Loose Leaf Notes

-The following first appeared in The Floyd Press on October 24, 2019.

There is an actual cabin at the Cabin Fever Charity events on Coles Knob Road along Terry’s Fork creek.  It’s the home of event founders, Rob and Whitney Maddox. The couple have been hosting benefits that feature the best in local musical talent on their property for seven years. Started as a way to memorialize Kevin Dodson, a loved one who passed away in 2012, the Cabin Fever events are also fundraisers for good causes.

“We had about 60 people come out the first year for Kevin, so we said, let’s just keep it going and work for good causes,” Rob Maddox said. He estimated about 200 came out for last year’s event and Saturday’s Fall Fling looked to match or top that number.

In year’s past, the Maddoxes raised money for Saint Francis Service Dogs, a non-profit organization out of Roanoke that raises, trains, and places service dogs. This year their “good cause” is raising money for the Floyd County Humane Society’s (FCHS) building fund. The society is currently renting limited kennel space to hold animals that are waiting for adoption, and they aren’t able to get government grants or financial assistance without a brick and mortar location. All proceeds from a raffle, a silent and live auction, a coffee bar and food tent, merchandise and donations will go directly to the FCHS building fund.

“There’s going to be dogs,” Maddox said at the check in gate.  Cabin Fever is not only a dog-friendly event, dogs are encouraged to come. “Bring your dog across Ellie Mae’s rainbow bridge (a footbridge that crosses Terry’s Fork onto the Maddox property) and a $25 donation will be made in your honor,” the event press release read.

One attendee joked, “I haven’t see a cat, unless it’s up a tree.”  But FCHS board member Carol Moates said the society has brought cat rescues – kept in cages in a separate part of the event site – to past Cabin Fevers.

Moates was walking a rescue dog looking to be adopted with her husband Tom and Amy Helm.  Helm, who does weekend fostering for the FCHS, was walking a cocker spaniel named Milky Way.  Moates explained that the society really needs people who will foster the dogs that are kept in cages while waiting to be adopted, or even just take them for walks. “It can make or break a dog’s personality,” she said, adding that the organization needs volunteers of all kinds and is hoping for a donation of land.

Saturday’s partly sunny warm weather was a great backdrop to the early fall fun, where playing children were as plentiful as attendee lawn chairs and dogs on site.

Chris Link and Shane Edgell, formerly of the Deer Run Drifters, hit the Wish You Were Here stage just after noon.

The pair followed a “murder suicide drinking song” with a Link original about his family. “…I’m proud to be / from an old Baptist family / Daddy still works / My mamma prays / Me and my brothers are still rough around the edges / That’s just a trailer park family name /Damn sure take pride in your family name…”

Acts that followed also showcased original songwriting.  Junior Varsity featured Jodie Norton on mandolin and Will Norton playing guitar and singing his original songs, written in the tradition of honest/humorous storytelling.

After poking fun at everyone in a song about Floyd, Norton sang, “I’ve been living here long enough to know / there’s no place I’d rather be / But we still have a long way to go….”

Virginia Hollow features the original songwriting of Carrie Hinkley, described online as “mountain songs and stories of love, trust, betrayal and longing,” with Sue Winchester on stand-up bass and Dave Fason on guitar. The group performed a song that the band was named after “…Tears will fall on your pillow / at night when you’re alone / You can bring my favorite flowers / the ones from all roadsides / they only bloom in the springtime / down in Virginia Hollow….

Other acts that performed until after 10:00 included Paul Rilee, JAMS (Junior Appalachian musicians), Seph Custer, Cocobolo featuring original songs by Stella Bean and more.

Check out Cabin Fever’s Facebook page or visit their webpage to see how to donate to the FCHS building fund. To learn more about the work of Floyd’s Humane Society go HERE.

PHOTOS -1. The Maddox’s mountain cabin was the inspiration behind the name Cabin Fever and sits overlooking the event site. 2. Cabin Fever co-founder Rob Maddox and FCHS volunteer Mary Weeks at the event check-in. 3. A wood carving by Lanny Bean was one of the items auctioned off at the event. 4. Jackie and Roy Shipman brought their great dane name Zeus. 5. Kids at play at the family friendly event. 6. Members of FCHS walked dogs that need adoption. Pictured are FCHS board member Carol Moates (center) flanked by Tom Moates and Amy Helms. 7. A FCHS volunteer straightens a pastel painting that was painted and donated to the FCHS by artist Gretchen St. Lawrence for the fundraiser. 8. Sean Edgell on banjo and Chris Link on guitar perform a Link original song.  The pair invited guests on stage to sing with them during their set.  9. Will and Jody Norton are Junior Varsity. 10.  Virginia Hollow performs on the Wish You Were Here stage. 11. Veiw from the cabin porch. 12. Maddox’s dog Keeper, who spends a big part of his day in the creek.