Local programs aim to cut child drowning statistics

Every day in the United States three children die from drowning. For 5 to 14 year olds, drowning is the second-leading cause of death.

While water recreation is a staple of summer fun, it is also important to keep the cold, hard facts in mind, remaining vigilant as good parents and neighbors in our communities as we lounge around pools, beaches and boats. Because shocking as it may seem, the reality is that 60 percent of drownings occur under adult supervision and 10 percent of victims drown within 10 feet of safety.

As the last full month before summer, it is fitting that May is National Water Safety Month, serving as a gateway, of sorts, to the waves of cooling-off activities to come.

In our community, organizations are actively working to minimize the risks of drownings by increasing awareness and offering training to those who need it the most.

Simple as it may be, the number one method for drowning prevention, according to the Virginia Department of Health, is teaching people how to swim.
Josh Gravette, Association Aquatics Director for YMCA of Central Virginia, explained that although the Y has been teaching people to swim for more than 100 years, it recently restructured its curriculum to be simpler and more heavily focused on life-saving skills. The program is called SAW—Safety Around Water.

“It is basically a simpler, more systematic approach to teaching swim lessons and water safety,” Gravette said. “It centers around a few key skills. [For example], a lot of this program focuses on floating.”

SAW trains beginners to be able to alternate swimming and floating to conserve energy (swim-float-swim), or to reach the edge quickly if they fall into a pool (jump-push-turn and grab), as well as exiting techniques, how to throw lifelines to others (reach-assist) and, by the end, ensures they can swim at least 15 yards.

Statistically, drownings disproportionately affect minorities. Socioeconomic status (a high percentage of minority children live in poverty—38 percent of Latino children six and under and almost 46 percent of black children in the same age range, according to The State of Working America) tends to correlate with access to pools, as well as the likelihood that one’s parents can swim.

The area YMCA is actively working to break this cycle through its Lynchburg Swim Initiative.

“This is definitely a great program, making a big impact in the community,” Gravette said.

Second graders who are on free or reduced lunch are picked up from school free of charge for eight one-hour swim lessons (using the SAW curriculum). They also are given a snack and a ride to their home. After completing the program, the children and their families are given a free three-month membership to the Y.

In each group, Gravette said, there are usually only a few who already know how to swim and that for many it is their first time in a pool.

“I can’t tell you how many kids have completed the lessons and said, ‘I’m going to teach my dad (or) mom how to swim,’” he said. “This allows the parents to see what their children have accomplished and the children to continue working on their skills.

A lot of these kids do not have the best home life so that gives them a sense of structure and helps them build that confidence, doing something they have never done.”

Over the summer, any children in Lynchburg’s Summer Learning Loss program will be given SAW swim lessons twice a week, in addition to mathematics and reading education, two meals and other activities. This will give another 200 students an opportunity to learn life-saving skills.

Additionally, the local Y has received a $10,500 grant to provide free swim lessons to 175 children this summer, which will allow the organization to partner with other local clubs and nonprofits to bring children in.

Miller Park Pool also takes steps to remove hurdles preventing children from learning about water safety. Lynchburg Parks & Recreation, which manages the pool, uses the American Red Cross for its swim curriculum, which Parks & Rec Athletics and Aquatics Director Trevor Freitas calls “the best of the best.” Children on any sort of government assistance can take lessons for half price.

All summer camps affiliated with the department have a Meet the Lifeguard Day where they learn about water safety in the Miller Center auditorium before taking a swim assessment. Each child’s skill level is shared with the parents.

Both the YMCA and Parks & Rec, with help from the Lynchburg Fire Department, have a Water Safety Day to educate children and parents. This includes training on how to properly secure a U.S. Coast Guard life jacket, reaching assist and more.

As a community resource, Freitas believes Miller Park Pool is strategically located near many areas where children might not otherwise have access to a pool.

“I believe Miller Park Pool is an awesome resource for everyone in the community in the summer,” Freitas said.

The pool also goes above and beyond in its water safety, ensuring it has the best lifeguards possible. They spend two hours each Saturday practicing a skill, working on team building and fitness, and swimming 200-300 meters.

