“It’s hard being a mom to a child who can’t communicate his love to me verbally or physically, yet the joy in that kid—it changes me.”

Life can change without warning. Both the tragic and fortuitous can reshape a life, and yet it is in these moments that traits such as love and hope are forged. For Robin Foutz, a moment such as this was ushered in by a seemingly innocuous tap on her door.

A warm and waning afternoon in 2012 played itself out much like any other. As dusk approached, brothers Josh and Elisha set out for a quick joy ride on their bikes as their mom Robin pulled together stories for Bible Pictionary. Foutz quickly wrote down stories such as Adam and Eve, Moses, and Noah but when she arrived at Abraham and Isaac something impressed upon her to delve further into the story. She describes the simple synopsis that resulted from her Google search, saying, “Abraham [had] unwavering and unshakable faith that God would raise up his son.” This description left an impression on her thoughts, which were disrupted by a knock on the door—an interruption bringing the news that would change the Foutzes forever—Elisha, only age 12, had been struck by a car.

Foutz recounts, “Nate got there before I did…He was kneeling over Elisha, who had been lying in his own blood. It was surreal…”
Nate Foutz had the foresight to instruct his new wife not to come any closer in an attempt to protect her from his fear that Elisha would not survive the encounter.

Robin continues, “I don’t know why I listened; I’m his mommy… but I turned around, looked at the sky, and said, ‘God, I trust you!’”

Elisha did survive those first frenzied moments and was taken by ambulance to the hospital. Upon arrival, the healthcare team worked feverishly to save him. Foutz remembers, “I still couldn’t bring myself to…look at him, but I stayed nearby and prayed constantly…” Somewhere in the blur of time that followed came word that Elisha was stable but in critical condition; he would require treatment from a more specialized hospital.

Robin whispered loving affection into Elisha’s ear just before the doors closed and his helicopter ascended. Robin and her family would be following by car; she explains, “As I sat there, in the car, driving, I felt I needed to remind God of His word [the Bible]…but it was more that I needed to be reminded. I just kept saying, ‘You’re a God of redemption and healing… I trust you.’” Robin describes that at that moment something supernatural overcame her, “A blanket of comfort came over me, and I remembered the story of Abraham that I had just been reading: ‘…God would raise up his son’.” As she approached the Pediatric ICU, she encountered Nate and immediately shared with him her newfound confidence. To both of their surprise, Nate had also been filled with the same inexplicable sense that Elisha would not only live but be healed.

Robin laughs as she describes the next part of their journey: “God had prepared us in advance, giving us peace and confidence… [and] day in and day out, we just had to hold on to it.” Arriving at UVA that evening would only be the beginning of Elisha’s journey. The shaken family would fight constantly against doubt in times that seemed all but hopeless, and they would cling to their resolve during the seemingly endless silence from Elisha, who had yet to open his eyes.

Because of the shearing his brain had endured, Elisha would face ever increasing intracranial pressure that his treatment team fought desperately to control. This reality proved impossible without drastic interventions. Robin had to make an immediate decision for a craniotomy, meaning part of Elisha’s skull would be removed to relieve the mounting pressure. She explains that receiving this news initially stole her ability to think clearly and at that moment clung to the wall to keep from hitting the floor. However, after collecting her thoughts, she approached the waiting room with resolve and instructed her visitors, “I need you all to pull up your bootstraps, dig in and pray.”

While the surgery worked to correct the pressure, the injury his brain had received in the accident would keep Elisha in a coma. Silently, Elisha would face both of his lungs collapsing, bones being reset, a tracheotomy and life on a ventilator. Each new medical situation would draw from Robin a resilience that even she did not expect. “I felt like I was giving up every single time we said ‘Ok, do this; ok, do that.’…But in retrospect we see it was all part of the journey.”

Weeks and then months passed, but Elisha still hadn’t responded in a way that everyone had hoped. On one particular morning, Robin and a nurse stood at Elisha’s bedside when a new resident approached. He explained to her that she would need to face reality and understand that her son wouldn’t get any better.

This news was disheartening for Foutz, but the nurse turned to her and adamantly explained, “… It isn’t our job to rob people of their hope….I don’t go to church but I see more of God here at the hospital than I’ve ever seen at church.”

Robin was reaffirmed in that moment and shortly after would receive encouragement from Elisha as well.

Later, as the nurse proceeded to brush Elisha’s teeth, she froze. Excitedly, she burst out, “Did you see that?” They had both seen it. For the first time, Elisha was turning his head in protest to having his teeth brushed. The nurse exclaimed this was Elisha’s defiant response to the doctor’s doomsday announcement.

But even these slight movements were not enough to convince Elisha’s treatment team that he had made significant progress.

Robin, newly invigorated with hope, boldly spoke these words: “I appreciate… everything you have done and will continue to do, but I have
faith, and it’s bigger than what you are saying… bigger than what I see. This little boy is going to baffle all of you.”

A few mornings later, Robin woke early to read what initially seemed like a random passage in her Bible.

It was a verse from 1 Corinthians that echoed Robin’s earlier comments to the treatment team: “I will baffle and render useless…the learning of the learned…” There, in those words, Foutz realized that her son was not a victim of fate but rather a beacon of hope.

Elisha would eventually be moved to a treatment facility to receive physical therapy and recover from more surgeries.

In time he would wean off the ventilator and weather “storming”—a dangerous and painful side effect of traumatic brain injuries. The seemingly never-ending battle testified to Elisha’s persistence towards not just survival, but healing. Robin explains that the next phase of healing was tedious, but Elisha eventually opened his eyes and even regained purposeful movement.

The day before Thanksgiving 2012, and nearly four months after the accident, Elisha returned home. Robin recounts, “That was the hardest decision for me.

