The Vets Are In
From a café table, they o er comfort, support to one another Sammy Smith of Smithfield walks almost daily at Johnston Medical Mall. But it wasn’t until this past Veteran’s Day that he decided to stop and speak with the Vietnam veteran he had often seen sitting at Dylan’s Café. “I went up to his table to thank him for his service,” says Smith, also a veteran. “We started talking, found out we both served in the Army, and now we’re friends.” Ho man, a Selma resident, works out at HealthQuest most days. But every Friday, he and a friend, Phil Ritter of Clayton, meet at the café to eat and drink co ee. Both wear their military caps to draw veterans over to their table and to start a conversation. After introductions, most ask Ho man if he’s getting help from the Veteran’s Administration. And that’s his cue to o er info and assistance with applying for benefits. If needed, he drives vets to appointments in Durham where the V.A. has its o ces. At 19, Ho man was an Army combat soldier tasked with keeping his unit safe. For years after his tour, he su ered with post-traumatic stress disorder. He got help and disability benefits. But even after years of one-on-one and group counseling, he still has his moments. Building relationships and helping other vets is a form of therapy, he says. In a way, he’s still watching out for fellow soldiers. And he’s troubled that so many vets, an average of 20 per day, take their own lives.
From left, military veterans Sammy Smith of Smithfield, Paul Ho man of Selma and Phil Ritter of Clayton meet Fridays at Dylan’s Café to meet and support others.
“Whether or not we want to admit it, we’ve all had thoughts of suicide,” Ho man adds. “We must help one another. So we’re here for emotional support. We don’t judge. We know what to do.” Smith says he and Ho man keep an eye on other walkers at the medical mall, too. They’re the first to help if they see someone who needs assistance. And both like that they feel safe with security o cers rounding, health professionals close by and an AED (automatic defibrillator) on the wall. “The medical mall is a good place for people to gather,” Smith adds. “People need stimulation, especially those who are home alone. It’s just good for people in general.”
MEDICAL MALL NOTABLES
Original tenant remembers CEO’s pitch Mary Barnette, manager of Johnston Medical and Surgical Supply, may be the medical mall’s on-site historian. She remembers the day when hospital administrator Leland Farnell invited her to his o ce, laid out his vision for the shuttered spinning mill, and asked if she might be interested in renting space. “It was easy for us to commit because
A suite for feet What better fit than a podiatrist for the medical mall, where many people get in their daily steps? Six rounds make a mile. And along the way, you can stop for suggested exercises, designated by signs. Dr. Bessaliea Gri n of Footprint Podiatry opened her practice 13 years ago in suite 1610. In addition to treating minor things such as ulcers and ingrown toenails, she also does surgery for conditions such as bunions and hammertoes.
Mr. Farnell was so earnest and the endeavor was so great,” says Barnette, also a former hospital employee. “His vision for this building was amazing.” She tells the story of how a salvage business o ered thousands of dollars for the building’s maple floors. But Farnell insisted on keeping them and with the embedded metal shavings intact. Through the years, the shavings had fallen from the machinery during the spinning process and, over time, workers ground them into the wood with their shoes. “Mr. Farnell wanted people to know the mill’s history, to envision how the employees worked and to appreciate their value,” she says.
New chef on the mall Chef Erin Belcher whips up soups, salads, sandwiches and desserts at Dylan’s Unique Gifts & Catering. While in the café, customers can also shop for jewelry, shirts, and other items.
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