Freitas noted that many of the lifeguards learned to swim at the pool and are now able to serve as role models to their peers. There is even a junior lifeguards program to train children interested who are not old enough (age 15) to become a lifeguard yet.

“A number of lifeguards who used to be kids that just came to the pool have now developed relationships and skills and are now earning money and are able to be positive influences on kids in similar situations that they were in,” Freitas said.

One lifeguard at Miller Park Pool was once a child who could not swim. He now has two saves, one of which was a serious, life-threatening situation, in the very pool in which he learned to swim.

Gravette strongly recommends that pools conduct swim testing. As a parting piece of advice, he reiterated that 60 percent of child drownings occur under adult supervision, and noted that awareness is a key component to water safety. He says it can be easy for parents to get distracted—especially by their smartphones. And wants parents to know that even children who can swim can be injured or be at risk of drowning.

“Anything can happen in the water.”

For more information on local water safety programming, visit:
• YMCACVA.org
• LynchburgParksAndRec.com/Miller-Park-Pool

Living Flower Arrangements

Have you always envied those individuals who could take just any old pot and make it become a masterpiece floral arrangement in soil? Well, Lynchburg has Master Gardeners who can teach you to pot plants in an arrangement just like the pros. I for one do not have the talent, so I am eager to learn.”

These luring words from Elsie Morris, President of the Hill City Master Gardener Association (HCMGA) landed in my email inbox a few weeks ago and reeled me in. Even though I’ve been collecting containers and potting plants in them for as long as I can remember, I’m always up for a new perspective and tips for success. And Master Gardeners Patty Butters, Diane Cooper and Laura Meniktos offered exactly that with their seminar and workshop on “Container Gardening and Fairy Gardens” at Lynchburg Grows just in time for those of us who’ve been watching the calendar and weather reports in anticipation of filling this spring’s outdoor garden containers with works of floral art—or edibles—as well as setting houseplants outside.

Catching Potted Plant Fever
Eye-catching creations of plants in containers first sparked my imagination in picturesque old European cities with charming balconies brimming with blooms and palaces where majestic urns spilled splashes of color against great masses of gray or honey-colored stone structures. Oh, yes, I recall charming pots of flowers in courtyards in Seville, window boxes in Germany, urns lush with geraniums rimming walls and other delights at cross-axis points in formal Italian gardens, and alluring combinations of plants in pots in stately gardens in the Cotswold Hills.

And I’ll never forget the obligatory line-up of lemon trees in terracotta pots in Mediterranean and other Italian gardens, or the seemingly random scattering of charming pots bursting with color in meandering country cottage gardens or carefully placed by front doors in cities with tight living spaces and small yards. It seems that not to be outdone by their forebears, Christchurch, New Zealand has serious competition and rewards for gardeners who incorporate clever and artistic use of pots in their landscapes during their annual Festival of Flowers.

Container gardening has recently gained traction here at home. Renowned garden writer and professor, Allan Armitage, author of Herbaceous Perennial Plants and Armitage’s Native Plants for North American Gardens, declared in a recent Piedmont Landscape Association Seminar in Charlottesville that container gardening is the fastest growing garden sector in the U. S. today, and that excellent space-saving “patio veggies” are now being bred for container gardening and vigor, with especially good success for potted slicer and cherry tomatoes.

What’s Not to Love About Potted Plants?
They add colorful punctuation to green landscapes layered with trees, shrubs, and ground covers—or provide a touch of living green to the built environment, inside and out. They introduce interesting shapes (such as vertical elements into horizontal gardens), and enliven balconies, patios, terraces and porches with intoxicating scents wafting over sitting areas.

Mobility is another plus, since portable pots can be moved from porch to patio or popped temporarily into party décor. And they offer the option and flexibility in choice of plant material when space constraints, poor soil, or no soil at all do not present conditions amenable to in-ground planting.

Potted tropical plants that require inside protection over the winter add a lush exotic flavor to summer outside spaces. For years, my screened back porch was the perfect summer home for my collection of potted orchids until fall’s first frost, and autumn nights outside invariably set the flower spikes for January’s indoor blooms.