I felt like [saying], ‘You’re giving up on my kid.’ I just didn’t understand…” Robin and Nate became Elisha’s medical team; they managed nearly 20 medications given around the clock, feedings, bathing and physical therapy. This task was in addition to reassuring and loving their other children, addressing the house that was threatening to fall down around them, and having been unable to work for some time. Ironically, Nate and Robin both laugh in the present as they recall this trying time of readjustment, not capriciously, but rather as two survivors who clearly see the obstacles they have overcome.

Today, Elisha is in a wheelchair and has cognitive injuries that leave him unable to speak, but his emotions and reactions are beautifully intact. Robin smiles as she explains how he giggles endlessly at slapstick comedy and enjoys his family, “He is just so full of joy…and authentic… He is a rock star!” She continues, “I think when you have been in tragedy, it just changes you…. It can take you down a dark road, or it can take you down a good road.”

Robin, with tear-stained eyes and a smile across her face, concludes, “It’s hard being a mom to a child who can’t communicate his love to me verbally or physically, yet the joy in that kid—it changes me. It reaffirms to me that he is exactly where he is supposed to be…and I am exactly where I need to be… We won’t let tragedy strip us of our love and faith. It pulled it from us and brought us together stronger as a family.”

By Tiffany Lyttle
Photography by LaShonda Delivuk

A Glimpse into a Studio Apartment, a Downtown Condo & Rental Townhouse

Learning to maximize the space in a small home can present challenges and force decisions. Which couch to keep? How many coffee mugs are really necessary? For each of the three families featured, they enjoy the clarity resulting from limited space and have found creative ways to still reflect their passions.

Downtown Studio Apartment: Bringing Community Into a Young Couple’s Space
For Timothy and Brittannie Moroz, living in a downtown studio is both an economical choice and a way to build community.
“We love the downtown Lynchburg area,” Tim said. “We wanted a space that could fit a large amount of people and feel more connected with downtown [because] we really value community.”

When they were dating, Tim lived downtown, but once married, they moved to Forest. After a job change, however, the young couple began looking for something less expensive. Since they are heavily involved in their church and host a community group that meets in their home weekly, they needed a space that could entertain a larger group of people. Most of the downtown spaces were either too small or too expensive for their price point, until they discovered Red Star Flats, modern industrial studios next to Farmers Seed & Supply Co. Inc.

“We weren’t seriously looking at studios until we saw this one,” Brittannie said. “The kitchen was our biggest selling point.
It’s just beautiful.”

“The space is really nice,” Tim said. “They did a really good job of renovating. It felt like home right away.”

This past summer the couple traveled to Copenhagen, Denmark and then on to Sweden—known for good design—and so the trip provided a crash course in Scandinavian style. While traveling, they read a quote that has since been adopted for their home: “If something is not both beautiful and functional, it doesn’t belong in your home.”

Both of them echo that having this mindset makes it easier to live in such an open layout.

“We like our stuff, [so] we didn’t mind having it out for everyone to see,” Brittannie said. “[I was] surprised how easy it’s been to get to the bare necessities.”

“In our space, it’s all on display,” Tim said. “We liked the idea of paring down. It’s nice to go backwards a little bit. It’s not a long term solution, but it’s a lot of fun.”

Together, the Morozes have enjoyed designing a space that brings some challenges. They are not allowed to drill new holes into the original wood paneling or brick due to its historic value, so the couple has to work with the holes that already exist—which creates a random art gallery that somehow works. “We love the random mix,” Tim said. “We have to be careful about our visual real estate.”

On the one small patch of drywall they do have, they installed shelving, which houses baking supplies and cereals.

A sentimental design element the couple incorporated is a world map painted from coffee.

“We love sharing a cup of coffee with people, and we love to travel,” Brittannie said, describing the piece her sister painted.

“We try to see as much of the world as we can. It was a sweet gift she gave us.”

Downsizing from a two-bedroom apartment to a studio was a challenge, but because there are no walls dividing the home, it feels very open and is a good reminder to keep stuff clean.

“It’s been good for us to recognize we don’t have to look perfect,” Brittannie said. “It’s a good exercise for us, and we get to invite people into that. It blesses us and keeps us humble when it’s messy.”

One aspect of open-concept living the couple has embraced is how welcoming the space is. As a couple, the Morozes have tried to reflect their values and passions in the way they live, which they describe as: Jesus, family and mission. One way they emulate what they believe is by inviting people to engage as a family. Since they have many visitors in their home every week, they welcome guests to share in their most intimate spaces.

“It feels like a great big family in a tiny little box,” Brittannie said. “You get real close, real fast.”

“It has helped develop really meaningful relationships,” Tim said.

Downtown Condominium: Downsizing from an Empty Nest
Libby and Paul Fitzgerald loved their home in Boonsboro, but since none of their three adult children or six grandchildren live locally, they no longer needed all of the space with five bedrooms. So they began the two-year process of downsizing and selling their home.

Though they have lived in Lynchburg for 45 years, the family is originally from New York, and so they are more accustomed to urban living. As they began to downsize, they felt a strong draw towards the new downtown James River Place condominiums.

“We have kind of come full circle,” Libby said. “It was very freeing to get down to what we really loved, and the rest we shed. We loved [our home] all those years, but I marvel at how I have not looked back with any nostalgia. It was a great decision—a perfect fit.”

Since moving two years ago from a 5,400-sqare-foot home to a 2,200-square-foot condominium, the Fitzgeralds found downsizing to be an unburdening.

“The idea of downsizing is daunting,” Libby said. “We came to terms with the likelihood that the taste of our children is different.”

