Gift idea: Class in meat cutting

Desperate for last-minute inspirations for unique but affordable gifts? Here are a couple that might fit someone on your list, and will help two local small businesses. According to Jeb Bonnett, owner and master butcher at Jeb’s Corner Market, 15668 Carrollton Blvd., just across Chuckatuck Creek in Isle of Wight, most folks don’t know how to sharpen a knife. Jeb is offering a class in how to cut meat Tuesday nights at 7 p.m. Starting with blade sharpening, students move on to whole chickens, Boston butts, loins and chops. Jeb provides the material and space for hands-on practice. If you have a grill-master spouse aching for even greater expertise and prowess, Jeb’s class could be the ticket. Jeb only takes one or two students at a time, so call him at 238-7044 if you want to explore this option. Meanwhile, if someone has been talking about getting in shape, but hasn’t really taken that important first step, today is the last day Rodney Sanders at Godhap4Fitness, 3235 Bridge Road, is offering his holiday special: Five personal training sessions between Christmas and Feb. 29 valued at $200 are now $100. Email Rodney at godhap4fitness@aol.com or call 483-0263. Rodney is offering everyone some mid-holiday exercise - a free 90-minute fun class Dec. 31 at 8:30 a.m. It won’t burn off everything you shouldn’t have eaten, but it will make it easier to welcome in 2012.

Richmond artist and educator Kendra Wadsworth presented a Free Form Sculpture: Reuse and Recycle workshop at Nansemond River High School courtesy of the Suffolk Art League and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Twenty Suffolk students from the three high schools and Nansemond Suffolk Academy participated. Kendra’s primary medium is paint on canvas, but her contractor fiancé accumulated so much unique wiring in remodeling and demolition projects, she felt she needed to find a worthwhile, creative use for it. Kendra provided oodles of wire in a variety of sizes, fabric scraps, beads, buttons, earrings and baubles as well as assorted tools ranging from pliers to hot glue. Students each started with a rough sketch of a concept ranging from “plastic surgery gone wrong” to “fun with Finn” to an African Slave.

Similarly, Cecil Avery, agricultural education teacher at King’s Fork High School, teaches growing your own fruit and vegetables while converting salvaged material into useful items. “This class requires you to think and do. I can construct a great project out of something that was once seen as trash,” student Rashee Blount said. Ag-Ed students are building raised garden beds from used shipping pallets. This type of creative re-use allows students to view so many things with a less jaded eye and a greater resourcefulness that will last them a lifetime.

Michele Duncan’s marketing class at Nansemond River High School created holiday cards for NRHS soldier alumni William Hirsch and his fellow troops serving in Afghanistan. Each student made two cards for each soldier, and the class will continue supporting the troops throughout the year making cards for different holidays and occasions. It’s so nice *this is a continuing effort instead of a one-time blitz.

Merry Christmas! Contact me at k.billue@charter.net so I can spread your news.

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