Or you can plant a sequence of spring bulbs in your pots, followed by annuals when danger of frost passes. Other plant options are perennials, shrubs, trees (such as a single boxwood or Japanese maple) and herbs.

Pots are especially useful for containing perennials or herbs that tend to spread all over the garden, such as mint, or to manage other challenges. I potted all our herbs for kitchen use out of range of the lifted-leg of our little beagle every time we let him outside. A bonus was locating the pots just outside the kitchen porch door for quick and dry-footed access. And for years Tim planted his tomatoes in pots inside an abandoned fenced dog run to keep critters from eating them.

Growing plants in an enclosed space—whether large or small, grand or humble, permanently located or portable, useful or purely decorative—is the perfect solution to space constraints.

Even the smallest of front stoops can typically hold a little pot, and window boxes are sometimes an option when the building façade is flush with the sidewalk or street. Indeed, potted plants can brighten any spot, including a back alley, narrow path between buildings or window sill; strategically placed splashes of color in pots offer visual appeal with less work than in-ground gardens.

Classic and Creative Containers
Over time, potted plants have developed from the classic “lemon tree in a terracotta pot” into a highly evolved floral art form. Exciting combinations of plants and containers are endless, and most anything can be used as a container—if it drains.

You will, of course, want to consider size, shape, color, style, use and location.

Whether you choose containers that are utilitarian or decorative, be sure they suit your style and purpose and are compatible with their setting: your architecture, yard furniture and other features. An eclectic assortment of pots can be quite effective, just as an eclectic art, furniture or rug collection can reflect the owner’s taste and preferences for interior design.

For our farm, mid-sized traditional metal urns were right for flanking the entrance fence gates, while simple, functional pots worked outside the kitchen door. At the other end of the house, the idea of clustering blue ceramic urns and pots captured my fancy for our terrace entertainment area overlooking the Blue Ridge.

When considering protective potting for kitchen herbs, I searched dusty corners of the barn and discovered an old copper ham boiler. Scrounging around produced another one that Tim’s grandma had used as a tub for washing clothes over the wood-burning stove at their Indiana farm. (Yes, it had earned its holes in the bottom, and I didn’t have to pay extra for well-earned patina!) Then over time, I repurposed additional rarely-used copper pots (by drilling holes in their bottoms) and ended up with a solution that was just right for kitchen container gardening.

Remember that unglazed terracotta pots are porous and water evaporates from them more quickly than from metal or plastic ones. They can also crack if the potting mixture freezes in winter, and large ones can become too heavy to move once planted—although the weight can be a good thing for stability in windy areas.

Patty urged workshop participants to scour yard sales and Goodwill for unusual and fun cast-offs that could be spruced up to create containers and charming “fairy gardens” with tiny figures in live plant settings. Her out-of-the-box (intentional pun) thinking produced a miniature scene in a sea shell, a pirate ship, a shoe, and a child’s little red Radio Flyer wagon, each accompanied by a charming story. One of these as a birthday gift most certainly would enchant children and imaginative adults alike!

Plant with Flair and Locate Strategically
Diane stressed the three “C’s—Container, Colors, Creation” for potted plants and agreed with Patty and me in choosing a container: “Just about anything that holds soil and has (or can be given) drainage holes is fair game!” When selecting plants, consider color, shape and growing habit.
She reaffirmed rules-of-thumb I follow for creating pots with panache: Unless the container is very small (or you’re simply planting a shrub or other statement plant), add three or more complementary species: thrillers, spillers and fillers.

Thrillers include attention-getting “wow! factor” plants for height, such as spikes/dracaena; spillers, such as sweet potato vine, creeping Jenny, or ivy, cascade over the edge of the pot; and fillers can be any plant that takes up the middle ground. For an artistic arrangement, the traditional guideline for number of plants in a container is 1, 3, 5, or 7. Be sure to place the tallest plants in the center of the pot and let spillers tumble over the edge.

For strongest contrast and eye appeal, Diane prefers combinations of primary and complementary colors (yellow and purple, orange and blue, red and green), although any combination that balances color and texture is fine, even if you go for a combo such as purple and red or orange, all green, or all white—which are some of my favorites.