She recommends that one approach downsizing by focusing on the “essentials and [not] surrounded with a lot of stuff you don’t need. It’s a tough and tedious job, but at some point you have to do it.”

In her words, to downsize removes a burden from your children; if you sift through the artifacts of decades’ worth of stuff then “you’ve done your children [favors] with the biggest job in the world. Don’t leave that for them to do. Spare your children,” Libby said.

She added that their new home on Jefferson Street is not radically different in style but rather a variation of what they had before. As they designed their new space, Libby was tasked with the challenge of incorporating years of collections into a much smaller area than she was accustomed to. Many of their paintings and pottery have come from both their worldwide travels and from local artists. A number of paintings are from trips they took to Ireland, Venice and France. The couple has also taken bike trips to Tuscany, Italy and Provence, France, as well as Quebec and the Canadian Rockies, where they added to their very storied and traveled collection. The Fitzgeralds also appreciate local talent, including a prized piece hanging over their living room fireplace from The Little Gallery at Smith Mountain Lake in Moneta, Va.

“We love collecting art,” Libby said. “We [also] love pottery, from away and local.”

With three bedrooms in their condo, they utilize the extra two rooms as office space for each of them, giving them individual, private areas to call their own.

“It’s important to have your own space in a small [home],” Libby said.

When family comes to visit, grandchildren stay on roll-out beds and adult children enjoy nights at the Craddock Terry Hotel—easily accessible from the condo.

After moving, the Fitzgeralds found a slower pace of life. In fact by living in such close proximity to everything downtown, Libby said she tries to group all her errands into just one day so she can enjoy all the benefits that downtown Lynchburg offers.

“We feel like we’re on vacation,” Libby said. “The thing I love the most is I walk everywhere—to the YMCA and to church, everything I need is down here, except [a] grocery. I try very hard not to have to leave downtown in my car.”

Heather’s Takeaway Tips:

1. Downsizing: Prioritize what is most important. Keep what you really like but be selective. It can be a daunting process, so steady your pace and realize it will benefit your children not to have to make those decisions one day.
2. Use What You Already Own: After years of collecting, don’t try to start over buying new. Use what you already own in creative new ways. Reupholster furniture, group artwork in a gallery manner and utilize vertical storage to maximize space.
3. Think Before You Buy: Small spaces can cause you to stop and think before buying. Do you have room for it? Will it add to the ambience or distract from what’s most important in the room? Be selective with where you invest. Think quality not quantity.

Photography by Tera Janelle Auch

Don’t Miss Out on the Big Ticket Shows & Small Town Charm in Rocky Mount, Virginia

It’s a Tuesday night at the Harvester Performance Center in Rocky Mount, and Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst, the indie folk duo Shovels & Rope, are doing it all. At any given moment during the near-sold-out show, the Charleston, S.C.-based pair is playing four or five different musical instruments. And singing.

And it’s obviously working for them, because once they’ve stopped crooning and put down their guitars, harmonica, tambourine, drumsticks and accordion, the audience—which has yelled “I love you!” so maNY Times it’s become a running joke—begs them back to the stage for more.
The same could be said for Rocky Mount itself, which over the past few years has launched an all-out campaign to attract visitors to the Southwest Virginia hamlet. And obviously, it’s working.

In 2011, the town bought an old International Harvester dealership and turned it into a first-rate music hall that, according to assistant town manager and Harvester CEO Matt Hankins, has attracted music lovers from 39 states and nine foreign countries.

“We’re really excited that we’ve had that kind of reach,” Hankins said, adding that the Harvester draws “pretty consistently” from about a two-hour radius that includes Raleigh, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Charlottesville, Lynchburg, Blacksburg and other cities.

“We’ve also had a fair number drive down from D.C. because they want to see a particular act play and can’t get tickets up there, or whatever. … They’re staying in bed-and-breakfasts and hotels here and enjoying the experience—coming and seeing world-class music and enjoying themselves without the hassle of traffic.”

When Hankins says “world-class music,” he’s not lying. Over the past few months, the Harvester has seen the likes of Arlo Guthrie, Gregg Allman and George Winston. Upcoming shows include, among others, the Indigo Girls on June 17 and The Bacon Brothers—actor Kevin and brother Michael—on Aug. 23.

Music lovers will also converge in Rocky Mount and throughout Southwest Virginia for The Crooked Road’s Mountains of Music Homecoming, June 10 through 18. During the music and cultural festival, events will be held at more than 50 communities along The Crooked Road, Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail.

In conjunction with this, on Saturday, June 11, Rocky Mount will host Franklin County Court Days, a festival that has been described as a
“re-creation of a time when local citizens traveled to Rocky Mount for the day to conduct business and socialize.”

The inaugural Court Days in 2015 treated approximately 2,500 locals and visitors to arts and crafts, live music, food vendors, quilting and tobacco twisting exhibits, storytelling and others events.

Daytime events are free. In the evening, musical concerts will be held at the Harvester, Bootleggers Cafe and other venues.

“This year’s going to be a little different,” Adam Lynch, marketing director for the Community Partnership for Franklin County, said of Court Days, adding that because Rocky Mount is the “eastern gateway” of The Crooked Road, they’re going to “double up on the music” this year.
If the town’s coffers are any indication, the Harvester, and other businesses that have sprung up in response to it, have provided a significant economic boost to the town of fewer than 5,000 souls.

“It shows in our meals tax,” Hankins said, adding that before the Harvester opened in 2014, the town would only “occasionally see a month where meals taxes exceeded $100,000. There’s only been one month where we didn’t [see that] since the Harvester opened.

“It’s a good indication that lots of people are enjoying our community. … We’re seeing a lot of people who wouldn’t come to Rocky Mount without giving them a reason. We’re trying to build on that success by attracting more hotels and businesses to downtown.”

