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JAMES ISLAND, S.C. (WCIV) -- Going a small way is a big step for Staff Sgt. Scott Petrie.

The training prepares you for it but unfortunately sometimes you do get hurt," he said of his 19.5 years of military service.

At the end of the Marine's last tour in Afghanistan, Petrie got shot in the arm and the leg and received shrapnel wounds in the other leg. He knows what it means to sacrifice for the country.

I can't feel my foot, he said. I have my 100-percent disability.

After his injury, doctors told Scott and his wife Tiffany that they wouldn't be able to have kids. They used his down time to adopt Lelani and Nino. Two months later, they got pregnant on their own and had now-two-year-old Sawyer.

Now they say his injury was a blessing in disguise.

The father of three moved his growing family from North Carolina to James Island to be closer to the VA Medical Center in Charleston.

But the home wasn't perfect.

Lennar Homes of Charleston teamed with Operation Homefront to give the Petries their dream home.

The construction company put in all new floors and paved the gravel walkway out back, making it more accessible to the growing family and its four dogs.

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Disabled veteran and family get revamped home for the holidays

Two summer youth camps in the Allegheny Mountains and a coalfields railroad depot are among the 10 new entries to the Virginia Landmarks Registry.

The Virginia Department of Historic Resources added the historic sites to the register this month. The listings were forwarded to the National Park Service for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places.

Among the other entries: a cemetery for formerly enslaved African Americans, historically significant farms and homesteads and a school for black high school students.

Both summer youth camps are located in Bath County. Established near Bubbling Springs in 1917, Camp Alkulana is the oldest known and still operating summer camp in Virginia. The camp provided underprivileged girls a retreat in the Allegheny Mountains of western Virginia.

Camp Mont Shenandoah, founded in 1927, also still operates today, serving young women from across the U.S.

Tazewell Depot, built in 1928, still stands in the town of Tazewell, which now owns it. It is the last remaining depot of the 29 that once lined the 103-mile Clinch Valley Line between Bluefield, W.Va., and Norton, Va.

The other additions to the registry, with descriptions provided by the Department of Historic Resources, are:

The Newtown Cemetery, Harrisonburg. It was significant for its place in the development of the citys historically African-American community of Newtown. It arose soon after the Civil War. The cemetery, founded in 1869, contains the graves of 900, including community founders and veterans of wars including Vietnam.

Kenmore Farm, Amherst County. Established in 1856, the property features a Greek Revival-style main house. After the Civil War, the property included Kenmore University High School, which educated young men destined to attend the University of Virginia.

The site of the Buckingham Training School, near Dillwyn. The school, now demolished, was the only high school for young black boys and girls in Buckingham County from 1924 to 1954.

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Virginia Landmarks Registry grows with addition of 10 sites

CONCORD -- Spectators stand in front of Bruce Mertz's house in collective awe, rapt by the handcrafted, suspended Santa in his reindeer-led sleigh that arches over the entire expanse of a modest home that has been a holiday light show of splendor for families for 36 years. Some are on foot, others are doing the slow drive-by.

Amid the outbursts of amazement at just how one man designed, built and installed all this was a somewhat somber feeling, as adults and children alike knew this is the final year to experience the extravaganza. Back surgery, a heart attack, a pacemaker and an admonishment from his cardiologist to stay off ladders prompted Mertz -- aka "Mr. Christmas" -- to decide this year would be the swan song for now second- and third-generation families to witness his animated handiwork at the Olive Drive house. The last day for the display is Jan. 2.

On Tuesday night,8-month-old Ayden Neyman got his first view of the display featuring a multicolor twinkler overhead, crafted with piano wire, and 70 twinkling holy leaves around the yard's perimeter -- each leaf taking Mertz five days to build.

"It's all about Christmas," says the infant's mom, Paisley Newman, among the legion of Mertz's fans that over the years have come from as far as Germany and Japan. "It's nice to see someone do it consistently ... It's sad to see it go."

The circuitry of star bursts and the laser light show on the garage door, with its animated Santa and messages of good cheer, were among the elements designed by Mertz, a retired electrician and Air Force veteran. As a civilian, he once was charged with coordinating all radio and radar frequencies for the U.S. Navy for Northern California, Nevada and Utah.