Choose plants for their location—sun, shade and other environmental conditions. Once again, ensure good drainage (adding permeable garden fabric, gravel, or crock pieces if needed), potting soil or other appropriate growing medium—soil-based, soilless, acidic, or alpine/free-draining, and fertilizer. Clustering pots can create a more dramatic effect, but be sure to group plants with similar sun and water requirements.

Caring for Containers
Frequency of watering is determined by plant choice (tender annuals need more, succulents need less), size and type of pot (small pots typically need more), if in sun (more) or shade (less), and time of year (more in heat of summer). In spring, fertilizing with a 10-10-10 mixture once a week will get your pots off to a good start. With experience, you can tell by the condition of the leaves if they need more (or less) sun, water and fertilizer. And experience is gained only by giving it a whirl. So, let’s go for gorgeous potted plants this season!

Hearty, filling, comforting—Samantha Moroz’s savory recipes are what you would call “good for the soul.”

However, the Lynchburg wife, mother of two and adjunct professor is the first to tell you her deep dark secret—she had no clue how to cook until she got married about 10 years ago. But after saying “I do,” she rolled up her sleeves and started following the recipes of well-known cooks. Her mother was one of them, along with big names such as Ina Garten and Martha Stewart. From there, Moroz branched out by blending recipes, then later added her own tweaks and combinations to create the perfect dishes.

Her soups, chili, pastas, and homemade pizza and bread not only impress her family and close friends but also larger groups about once a month. And her desserts, such as a warm cookie skillet with vanilla ice cream, will make your mouth water.

We love Samantha because she is a perfect example of how there is a hidden chef inside all of us—all it takes is a little inspiration and a lot of practice!

Chicken Prosciutto Alfredo

Ingredients:
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
2 cloves minced garlic
2 tablespoons butter
2 cups heavy cream
1-1/2 cups parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
4 pieces deli prosciutto, sliced or torn apart into pieces
1 pound chicken breast,
cubed into 1/2” pieces
1 pound pasta
(fettucine, shells, penne)

DIRECTIONS:
Cook pasta according to package directions (add a tablespoon of salt to your water to add flavor to the noodles); drain.

In a saucepan, sauté the garlic in butter. Add heavy cream and bring to a boil; boil for one minute. Add cheese and stir until melted, then add fresh parsley.

In another pan, sauté the onions in butter. Add the cubed chicken to the onions. When almost finished cooking, add the prosciutto. Combine the pasta, cheese sauce and chicken together, serve and enjoy!

Lemon Asparagus

Ingredients:
Bunch of asparagus, ends cut off
Olive oil (or butter)
Salt and pepper
Parmesan cheese
Lemon, cut in half

DIRECTIONS:
Arrange asparagus in a baking dish or on a cookie sheet, dot the asparagus with butter (or drizzle with olive oil), sprinkle with salt and
pepper and toss to coat. Squeeze half of a lemon all over the asparagus.

(Cut the remainder of the lemon in slices if desired and layer the slices on top of the asparagus.) Bake for 10 minutes at 425, sprinkle with parmesan cheese and roast for 3-5 minutes longer.

Dutch Oven Bread

Ingredients:
6 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon instant or active-dry yeast
2 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 2/3 cups of water

DIRECTIONS:
In a large bowl, combine the flour, yeast and salt. Add the water and stir until all the ingredients are well incorporated; the dough should be wet and sticky. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Let the covered dough rest overnight (12-18 hours) on the counter at room temperature. When the risen dough is bubbly, it is ready.

Lightly flour your hands and a work surface. Place dough on the floured surface, cover with a kitchen towel, and let the dough rise again for about two hours, until it has doubled in size. (It will be a big blob.)

After about 1-1/2 hours, preheat oven to 425-450 degrees. Line the Dutch Oven (or a 6-8 quart heavy covered pot) with parchment paper.

Place the covered Dutch Oven in the oven to heat up. When the dough has fully risen, carefully remove pot from oven using oven mitts. Remove top towel from dough and slide your hand under the bottom towel; flip the dough over into pot, seam side up.

Cover and bake for 45 minutes. Uncover and continue baking about 5-10 more minutes, until the top is golden brown.

Remove the bread from the pot and let it cool completely on a wirerack before slicing.