Bootleggers Cafe opened around the same time as the Harvester. Located in an old Coca-Cola Bottling Company, around the corner from the Harvester, Bootleggers offers a full bar and a menu of what it describes as “Contemporary American Cuisine.”

In addition to its musical heritage, Rocky Mount also embraces the area’s infamous designation of “Moonshine Capital of the World.”

In April of each year, the Franklin County Historical Society sponsors the Moonshine Express, bus tours that celebrate the county’s notorious history. During the vintage bus tours, participants encounter more than 75 people—“from both sides of the law,” as one overview says—telling true stories of Franklin County moonshining.

The 2016 tours were held in April, but tour booklets and scripts are available throughout the year at the Franklin County Historical Society. Also held in April is the Franklin County Moonshine Festival. This year’s festival featured moonshine tastings, live music, a 5K race, a Prohibition-era car show and other events.

Not only can you learn about moonshine in Rocky Mount, those of legal age can drink it. Twin Creeks Distillery, owned by Rocky Mount native Chris Prillaman, recently started distilling legal moonshine. It can be purchased at area ABC stores, Bootleggers Cafe and other locations.
Prillaman grew up in nearby Ferrum, which, according to Twin Creeks sales and marketing director Matt Hartberger, “has a long tradition of moonshining families.”

Hartberger said two of Prillaman’s great-grandfathers were caught up in the “Great Moonshine Conspiracy” trial of 1935. “He’s got roots in it and has been around it and interested in it all his life.”

Future plans for Twin Creeks include buying a building in Rocky Mount to house the distillery, retail store, banquet hall, tasting room and what will be the Moonshine Still Museum. “We’re going to build replicas of stills, from early settlers from Europe all the way up through the 70s and 80s and today,” Hartberger said.

As for the taste of what Twin Creeks has dubbed “Franklin County’s Finest,” Harvester CEO Hankins said, “It’s really outstanding,”
and added, “It’s great to have it made in the ‘Moonshine Capital of the World.’”

Another upcoming event in Rocky Mount is a Confederate re-encampment on June 4 and 5 at the Franklin County History Museum. The 57th Virginia Infantry, Company B, re-enactors group will set up camp on the museum lawn.

While the group’s leader is a descendant of George Pickett, the Confederate general known for his charge at the Battle of Gettysburg,
the re-enactors hail from the New York City area.

“They’ve got these funny accents, but they’re really patriotic,” Linda Stanley, managing director of the Franklin County Historical Society, said good-naturedly, adding that folks can visit the campsite and talk to the men, each of whom represents a particular soldier.

Rocky Mount is also a place for art lovers and shoppers of all kinds.

The Rocky Mount Center for the Arts (RMCA)—also known as “The Grainery,” because of its past life as a storehouse—is home to artist studios, art classes and a gallery where visitors can buy work by local artists.

During the cooler months, there are glass-blowing demonstrations on Saturdays and some Tuesdays and Thursdays. According to glass blower Carolyn Rogers, “large-scale glassblowing” is a “winter thing,” as temperatures from the furnaces, which heat to more than 2,000 degrees, make it too hot to do inside in the summer.

Over the summer, Rogers said she’ll create smaller items, such as beads and small sculptures, and the RMCA will offer bead-making classes. Other art classes, which range from “paint and sip” events to more in-depth, weeks-long courses, are listed on the RMCA’s website.

While in town, visitors also can peruse antiques and collectibles at Old’s Cool Vintage Finds, indulge their sweet tooth at the Kupkakery Bakery and poke around at Angle Hardware Company, which opened in 1887, four years after the town was founded.

“We’re one of those cool, small towns that has a major draw right now with the Harvester,” Hankins, said, adding that visitors can top off a day of shopping and dining by “hearing world-class music in an amazing facility.”

Speaking of world-class music, toward the end of their show, Shovels & Rope said they’d love to play the Harvester again.

Perhaps it was all those times the audience shouted “I love you!”

Or maybe there’s just something about Rocky Mount.

Asked about that, Harvester general manager Gary Jackson said it’s become commonplace for artists to say they’d like to visit Rocky Mount again. “They had a lovely time,” Jackson said of the couple. “They had rooms at the Early Inn, across the street, 10 acres for their dog to run around, a place for their child to crawl around. They had a wonderful time.”

By Suzanne Ramsey

10 Years!!

For Geoffrey Kershner, the beginning of Endstation Theatre Company marked an ending of sorts as well. After years of traveling as a graduate student with Florida State University’s School of Theatre, he—along with fellow MFA student Krista Franco—went to Germany and toured theatres across the country. Franco, who is Endstation’s production manager and scenic designer, recalls seeing a modern adaptation of “A Streetcar Named Desire” and feeling “moved to make theatre that I could creatively invest new ideas into.”

This and other shows and theatres in Germany inspired the two students to form their own company, and upon seeing a production called “Endstation America” in Berlin, Kershner had the name: Endstation Theatre Company.

“The name [Endstation] is the final stop on a train line,” Kershner says.

“In founding Endstation, I returned to my home in Virginia to create theatre. With home being my final destination, after a number of years of travel, the name felt appropriate.”

Thus, Endstation Theatre Company was born in Amherst County.

A decade later, Endstation is delivering high-caliber, groundbreaking productions to large audiences every summer.

Like the best plays, Endstation’s story is dynamic, replete with successes, challenges and myriad changes—many of which took place in the early part of 2015.

