the Vietnam war. Still, Collins does not view these historic moments as her greatest achievements. Instead, she believes in staying focused on the present.
“Each morning that I’m able to wake up and sing and practice for my shows,” she said, “that is my biggest accomplishment. What matters is the here and now.”
Collins has experienced profound loss in her life, including the passing of her husband of 46 years and the loss of a child. Though these tragedies brought unimaginable pain, she says her instinct for survival has always been rooted in humility and gratitude.
“Every morning that you’re able to wake up and breathe and think,” she said, “that is worthy of gratitude. It is most important for us to be grateful and thankful for everything that we have.”
It is that gratitude, Collins says, that has been the greatest lesson of her rich personal and professional life.
“We must hold on to those who are with us in our lives this very moment and be grateful for their love,” she concluded. “We can’t do anything about the absence of those who are no longer with us. So we have to keep moving forward and get the best out of every moment we have in our lives.”
Judy Collins will bring her folk repertoire of more than 70 years of unforgettable songs to the Millwald Theatre in Wytheville on Friday, April 3, at 7:30 p.m. A limited number of tickets are still available, including exclusive VIP meet-and-greet packages.
To purchase tickets, visit https://ci.ovationtix.com/36798/production/1258358?performanceId=11724985 or call the Millwald Theatre box office at 276-284-2958.
A packed town hall erupted in applause on Monday, March 9, when council voted 3-2 to back a long-discussed splash pad to be located on the old bleacher site at Withers Park.
Two sites were up for consideration: The old bleacher site preferred by the community group Salt and Light, which first raised the possibility of a splash pad in town, and a site adjacent to McWane Pool. Both options came with drawbacks, though. The old bleacher site is located in a flood zone and carries a $3 million-plus price tag. The pool option would require demolition to the kiddie pool, which would bring an extra costs. Without demolition added in, though, the pool option carries a price tag of around $1.5 million and has existing bathrooms.
Council member Candice Johnson made the motion to proceed with the first option, saying “I want to provide something nice for the children in our community.”
Some of those children had made their voices heard earlier in the meeting, advocating for a splash pad. Other community members, too, took to the podium to back plans for a splash pad, pointing out the health, safety and economic benefits associated.
Council also discussed the availability of grants for the project, including a potential $1.4 million grant from the US Park Service that would pay for half the project.
Town Manager Chris Slemp said council must take some kind of action to land the funding, adding that environmental studies would need to be done by the end of the month and that the award would likely be in the early fall.
During citizen’s time, Wythe-Bland Foundation CEO Travis Jackson highlighted some other grant opportunities, including from the Tobacco Commission, adding that it’s important for the community to invest in itself.
Still, council member Joseph Hand argued, grants don’t fully cover the cost of any project.
“There is a large bill for taxpayers at the end of this,” Hand said, pointing to millions of dollars of infrastructure bills staring down the town.
“How are we paying for it?” he asked, adding that he would not raise taxes on people in town for a splash pad.
Hand said the town is over budget significantly - $3 million over this year alone - and is facing significant infrastructure costs. He said that taxes will go up if council doesn’t stop spending money, adding that earlier in the day officials had had a discussion about how council has been responsible.
“We cannot afford everything that we want,” Hand said.
Hand also questioned why the town should pick the option that costs double the other, saying he was confused as to why they couldn’t compromise on that option. The more-expensive, flood-prone site doesn’t make sense, Hand said.
In the end, council voted 3-2 to move forward on the first option. Hand vowed to hold the three yes votes accountable for how the town will pay for the project and not increase taxes.
Sheriff Anthony Cline recently announced the launch of CONFIRM OK, an automated telephone wellness check system designed to help protect senior citizens in Wythe County who live alone. The program is made possible through grant funding secured by Cline, allowing it to be provided free of charge to seniors.
This program provides a simple but important daily check-in to help ensure the safety and well-being of those who may not have family, friends, or neighbors nearby to check on them regularly.
Registered participants receive an automated phone call from the sheriff each day at a specified time. Once the call is answered, the participant hears a recorded message with simple instructions to confirm they are safe by pressing a key on their phone. If the call goes unanswered after three attempts, a deputy, on in the town of Wytheville a WPD officer, will be dispatched to the residence to check on the individual’s welfare.
“Far too often we respond to calls where an elderly or disabled resident has fallen and can’t reach a phone,” said Cline. “Sometimes they remain there for hours or even days before anyone realizes something is wrong. CONFIRM OK gives seniors daily safety checks and provides peace of mind for families who care about them.”
Applications can be completed in person at the Wythe County Sheriff’s Office during normal business hours (Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays). Family members, friends, or neighbors may recommend the program; however, applications must be completed and signed by the participant.
