The little town of Charlottesville and its 45,000 people are nestled far from the bustling capital city only two hours north.But do not be deceived by the peaceful rolling hills, cattle farms and roadside fruit markets on the way into this small borough.
The daily challenges of life - broken elevators, broken-down cars, broken dreams - test the willpower of anybody, anywhere.
Welcome to "Survivor: Charlottesville," where seven random people from this seemingly quaint town will be put through the most rigorous trials of life. Every five days, one contestant will be voted out of the community, perhaps for a lack of compatibility with the group, waning strength or failed strategy.
After 38 days in the community, who will walk away with the million dollars?
On fire
Charlottesville resident Mary Douglas' eight and a half years of experience with law enforcement might give her an early lead in "Survivor." Through a series of incidents with her first car, a Ford Gran Turino, Douglas showed innovation and determination, which makes her a strong candidate.
"I was very proud of the vehicle because it was all mine, all $400 of it," Douglas says.
Douglas, who currently works at Brady-Bushey Ford in Pantops, kept what she called the "big tin can" for four or five years.
CLASS="article--image" BORDER="0"> [ CLICK FOR FULL SIZE ]
|
"Did I miss it?" she asks. "No, not when it caught on fire."
One day while pulling into her apartment complex, Douglas discovered her engine was on fire.
"I didn't know what to put it out with, so I went and got some milk," she says. "Then I went and got salt. I mean it was flaming. All I had was salt."
Douglas' quick thinking and ability to use whatever materials are on hand will allow her to deal with the surprises and challenges of "Survivor: Charlottesville." Look for her through round three, at least.
Facing fears
At first glance, Charlottesville resident Katie Kiva might seem an unlikely challenger because of her fear of elevators. But will elevator-riding show up as a challenge in "Survivor: Charlottesville?"
"I was stuck in an elevator when I was small," Kiva says. "I was really, really small and my sister and I were playing 'Charlie's Angels' in the elevator, and we kept riding up and down and it got stuck. We were in there for 30 minutes."
Even at a young age - still too small to use the phone - Kiva vaguely recalls pressing the alarm button for help, which displays her quick thinking and survival impulse.
As an employee at the downtown Wachovia building, Kiva also has been forced to confront her fear and ride the elevator at work.
But if she has a choice, she said, "I take the stairs."
Most valuable player
All contestants on "Survivor: Charlottesville" will be allowed one personal item. In previous series, competitors have brought toothbrushes, sun block or a photo from home.
| "> |
CLASS="article--image" BORDER="0"> [ CLICK FOR FULL SIZE ]
|
Downtown Mall street musician Bennie Dodd might be able to build support by bringing his guitar as his personal item. With entertainment, he may be able to secure allied forces with his fellow contestants and avoid being voted off.
Dodd cites a diverse group of musicians as his major influences, which could appease any of the other competitors.
"George Jones, Roy Orbison and the Beatles. A little bit of Elvis. Fifties Elvis, not Vegas Elvis," Dodd says. "I like a lot of bluegrass people too - Ricky Scaggs, more on the traditional side."
While fellow musician Jeff Cheers wants Dodd to bring home the million, their band, the Bennie Dodd Trio will miss their lead singer and headliner sorely if he endures the full 38-day challenge.
The seasoned traveler
Mary Farrington, who has been an Amtrak employee for 22 years, has experience as a traveler that might make her an excellent contestant. With her ability to adapt to different situations, to eat in unfamiliar locations and handle the downtime during the show, she may lead the pack. On one of the many journeys she has made throughout her life, Farrington took a service award trip that started in Richmond, continued to Washington, D.C., and ended in Portland, Ore., by way of Chicago, Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia.
Drawing on her experience with long train rides, Farrington developed a multitude of strategies to deal with downtime.
"I'll read or sometimes do needlepoint, but mostly I like to go to the lounge car and sit and talk to everyone," Farrington says. "I'm a real social-type person. I like talking to everyone and seeing where they're going, where they're from. That's what makes the trip a lot of fun."
The candlestick maker
And then there is the independent small businessman, Shalom Lord, who inherited the family candle-making business from a relative while she was on her deathbed.