Last year’s temporary closing of Sweet Briar College, which had been Endstation’s home since 2006, was an unforeseen obstacle for the company and for Kershner personally. “It was terrible initially,” he says. “Sweet Briar is where I grew up, and my father is a professor there. At first, it was personal because my father lost his job. The Sweet Briar home had also been essential to the company.” Despite the setback, however, Endstation quickly found a new home at Randolph College. “For Endstation, [the temporary closing] escalated a relationship with Lynchburg,” Kershner notes. “The company had been doing more and more work in Lynchburg because our largest audience base was in the city.

When the closure happened, we quickly mobilized to keep the company in a safe spot. Randolph College stepping up to support us during that time was huge. I think a Lynchburg home is an exciting venture, and I am excited for a new chapter at Randolph College.”

Kershner was named Executive Director of the Academy Center of the Arts in May 2015, but he remains an Endstation board member and hopes to direct for the company again. During his time as artistic director at Endstation, Kershner saw the company grow due to their focus on community. “We were always very interested in our specific community and how theatrical activity would excite and inspire this particular audience in Central Virginia,” he remarks.

“From this, our focus on ‘theatre of place’ was born. Our work was inspired by the location. Whether it was the site-specific work or creating original work inspired by local history or lore, we always started with this area as inspiration for our work.

The landscape, the history and the people are incredible for theatrical creation.”

Kershner recalls his work on Endstation’s 2011 production of “Hamlet” with particular fondness: “Making that work was an inventive and truly collaborative process and was also profoundly personal.

Walter Kmiec, Endstation’s new artistic director, was Hamlet. [The play] deals directly with mortality in a profound way in this play. Walter had lost his mother that year and the performance he gave remains the highlight of my directing experiences. His performance was deeply personal, selfless, dynamic, raw and moving beyond words.”

Kmiec and Kershner met at Florida State University (FSU) in 2004, and when casting Endstation’s first show in 2006, Kershner gave Kmiec a call. Since then, Kmiec has worked as an actor, writer, and director at Endstation before becoming artistic director last year. He cites Hamlet as his favorite role as an actor, calling it a “dream role” that was very personal due to his mother’s death. As a director, his favorite production to work on has been “The Two Gentlemen of Virginia.”

“I enjoyed working on ‘The Two Gentlemen of Virginia’ because I had co-written the show, and I had the original idea,” Kmiec says.

“I sometimes worried during the creative process that people would stop coming to our shows if I did a terrible job, which I think is just part of the anxiety of being an artist. The fact that it did well means a lot to me, and I consider it one of my personal highlights.”

In his role as artistic director, Kmiec wants to continue honoring and advancing communities across central Virginia. “Perhaps my main goal as artistic director is maintaining the artistic integrity of the company while expanding our reach in the community,” he remarks.

“Endstation has always considered itself a company that is community-centered, and my goals for the company very much reflect that stance. I want us to be engaged in the community in all aspects where theatre is concerned: education, entertainment and cultural ecology. We, as artists, should be helping to bring the community together however we can. Our work should promote discourse that helps advance the community while also helping them at times to step away from the daily grind; achieving both is what I strive for.”

Kmiec also hopes to see continued growth and change for Endstation in the coming years. “I want us to become regular fixtures at major community events, to become partners in city-wide initiatives, and to be a place where people can come to use theatre as a means of personal and community growth,” he says.

“I want to expand our presence beyond the summer, producing shows during the holiday season or taking shows on tour to schools and community organizations. I would like to see Endstation become a household name in Lynchburg and Amherst.”

A few months before Kmiec was named artistic director, Katie Cassidy was named Endstation’s managing director.

Like Kershner, Franco, and Kmiec, Cassidy also received her MFA at FSU, where she first heard about Endstation. She worked as a stage manager for Endstation’s productions of “Our Town” and “In Sweet Remembrance” in 2014 before becoming Kershner’s assistant and subsequently managing director.

Cassidy, like her colleagues, cites Endstation’s commitment to the Lynchburg and surrounding communities as a major source of the company’s growth and success.

“I think our mission to strengthen our community through the theatrical exploration of its people, its landscape and its history has really resonated with our audience,” she says.

“Whether it’s Thomas Jefferson and James Madison portraying 80s rock stars in ‘The Two Gentlemen of Virginia’ or exploring the class divide in Lynchburg at the Texas Inn in ‘Counter/Top,’ our Community-Centered New Works program has given central Virginia 10 new works in our company’s history. Our theatre is so community-focused, I don’t know how we could have done it anywhere else.”

As managing director, Cassidy strives to collaborate with other organizations to build an arts community. “As a rising tide lifts all boats, Endstation believes a strong and supported arts community can only improve all organizations in the region,” she notes. “For example, Endstation Theatre Company produced their first production outside of the summer season in February 2016 bringing ‘The Whole Bunch’ to schools around the central Virginia area. ‘The Whole Bunch’ is a new work based on educating Lynchburg elementary schools on the importance of healthy eating. Endstation’s production visited 16 schools, performing 18 shows in 10 days plus four public performances on Randolph College’s campus. We reached over 4,500 students in two weeks of touring.”

In its 10 year history, Endstation Theatre Company has thrived on change, and it will continue to do so in the future, but one thing remains constant: the strong camaraderie of its team.

“The artists, the team: I love them so much,” Kershner says. “They gave me the best nine years of my creative life, and none of our work would have been possible without so many selfless, gifted and dynamic individuals.”

“If I didn’t love the people I get to work with, I wouldn’t be a part of the organization anymore,” Franco remarks. “The designers, directors, performers, and staff I get to work with each year are truly amazing collaborators who help Endstation produce the high quality work that we do.”

“I’m incredibly lucky to be working with such amazing people,” Kmiec says. “The Endstation family is still strong after all these years, and I’m excited to see how that family grows and adapts in the coming years.”