Mark your Calendars for May/June

1st Annual Food Fest:
May 20, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Finally, a local event that focuses on what brings us all together—food. Head to Riverfront Park to try some of the city’s finest cuisine, from food trucks, local restaurants
and more. And in between bites, enjoy activities for all ages and live music.

Buy the Burg! Trade Show & Bites of the ‘Burg:
May 23, 1 – 6 p.m.
Recognizing that we all love to eat, the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance has added a new layer to its annual business-boosting event. This year’s Buy the Burg! Trade Show at LU’s LaHaye Student Union will include Bites of the ‘Burg (4 p.m. – 6 p.m.), a showcase of delicious food from the region’s restaurants and catering businesses.

National Donut Day at Old City Cemetery:
June 2, 8 – 11 a.m.
At first glance, it’s your chance to snag a sweet treat, but there’s more to National Donut Day than meets the eye. Started as a Salvation Army fundraiser in 1938, National Donut Day honors the female volunteers of World War I who served donuts to soldiers behind the front lines. Drop by Old City Cemetery for a free donut and tour of the Station House Museum.

Lynchburg Restaurant Week:
June 10-17
Our annual event is back and better than ever! This year, 23 restaurants across the region are offering incredible meal deals to showcase their best dishes. Find their menus beginning on page 77, and start planning today.

Putting Tourists on the Right Path to Find the Area’s Best Artisans

A team of leaders in Lynchburg and the counties of Amherst, Appomattox and Campbell are working to develop an artisan trail for the region.

“Lynchburg is well known for its strong artist community with anchors such as the Academy Center of the Arts and Opera on the James bringing in professional level performing arts, Riverviews Artspace bringing talented visual artists from around the world and four strong college and university arts programs,” said Sergei Troubetzkoy, Director of Tourism for the Lynchburg Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau.* “And we’ll now be able to promote these assets alongside individual artisans and unique businesses.”

The trail will encourage visitors to discover the four localities by connecting artist studios, galleries, local farms, wineries, craft breweries, farmer’s markets, distilleries, cideries, restaurants, hotels, boutiques, and other artisanal and agritourism-based businesses.

Right now, they are calling it the Lynchburg Region Artisan Trail but that name could change. The team’s next steps include identifying potential participating artisans and local businesses, public awareness gatherings, a process to build consensus for the trail’s name, and the development
of promotional materials/activities.

*Troubetzkoy retired from his position in early April.

Local Openings & Closings

Hello! to Fire & Hops Taphouse in Wyndhurst

Hello! to Rustic View Home and Gardens on Waterlick Road (formerly Gary’s Garden Center)

Goodbye to Flowers Bakery Company on Hollins Mill Road

Hello! to Dublin 3 Coffeehouse on Jefferson Street

Hello! to breakfast diner The Barking Dog, expected to open downtown mid-June

Hello! to The Provincial Atelier, an artist workspace and photography studio on Timberlake Road

Hello! to The Leaf Creative Salads in Cornerstone

This Fly-In Bed and Breakfast on Smith Mountain Lake Offers a Serene Weekend Getaway

We turned in on a bright afternoon, the main sign greeting us at the edge of the property.

“I wonder where we should…” I started to say, “park” when my eyes found the next sign: “Guest Parking” with an arrow pointing left. It was the last time I found myself saying, “I wonder where…” because at Bedford Landings everything has been taken care of, down to the very last detail; a visit here is an experience in true relaxation—the type of relaxation where you don’t have to find, fiddle or figure anything out.

Looking for a tranquil view of Smith Mountain Lake? Which seat would you like? Upper observation deck? Or screened-in porch, fireside, back yard, hot tub? The options—the comfort—abound. Grab a homemade cookie or a drink to go along with whatever book you’re ready to dive into (and if you forgot one—they have plenty to share).

Relaxation rules the day in this quiet corner of Smith Mountain Lake, an ideal weekend getaway just under an hour from Lynchburg. And it’s all possible because two people brought their shared dream to life with a lot of work and a whole lot of love.