That company, Harmony Lights, has been in his family for 25 years, and Lord has continued it for the last eight years.
The inspirations for his designs come from objects as commonplace as his household lampshades. Lord hand-paints pillar candles to glow from the inside when lighted.
Other innovations include using the edge of a hot iron to carve shapes into globe candles.
"I use an iron just like your mother probably uses on clothing," Lord says.
He also hand molds wax into candles shaped as apples, oranges and pears, which he then paints in bright colors. The ability to use objects at hand will no doubt be of value to him in "Survivor." But will the other members of the group appreciate his artistic wax-molding talents, or will he be one of the first to have his torch extinguished?
The aspiring hero
Fourth-year College student James Sorrels may be able to play the innocent role while orchestrating crucial alliances with other teammates - blocking him from being voted off. He can imitate with fervor the heroics of the child-king Arthur from his favorite Disney movie, "The Sword in the Stone," and can use this to his advantage.
CLASS="article--image" BORDER="0"> [ CLICK FOR FULL SIZE ]
Sneak Review employee James Sorrel expounds on his favorite movie.
|
"It's about a kid who everyone underestimates and then he's the one who turns out to pull the sword from the stone, and no one else can do it," Sorrels says. On "Survivor: Charlottesville," Sorrels says, "Yeah, I want to be him."
Sorrels' sophisticated taste also has led to a boycott of the Academy Awards.
"'Fargo' is my favorite movie, and William H. Macy is so good in that movie," Sorrels says. "I was excited about the awards, but when Cuba Gooding Jr. won for 'Jerry Maguire' I was just like, 'I can never watch the Oscars again.' So I really haven't."
Obviously once Sorrels' respect is lost, it is irretrievable. Fellow contestants must beware of his power to hold a grudge, even in fun.
And the winner is...
But the clear favorite for the final challenger of "Survivor: Charlottesville" would have to be veteran firefighter Clinton Wingfield. Wingfield, who started his career in firefighting in 1966 while in the Air Force, has been a firefighter in Charlottesville for 30 years.
"It just kind of gets in your blood, I guess," Wingfield says.
Wingfield will no doubt be able to apply his rescue personnel skills to the harsh tests of Charlottesville's "Survivor."
Unusual for a firefighter, however, those skills do not include sliding down a fire pole to the trucks.
"The closest pole I can think of is over in Harrisonburg," says Merlin Stewart, Wingfield's fellow firefighter. Wingfield added that they usually just use the stairs.
Firefighters also are famous for dealing with animals, especially dogs.
CLASS="article--image" BORDER="0"> [ CLICK FOR FULL SIZE ]
Veteran firefighter Clifton Wingfield shares his experiences with the Charlottesville Fire Department.
|
"We had a stray dog come one day, an Old English shepherd. We advertised for him and all, and nobody ever came to get him so we took him to get his shots," Wingfield says. "He was with us for a long time. He was really good with the kids. Then a really bad accident happened one day, and he got hit by a fire truck. We've got him buried in the front yard."
Although fire station dogs no longer have a home in this particular station, they are remembered as coach dogs, and, as Wingfield joked, for their ability to find the fire hydrants.
Wingfield also has extensive experience dealing with the children who come to visit the fire station.
"The most common question kids ask is, 'Have you ever saved anybody?'" Wingfield says. "A lot of them are scared of the noise, the younger kids especially - when we ask them if they want to sit in the truck, they say no."
Between his survival skills and his ability to get along even with animals and children, Wingfield is sure to win the challenges and get the Tribal Council votes to win the Survivor prize.
Just in time to retire.
Read More
Baseball is for everyone
By Xander Tilock | 2 hours agoGo corral some friends, make your way to a ballpark and experience America's pastime, just as millions do every year.
Carter Mountain Orchard is the apple of customers’ eyes
By Charley Thomas | June 5, 2024Serving up sunsets, music and more apple delicacies than one could ever wish for, Carter Mountain Orchard deserves a spot on every University student's bucket list.
How recent graduates connected with nature through hiking
By Carly Stender | May 27, 2024Van Heyningen encouraged students returning to Grounds this fall to take advantage of all the hikes Charlottesville and its surrounding areas have to offer.