“We really do love each other and the work we create, and I think that shows in our productions,” Cassidy says. “Theatre is such a collaborative art that if you can find a group of people who you love and want to make art with, it’s such a wonderful thing. I am so lucky to work here.”

By Emily Hedrick

Finding the Right Living Arrangement for Every Stage

Life is riddled with a variety of milestones. Early milestones hold promise and an added degree of independence, such as getting your driver’s license or going off to college. Others, especially later in life, carry a sense of responsibility that can sometimes be intimidating to the unprepared.

While you spend the early portion of your life deciding how you want to contribute to the workforce and training yourself to do so, time may slip by quicker than expected. As retirement approaches, the counter culture it presents to the years you spent working can be both liberating and daunting.

While finances will undoubtedly become a concern, perhaps a greater issue is your living arrangements. Several factors including health, the state of your personal relationships and finances can determine the course of action for the living arrangement best suited to you. Here are several scenarios and how to best approach them for your next step.

Retirement with a Spouse Who is Still Working
“One of the first big discussions for a couple retiring at different times should revolve around the retirement schedule itself,” the New York Times reports. “With such a great change in how your life operates, there are bound to be major adjustments required.”

Those adjustments will largely concern your relationship with your spouse and the household dynamics that can result.

“When spouses have different retirement timing, they need to start with, and accept, that mental difference. Then, make sure someone has done the math. Most likely, they both need to adjust some of their habits—both mental, emotional and actual ones,” financial consultant and marriage counselor Susan Zimmerman told the NY Times.

Assuming the major “breadwinner” of the household retired first, with their spouse now as the sole earner for the home, there may be several emotional issues that crop up. According to the NY Times, the retiree can sometimes begin to feel guilty, for both leaving their spouse to bear the responsibility of income and also feel guilty for spending that income.

“Once couples know their finances are in order, they often find it much easier for one to retire earlier than another,” says financial planner Dana Anspach to the NY Times.

Collective Retirement for Both Spouses
On the other hand, a spouse still in the workforce may finally catch up to retirement with their retiree, or perhaps they planned to retire at roughly the same time to enjoy those years together. In any case, there are other concerns that you will want to be aware of.

As with any major decision—buying a home, having kids, estate planning—it is vital to have a clear discussion. Talk about expectations for finances and household roles and responsibilities.

Robert Laura, self-proclaimed “retirement activist” and Forbes contributor, refers to this as an “in-sync” retirement. He adds that it can present issues in the relationship dynamic between retirees.

“The possibility of spending 24 hours a day, seven days a week together can be equally concerning. Initially, an in-sync retirement may conjure up loving images of long walks on the beach and stargazing over a bonfire together, but that can come with its own challenges,” Laura said.

While one or both of you were working, you most likely had a somewhat regimented schedule of when you saw each other.

The initial shift of seeing each other a few hours a day to all day can be jarring and can lead to conflict.

Laura suggests maintaining social networks and participating in activities is helpful for ensuring both spouses preserve their independence while still enjoying retirement together.

Initially, the uncharted waters of retirement can cause certain issues to appear that may have never existed. It is important to address them, no matter how minor they seem. Discussing who does what chores around the house and how much time you will spend together are just a few areas of concern.

“Role confusion can make it crucial to discuss feelings and needs with each other before retirement instead of assuming you’re both on the same page,” Laura said.

Independent and Assisted Living (by self or in retirement community)
Independence is something everyone clamors for; and though the urge for independence generally remains over time, retirement calls for some stark assessment of which areas of life can remain autonomous and which need to be adjusted.

For seniors it’s important to be “realizing that later on down the road—whether it’s two years or 20 years—their needs are going to change,” said Admissions and Marketing Director of Heritage Green Emily Young. “Independence might become a little more difficult.”

Young insists that seniors should “take the time while they have independence to figure out what’s important to them.” They should also prioritize sharing that information with family members members to guarantee that their preferences are known and followed.

Being aware of your limitations is crucial to senior living, especially if you decide to remain in your own household, as opposed to a retirement community.

If you choose to live alone, no matter your level of ability, there are certain steps you should take to ensure mental and physical wellness.

“For seniors who would like to live on their own, it is important to downsize, particularly to a one-level home that is handicap accessible. Beyond the physical preparations, it is paramount that the senior stays connected with family and friends and weekly church/activity groups,” Vickie Runk, Owner of Runk & Pratt Senior Living Communities, said.

While the idea of remaining at home—a place where you have invested so much of your life—can be more realistic and appealing for the new retiree looking to fill the void of employment with household chores and self-upkeep, for those with more health concerns and fewer family members to assist them, a retirement community may be a more attractive option.

A retirement community can be “so helpful for so many [reasons] because it allows the resident to have all of their needs met, which enables them to do more without having to worry about daily tasks,” Runk said. “Meeting their needs faster and more efficiently helps them to stay as independent as possible for as long as possible.”

Although assisted living and independent living sound similar, their implementation is different. Runk & Pratt and The Summit are local retirement communities that offer both options. The foundation of both facilities is providing a safe environment for members that allows for independence while also meeting daily needs if necessary. “If necessary” is the key phrase in understanding the difference between assisted and independent living. For those living independently, they can simply enjoy the amenities of their community. On the other hand, those needing more help can receive additional and specialized attention from staff to assist with daily tasks—such as medication or simple chores—that can prove troublesome otherwise.

In any case, Brenda Dixon, Marketing Director at The Summit, suggests that community living can add as many as three years to someone’s life.
Dixon also believes that remaining active in programs and events is a great way for seniors to transition into a new way of life. Keeping family involved in every step of the process is also vital.