A Home Made for Hosting
The exceptional design of Bedford Landings is visually stunning. Approaching from the road, one is first struck with its height and expansive windows—even more impressive from inside where soaring ceilings and the stone fireplace span 35 and a half feet up to the highest point of the Eastern White pine timbers, brought in from Northern Georgia.

The windows provide gorgeous views of the quiet lake and the sky as well. Four guest suites span the upper level and look down on the fireplace and comfortable couches below with the open kitchen and dining area directly off the grand room. Each of the four suites have their own unique themes—the Fishing Room, the Forest Room, the Flying Room (appropriate as Bedford Landings is a fly-in destination for pilots) and the Fourth Room, their honeymoon suite, where I was excited to discover a gas fireplace and a jetted tub for our stay there. All guests enjoy private bathrooms in each of the suites along with all of the amenities you may expect to find at a hotel; the difference here, of course, is the personal touch.

“I think it is personal service and uniqueness,” Karen DeBord says of what sets them apart. They offer a hot tub; a fitness room; in-room, specialty treats; hold an ABC license; prepare gourmet breakfasts (Cheddar Baked Apples, anyone?) and offer a home theater with dozens of movies and a surround sound system. Karen adds that “reservation forms come directly to me for personal responses, and we have the extras (like flights over the lake for guests), the cleanliness of our home and our unique room décor” all to put Bedford Landings in a class of its own.

And if it all seems ideally designed for a bed and breakfast, it’s because it is. Perhaps most impressive of all is that Jack Phillips and Karen built it all from scratch.

A “Match” Made in Heaven
Chat with Jack and Karen for only a few minutes, and you’ll find a couple very much in sync. Married for 10 and a half years, it’s surprising to discover that they found each other later in life, after first marriages, decades of careers and child rearing. Now, in their “second act,” they are both quite sure of their individual strengths, interests and, most importantly, how well they complement each other.

It all started when they found each other on Match.com, and Jack noticed that Karen had a special quality from the very beginning.

“Comfortable,” he says. “She has a gift for making others feel comfortable and welcome.” It was something that drew him in, and today, provides the foundation of their bed and breakfast.

This “welcoming atmosphere” is one thing that recent guest Tim Huneycutt especially appreciated. Flying in from Lincolnton, NC, this past winter, he says, “Karen and Jack were just fantastic hosts. We felt like family and enjoyed conversation and hangar talk. Jack is building the same experimental airplane as we are, so we instantly connected.”

As Tim also noted, these hosts make quite the pair: Jack, with his unassuming, quick sense of humor; Karen, with a warm laugh and easygoing demeanor. It’s hard to separate their roles at Bedford Landings since their individual tasks meld so fluidly from one to the other. For the hot plated breakfasts each morning, Jack prepares their signature pecan-crusted bacon; Karen, the granola and other specialty items on regular rotation. Jack prepares scratch-made biscuits and the eggs benedict while Karen handles all things omelets.

Reservations and booking inquiries are Karen’s department while bookkeeping and annual records are Jack’s domain. And so it goes, all the way to the very foundation of the home; both of their fingerprints can be found all over the project. Jack designed the plans, drawing on his background in engineering to incorporate unique and practical elements (such as passive solar energy), and worked closely with their builders to create the one-of-a-kind home. Karen not only oversaw the daily operations throughout the construction process, but also did the interior decorating, bringing in works from local artists, special antique finds from their personal travels and some of her own stained glass art pieces.

It doesn’t take long to realize that Jack and Karen have infused their life with purpose and passion as even the smallest choices belie their commitment to industrious, quality efforts. Both coming from well-established, professional careers (he an engineer and project manager; she a university professor and graduate studies director), they have now fused their hobbies into a sustainable and shared “retirement plan,” albeit unlikely: hosting a fly-in bed and breakfast.

A Shared Second Act
Ask Jack and Karen when they first decided to open a bed and breakfast, and they look at each other inquisitively. “Well…it just happened gradually,” Karen says.

First, they discovered an ideal plot on Smith Mountain Lake—one that borders a public airport. Next, their conversations about retirement and what that could look like brought them to the idea of designing, building and operating their own bed and breakfast on that land.

“We have always enjoyed staying at ‘B & Bs’ and have been curious about their design and services,” Karen explains.

