Virginia
Hollywood legend, local ‘down home’ neighbor: Robert Duvall remembered at Northern Virginia restaurant – WTOP News
Locals at a Virginia cafe remember Oscar-winning actor Robert Duvall as a humble regular known for his kindness and love of comfort food.
Actor Robert Duvall, the Oscar‑winning star of films including “Tender Mercies” and “The Godfather,” died at the age of 95 at his home in Middleburg, Virginia, on Sunday.
At a small cafe in Fauquier County, the memories of the late actor are flowing as easily as the conversations he used to spark there.
In Marshall, Virginia, the Hollywood giant was known worldwide, but to locals he was simply a familiar face who often stopped in the Old Salem Cafe for comfort food and good company.
Donna Armstrong, the cafe’s co‑owner, said Duvall often came in for lunch with the people who worked on his farm.
“He used to come in there with his farm hand with and treat him to lunch. Very kind man,” Armstrong said.
She recalled the first time she approached him for a photo, and how easy it was to strike up a conversation about local people and history.
“We talked about some of the locals and some of the things that have happened in the past. Some of the things that he knew, I can’t really discuss them, but he knew a lot, that’s for sure,” Armstrong said with a chuckle.
“The first time I wanted to go approach him, I was like, ‘is he the type that you can go up and approach and ask to have a photo with?’ And absolutely, he was. He was amazing,” Armstrong added.
One memory that stood out for Armstrong was when Duvall wanted to meet Henry Green, an orchard owner in Hume, Virginia, who lived to be 103.
“Robert Duvall was like, ‘I would really like to meet that man.’ And I thought, now this is really something,” Armstrong said.
She arranged the meeting, and said Green was thrilled.
“Oh, my goodness, Mr. Green was so excited that he got to meet Robert Duvall and shake his hand,” Armstrong said.
Despite his fame, Armstrong said Duvall never acted like a celebrity.
“Most of the time, if you met a movie star or somebody as big as Robert Duvall, you’d be nervous. No, it was not like that at all,” Armstrong said.
She remembered how approachable he was when she worked up the nerve to ask for a photo.
When asked about Duvall’s favorite orders, Armstrong said he liked the Reuben, patty melt, and hamburger steak — “just your normal comfort food.”
She also recalled his quiet generosity, including when he took part in a fundraiser several years ago to held to help a chef that was ill.
“He was a generous man,” Armstrong said.
The news of Duvall’s death, she said, devastated their cafe family.
“I couldn’t believe it … it was devastating. It was hard,” Armstrong said.
For Armstrong, Duvall’s legacy is simple: one of humility and kindness.
“Just your regular, down home guy that was rich and famous,” she said.
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“I didn’t know I could go that fast,” Richard Delcid, the general manager of a Domino’s Pizza in Manassas, told WTOP.
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‘I didn’t know I could go that fast’: Virginia pizza maker breaks record
A general manager of a Domino’s Pizza in Manassas, Virginia, won the chain’s “World’s Fastest Pizza Maker” competition this month.
Richard Delcid prepared a pepperoni pizza, mushroom pizza and cheese pizza for the oven in 31.22 seconds.
“I didn’t know I could go that fast,” Delcid told WTOP.
“Eight seconds better than the previous record,” Robert Donner, one of the owners of the Domino’s on Centreville Road, said.
The competitors at the May 13 Las Vegas event came from Domino’s locations around the world, and Donner said the competition is about more than speed.
“They’re judged by weight, they’re judged by portion, and they’re judged on whether they’re sellable to a customer,” Donner said.
When Delcid first started working for Domino’s in 2012, he was a teenager. He was much slower then, he joked.
As with anything, practice makes perfect.
“We record ourselves during practices,” Delcid said. “We dissect videos, we look at body movement, hand movement, everything.”
Delcid was not alone in Vegas. Donner, who is part owner of more than 30 Domino’s Pizza locations in Virginia and Maryland, brought dozens of employees to the event.
Coming in second at the competition was another member of Donner’s team.
Joe Burr, who is known as “Domino Joe,” is the local director of training, and calls himself the Dan Marino of the Domino’s World’s Fastest Pizza Maker competition.
“I’ve won third place a couple times, I’ve won second place like three or four times,” Burr said. “So I’m like always a bridesmaid, but never a bride.”
Don’t let Burr’s jokes fool you — he has known Delcid for a long time and is very proud of him.
“I like to say it’s not the sculptor, it’s the clay. Richard is the best clay,” Burr said.
Along with a championship belt and a trophy, Delcid’s record‑breaking performance earned him $5,000 from Domino’s Pizza corporate, and his local bosses kicked in another $5,000.
Virginia
Netflix casting Central Virginia singles for “Love on the Spectrum” after Danville man joins show
DANVILLE, Va. (WSET) — Netflix is searching for singles in Central Virginia to appear on its documentary-style dating series “Love on the Spectrum,” after a Danville man was cast for an upcoming season and producers are now looking to find his match.
The series follows adults on the autism spectrum as they navigate dating.
Monica Karavanic, executive director of The Arc of Southside in Danville, said the person cast has ties to her organization.
SEE ALSO: City leaders tour $100M Lynchburg CSO tunnel aimed at improving Lynchburg waterways
“This show has been loved by millions internationally and so for it to come to Danville is pretty awesome and we’re just really excited and hoping to make it work,” Karavanic said.
Casting is focused on singles ages 25 to 40, of any gender, who live near Danville or Lynchburg and would be interested in going on a date with a man on the spectrum. Producers say the time commitment could be as little as half a day.
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For more information on how to apply, you’re asked to email: production@northernpictures.com.au
RICHMOND, Va. — Friday will be sunny and seasonably warm, with highs in the upper 70s and low 80s.
The pattern of cool nights and mild afternoons will continue through the weekend and through much of next week as upper-level flow continues to bring reinforcing mild and dry air out of eastern Canada.
Rain chances will be very limited over the next week, with only a slim chance with a frontal passage on Monday.
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