“Families need to be educated about the options available and be realistic on what their family members can afford,” Dixon said. “Have ‘the talk’ early. When dealing with independent living, most often it’s the seniors themselves [who] are doing the research; they want to make their own choices.”

According to Young, it is fairly common for families to wait until emergencies occur before they decide to make a decision
about assisted living.

“If people were to start making these decisions earlier and making a move before they feel its necessary, I think they would have a lot of stress. . .relieved,” Young said.

Health and Rehab Centers
If a senior’s health issues are greater than having to take a daily prescription, they may want to be checked into a health and rehab center. Sometimes better known as nursing homes, Christi Thomas, Community Relations Director at Liberty Ridge Health and Rehabilitation Center, ensures that modern rehabilitation facilities do not carry the same stigma or negative feelings often associated with nursing homes.

Nursing homes are sometimes thought of as an equivalent to hospice care, but this is simply untrue. “There are activities going on all the time, even nights and weekends,” Alicia Adams, Director of Community Relations at Avante, said.

Avante specializes in “skilled nursing and long term care.” Adams insists that Avante hosts many services that can help seniors transition in their health and rehab. However, depending on the medical concern, many seniors need some time before they are ready to acclimate back into their homes.

“We have a very high success rate with our therapy department,” Adams said. “It is very rare that someone comes in and is not able to go back to their assisted living or their home.”

Avante offers a wide variety of health services and therapy including speech therapy, counseling needs and outpatient occupational therapy.
Similarly, Liberty Ridge, while a smaller community, boasts a warm, home-like feel. According to Thomas, their small size allows them to give each senior more personal attention.

Whatever stage of life you find yourself in, be assured there are many ways to preserve the independence you want while still enjoying a safe and secure retirement.

By Jeremy Angione

Facts of Life as Told by Pollinators

Back in the day we parents squirmed over the inevitable “facts of life” talk with our kids. You know, that talk about “The Birds and the Bees.” And today’s parents are faced with the imperative to add a second “Birds and Bees” talk to their already-overburdened parenting skills repertoire.

This one’s the literal talk about birds and bees—and butterflies, bats, moths, other beneficial insects, and indeed all pollinators—and facts of life about human dependence on pollinators for our survival here on earth.

Plight of the Pollinators
We’re all aware by now of a significant reduction in pollinator populations and the grim predictions of their impending demise since reports in 2006 of one-quarter of U.S. bee colonies suffering a mysterious and lethal disease called Colony Collapse Disorder made big news.

Pollinators are struggling for their very existence; their extinction would diminish the variety of life on this earth, and there’s considerable buzz circling them these days. Currently, our honeybee population is continuing to decline drastically from a variety of causes—primarily parasites, exposure to toxic chemicals such as Bayer’s neonicotinoid pesticides and habitat loss.

Monarch butterflies have joined honeybees as the current headline-grabbing poster children of the dwindling pollinator world. Some butterfly species are already extinct, and it’s been reported that the monarch population has suffered more than an 80% decline in the past two decades—from more than one billion in the mid-1990s to 56.5 million last year—primarily due to pesticides and habitat loss, along with vagaries of weather.

Every time homeowners, farmers, or highway departments mow or spray pesticides on milkweed, they destroy the only habitat and food source nature has provided for caterpillar-stage monarchs and cut the monarch’s life cycle short.

And illegal logging is doing the same to the monarchs in Mexico.

Even designating monarch-protected reserves for overwintering grounds in Mexico hasn’t stopped loggers from illegally clear-cutting reserve acreage and wiping them out.

Why We Care
When birds flutter and dive through flowering trees and shrubs, they distribute pollen, while most other pollinators spread pollen as they flit from flower to flower for a meal of nectar. On the most fundamental level, we humans need these birds, bees, butterflies and a great variety of other pollinators because our food source is reliant on them. A recent report notes that nearly 100 varieties of nuts, fruits and vegetables such as almonds, apples, pumpkins and cranberries require honeybees for pollination, and the production of other types of crops is dependent on different pollinators.

The bottom line is that pollinators are responsible for one out of three bites of food we eat each day.

As for monarchs, they intrigue us. They’re The Beauty Queen of butterflies and engage our attention with fascinating migration patterns. But cosmetic, feel-good sensory pleasures aren’t the only reasons for us to care about them. They are also powerful pollinators, and their steady decline alerts us to the imminence of their extinction.

Pollinator alarm bells sound for even the most ardent optimist, and a simple Google search will inundate you with more depressing facts than you’ll want to know. Consider a recent United Nations report warning that:
• 40% of pollinators face extinction.
• Nearly 90% of all wild flowering plants depend at least to some extent on animal pollinators.
• Pollinators are important to many of the foods that are key sources of the vitamins and minerals in our diet. Nutritionally, the pollinator decline will likely have the biggest impact on the poorest people of the world.

Efforts to Stem the Tide of Extinction
Now for the silver lining: Government, politicians, lawyers, scientists, educators, writers, publishers, conservationists, gardeners, and schoolchildren (and the list goes on) are joining forces to save our pollinators. The White House has released a National Strategy to Protect Pollinators and Their Habitat, the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is engaging states to develop a state managed Pollinator Protection Plan and Virginia’s planning process is underway. The EPA is also expediting reassessment of systemic insecticides like neonicotinoids.

On all fronts, efforts are underway to save the pollinators. American novelist Barbara Kingsolver captured our imagination and touched our monarch-loving hearts in Flight Behavior and National Geographic just announced a new book to transform home gardens into havens for Birds, Bees & Butterflies including tips on the art of beekeeping.

Here at home in Central Virginia, we proudly claim the world’s foremost expert in monarch research, Dr. Lincoln Brower, Biology professor at Sweet Briar College and nominee for the prestigious 2016 Indianapolis Prize, the world’s leading award for animal conservation. Dr. Brewer has been studying monarchs for more than 50 years, and for 30 of those years his personal mission has been preservation of this butterfly.