"It's mostly the beautifulness of the display. It's all well-placed and symmetrical. It's not tacky," says Mertz, 85, while sitting in front of his closed-circuit TV observing the outside crowd, explaining the show's appeal. He estimates it draws roughly 300 viewers each night.

It is the chance to chat with Mr. Christmas -- typically clad in his festive red illuminated jacket, mingling with those on foot around his house, giving out postcard pictures of his lights and explaining the behind-the-scenes artistry -- that 12-year-old Natalie Payne said she will miss the most.

For her father, Tom Payne, it's been the "fun of finding new additions" to the vast array. "We'll have lots of good memories," he said.

Lifelong Concord resident Chris Sudfin relishes "feeling like a kid again" when standing in front of Mertz' unique take on holiday magic, all run on six timers that turn on at 6 p.m. and off at precisely 10.

"I don't know how he does it," said his daughter Addison, 8. "My favorite part is everything here."

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Concord: A 'Mr. Christmas' finale after 36 years

en and Bonnie Fletcher have once again heralded the holiday season with their fantastic display of lights at 15499 22 Ave.

image credit: Sarah Massah photo

With Christmas just around the corner, a number of residents have given their homes a holiday makeover to make spirits and their streets bright.

This year, there are returning favourites,including a number of homes that are raising funds for charity, and some new addresses that are all worth a visit.

In order to make the Christmas lights tour a bit easier to navigate, Peace Arch News has compiled a sampling of some of the holiday homes in and around the area.

So, grab your GPS, a scarf and some hot cocoa and get illuminated in the days ahead:

2958 147A St.: What began as a single, inflatable snowman in 2006 has turned into a front lawn chock-full of festive decor. Real estate agent Neil Higgins has told Peace Arch News in the past that favourite piece is his Home Depot stock car, modeled after the car NASCAR driver Tony Stewart used to drive.

15499 22 Ave.: Ken and Bonnie Fletcher have once again heralded the holiday season with their fantastic display of lights. In past years, the dizzying display has also included push-button toys in the familys decorated garage. Keeping with their tradition, the family will be collecting donations for Sources White Rock/South Surrey food bank.

16956 60A Ave.: The Kinna family in Cloverdale is back with their holiday display and will be collecting funds for the Surrey Memorial Hospital Foundation.

Cloverdales Karen Wagner and her family once again have their home decked out for the season and will be collecting donations for the Canadian Cancer Societys Relay For Life.The lights were officially switched on Dec. 1 the day Wagner lost her dad to cancer more than 35 years ago and will stay lit from 6-10 p.m. through Dec. 31 at 19056 63B Ave. Hot chocolate, coffee and candy canes will be available Friday to Sunday.

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Tis the season of light

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Published: Wednesday, December 24, 2014 at 1:00 a.m. Last Modified: Tuesday, December 23, 2014 at 7:36 p.m.

Animal ambulance ready to be filmed

On TV, hospital dramas and animal reality shows are popular. So why not combine them?

That apparently is the thinking behind a television producer's visit this weekend to the Vet Care Express Animal Ambulance in Manatee County.

Jon Schroder, co-creator of the National Geographic Channel's "The Incredible Dr. Pol" TV series, and a crew will work Friday though Monday to film the veterinary ambulance service, according to a news release.

Schroder and crew will create a "sizzle reel" that shows Vet Care Express Animal Ambulance in action and present it to National Geographic, Animal Planet, Discovery Channel and other prospects, trying to interest them in a series or other project.

Venture capital conference set

Companies have until Dec. 30 to apply to participate in the 2015 Florida Venture Capital Conference.

The event is held by the Florida Venture Forum. The conference allows mid-to-later-stage, Florida-based companies to make pitches to investors and venture capitalists.

The conference, scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Jan. 29 to 2 p.m. Jan. 30, also will include workshops, panel discussions, networking opportunities and "access to industry thought-leaders with many of Florida's top companies," according to a Venture Forum statement.

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Business buzz: Animal ambulance filming; Venture capital conference; Manasota Flooring honored

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