“We knew there were particular things we did not like in a ‘B & B’ and wanted to address these; combined with enjoying entertaining and meeting new people, [that] led us to building and running our own ‘B & B’.”

The name “Bedford Landings” is rich with meaning; not only representing their home county (which conveniently includes “bed”), “landings” denote both boats and planes, which is perhaps the most unique aspect of all. An avid pilot from the age of 16, Jack has flown for decades and even built his own recreational planes from scratch, including an award-winning Pietenpol Air Camper, designed by Bernard Pietenpol in 1929, and his current project, a Van’s RV-10, which is currently halfway completed.

To find a plot by Smith Mountain Lake that bordered the public airstrip was nothing short of “karmic” Karen says. They decided their “B & B” would allow for fly-in guests who can land their own planes and stay for a visit. Such an option allows guests such as Tim the opportunity to fly his personal plane up for a visit that otherwise wouldn’t happen.

“Residential air parks are rare,” Tim says. “I know of only two on the east coast, and we were lucky to be close to one of them—and to find a bed and breakfast on one is a miracle! It was the main reason we visited the area, which is beautiful.”

And for guests who drive in, which I did and highly recommend for those in the Lynchburg area, Jack offers flight tours over the lake. Knowing this, I’ve already thought of excuses to return for another quick getaway.

Jack and Karen are also expanding their services; so far, they’ve offered paint classes, a biscuit-making school and murder mystery dinner parties. But whatever it is that draws you to Bedford Landings—a much needed escape or a weekend celebration—enjoy a fresh cup of coffee, fireside, and chat with Karen and Jack for yourself; there’s so much more to their fascinating story that you should hear.

Learn more about this regional gem at www.BedfordLandings.com.

In the Jefferson National Forest

Get lost in the beautiful scenery of the Jefferson National Forest by hiking Apple Orchard Falls just east of Buchanan. For about 90 percent of this hike, you are next to or within view of streams—including the 200-foot Apple Orchard Falls.

Photo by Tyler Stephens—this issue’s Person of Interest featured on page 23.

Lynchburg Symphony Rises to the Occasion

As musicians tune their instruments on stage, a palpable excitement grows among the audience. The lights dim. The performers silence their instruments. A young conductor takes the platform and raises his baton over the sound of hushed anticipation.

With a swift stroke of that baton, Dr. Christopher Swanson leads the Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra into its 35th year with a bang.

LSO is a Hill City tradition. Founded in 1983, the symphony was established with a vision of cultivating musicianship through performance of timeless works. Today, the orchestra is blending old with new, staying true to its roots and its core mission while innovating for the future.

In the Beginning
LSO came from humble beginnings, starting as a small orchestra under the umbrella of the Fine Arts Center. The musicians enjoyed the ensemble and believed it could grow into something more. With a spirit of innovation—and a desire to expand the symphony—the group ventured out to become its own entity.

“We decided to head out on our own and form the Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra,” said Bruce Habitzruther, who served as Conductor and Music Director in 1983. “We put together a cracker jack board and received great financial support from the community.”

In the earliest days, LSO performed one concert per season at the Fine Arts Center. Gradually, they expanded to five concerts per season. “We had at least one major soloist—many of national stature—perform with us each year,” said Habitzruther. “We also had an annual ‘Pops’ concert that was funded by two special donors for 16 years.”

The LSO is comprised of 50 musicians who primarily live and work in Lynchburg. They are Lynchburg’s private music teachers, working and retired school teachers, and local band and orchestra directors. Several members have been with the LSO since its inception 35 years ago. As positions open up from year to year, the group eagerly welcomes young musicians into the orchestra.

The result is a thriving ensemble of talented musicians that make up the heart and soul of the symphony.

“One of my favorite memories was performing at Lynchburg City Stadium for one of our annual ‘Pops’ concerts. Over 4,000 guests attended, and one of the Lynchburg Hillcats players in attendance commented that he wished the baseball team could draw a crowd this size,” Habitzruther chuckled.

“It was an honor conducting the dedicated musicians throughout the years,” Habitzruther said. He served as Conductor and Music Director at LSO for 30 years, until he retired in 2014, in order to fully devote himself to the Lynchburg Symphony Youth Orchestra and Junior Strings, which he and his wife, Ellen, founded in 2001.