Education Is Power
The international Xerces Society and other nonprofits, colleges and universities, Master Gardener associations and garden clubs are all working diligently to educate citizens on how to protect bees and other pollinators and encourage planting flower gardens to attract and nourish pollinators. In April, a lecture on beekeeping was featured during Garden Day in Lynchburg, hosted by the Lynchburg Garden Club and Hillside Garden Club as part of The Garden Club of Virginia’s Historic Garden Week in Virginia.

Also in April, Dr. Brower spoke on “Monarch butterflies and the North American Flora” at the Virginia Federation of Garden Clubs’ annual convention here in Lynchburg. Other international collaborative efforts include the work of Dr. Dave Goulson, University of Sussex, UK and author of the Sciencexpress review: “Bee Declines Driven by Combined Stress from Parasites, Pesticides, and Lack of Flowers.”

As a Master Gardener, I regularly receive notice of webinars and conferences such as North Carolina State University’s recent conference on “Protecting Pollinators in Ornamental Landscapes.” And I was delighted to see a genuine passion for pollinator protection and conservation by garden club members here in Lynchburg and in Danville recently when I presented Master Gardener programs on “Native Plants for Sustainable Landscapes.”

We as Central Virginia home gardeners and landscapers can flex our leadership muscle by joining the ever-growing swarm of pollinator-rescue “worker-bees.” We can spread the word, join an activist group, become beekeepers and/or plant gardens to attract and sustain pollinators.

Become a Beekeeper
Since bees are the major source of pollination (in addition to producing products such as honey and beeswax), interest in beekeeping is on a steady uptick—even in cities (including Lynchburg)—by those who are passionate about increasing our dwindling bee population. My own sisters, Betsy and Jan, completed a beekeeping course at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden and have established honeybee hives in their backyards in Richmond.

Because of the critical nature of protecting and preserving our bee population, beekeeping is now supported by government subsidies in the United States. The U.S. Department of Agriculture provides grants for beekeeping education, start up supplies and colony stipends for raising bees.

Plant a Pollinator Garden
We gardeners can help fix the “lack of flowers” problem by planting milkweed and a diversity of other flowering plants that provide nectar to support pollinators in our own home and community gardens. These can be flowering annuals, perennials, groundcovers, shrubs and trees. Native plants are at the top of this planting list, since they co-evolved with our native (and most efficient) pollinators, especially native bees. Massed plantings are most effective, but even a few plants make a difference.

Be sure to purchase plants from pollinator-friendly nurseries, garden centers and suppliers that offer pollinator compatible
(non-sterile) plants and seeds suited for our local area. Also look for locally-grown starter plants and seeds at the annual Hill City Master Gardener Association’s ‘Festival of Gardening’ on May 7th at Miller Park. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for free seeds! One of my favorite sources is “roadside weed” seeds when I can beat the mowing crews to them.

Hill City Master Gardener Kris Lloyd writes of her success story in Masters in the Garden, “It is monarch madness at Bedford Hills [Elementary School]! In April 2014, we were sent about 30 milkweed plants by Monarch Watch through a grant program for schools. They struggled the first year, but this year [2015] the milkweed doubled and bloomed profusely in June.” The proof of the pudding was that it attracted monarchs, and Lloyd harvested seed to start additional milkweed plants for distribution to the school community this spring. Original funding from the National Resources Defense Council jump-started Lloyd’s successful efforts at Bedford Hills School, and there are other opportunities for corporate and philanthropic sponsorship of seed and plant resources.

Join the Challenge
The Million Pollinator Garden Challenge (millionpollinatorgardens.org) is a “nationwide call to action to preserve and create gardens and landscapes that help revive the health of…pollinators across America.” The campaign began in June 2015 to register one million public and private landscapes that support pollinators. Last summer I added more pollinator-friendly flowering plants to my garden and was thrilled when a dozen monarchs chose it for a fall migratory feasting layover.

My garden’s now registered with the Challenge and beckons visiting grandchildren to share the joy! All this “birds and bees” business can turn into a lot of family fun.

Words & Photos by Susan Timmons

The Buzz: Behind-the-Scenes

This issue of Lynchburg Living features an original, styled food shoot inspired by all things picnic. From artfully arranging berries to finding the right lighting for a plate of sandwiches, the whole process took several hours from start to finish plus days of planning! Turn to page 91 to see the finished (and delicious!) product.

#LynchburgLiving
Central Virginia is filled with gorgeous views and natural beauty. Share your finds with us!

Tag your photos on Instagram and you may see them in a future issue! Tell us about exciting people and happenings at feedback@lynchburgmag.com.

Homemade, Small Batch, Hand-dipped Ice Cream

Sweet, creamy richness—can you go wrong with homemade ice cream? We say “never!”

Open since June 2015, this Madison Heights based operation is one of the sweetest ice cream parlors around. In addition to standby crowd
favorites such as Cake Batter and Strawberry, they are constantly churning out new creations for various seasons like Cupid’s Cream for
Valentine’s Day.

Have a little one in tow? Sluggo’s gives complimentary kid’s vanilla cups complete with sprinkles. Stop by, and we bet you’ll discover why they have 5 out of 5 stars in online reviews.

Do you have a favorite dish at a local restaurant?
Tell us about it! Email the name of the dish and restaurant and a few words about why you love it to Angela Blue.

RSVP
Sluggo’s Sundae Drive
Follow them on Facebook for flavor updates and hours!
(434) 942-0179
177 Elon Road, Madison Heights

By Jennifer Redmond