Rising to the Occasion
During the summer of 2014, a young music professor from Longwood University joined the LSO board. Dr. Christopher Swanson quickly fell in love with the organization and assumed the role of Conductor and Artistic Director.

He came with a vision of collaboration and revitalization that helps find a balance between preserving the symphony’s past and looking out for its future.

“I have always drawn my inspiration from collaboration,” said Swanson. “I enjoy the process of getting to know another person or another organization and letting them get to know me and the orchestra. I also love to find out how other people feel about music.”

Over the past two seasons, Swanson has dedicated himself to enhancing the symphony through collaboration with other arts organizations, universities and individuals. One of the first collaborative projects he led was with students at T.C. Miller Elementary School for Innovation.

“We asked the kids to listen to music that we were going to perform and create art based on what they heard,” recalled Swanson. “During the concert we projected giant images of their art above the orchestra as we performed. I will never hear Pictures at an Exhibition the same way again!”

At its core, the LSO has a goal of serving the Lynchburg community. The symphony accomplishes that goal by providing high quality orchestral music in a series of live concerts. With a new generation comes new opportunities, and Swanson has a plan to make the symphony even more relatable for audiences both young and old.

“Some people feel like if they don’t know anything about classical music, they shouldn’t come to a concert,” notes Swanson. “Nothing could be further from the truth. The fact is that one doesn’t need to be educated in music to appreciate good music. One only needs an open mind and perhaps a little sense of adventure.”

Adventure is definitely in the repertoire this season. LSO is creating programs that audiences will love. Families will hear music that they recognize, and they may also hear something new along the way.

“We have a spectacular season planned for our 35th year,” said Swanson.

“We will be celebrating music from the cinema and pairing it with great classical masterpieces of the symphonic repertoire. Some musical highlights that I am really excited about are Gershwin’s ‘Rhapsody in Blue,’ ‘Fantastic Symphony’ by Hector Berlioz, and music from ‘Phantom of the Opera’ and from ‘Star Wars.’”

Collaboration is vitally important to Swanson. It allows him to tap into local talent and to expose the symphony to an even broader audience. But that’s not the only reason that collaboration is so significant to him.

“The biggest reason is simply this: I love to make music with other people,” said Swanson. “For me, there is no greater joy than to bring a large group of people together to explore a great work of art. In this, we not only learn about the music itself but we learn about each other and ourselves. So, whether we are working with a group of opera singers, or ballet dancers, or a children’s choir, we will all gain from making music together. With that, the community wins every time.”

A Major Scale for the Future
LSO’s 35th year officially begins on June 10, 2017 when they’ll perform an outdoor concert at Riverfront Park that will feature American music, patriotic medleys, a hip hop symphony, and a fireworks display.

“We are very excited about the American Music Concert on June 10, hosted by the Academy Center of the Arts,” said Linda Edwards, who serves as the President of the Board of Directors for LSO. “BWXT is our generous sponsor, making the event free to the public!”

Edwards is also looking forward to LSO Night at the Lynchburg Hillcats on July 16. “Our Maestro, Dr. Christopher Swanson, will sing the National Anthem accompanied by LSO brass players, and he will throw out the first pitch.”

In the coming years, LSO is looking forward to performing in a spectacular restored venue downtown. When the renovation of the Academy Center of the Arts Historic Theatre is completed in late 2018, the LSO is planning to come home to the Academy, performing in the majestic, historic venue for many seasons to come.

With a strong focus on collaboration and exciting opportunities ahead, the LSO has a strategic plan to ensure they are a fixture in the region for years to come.

“Orchestras in the United States have gone through major changes, particularly in the past 5 years,” Edwards explained.

“Our Board of Directors has encouraged a diversity in the orchestra’s sound and audience appeal. We believe that a symphony orchestra has to prove its value each and every day to the community that supports it. This is a challenge we take seriously.”

LSO has accepted the challenge and risen to the occasion.

Today, the symphony is an integral part of the dynamic arts scene in Central Virginia. Lynchburg is proud of the LSO and—with a rich history of 35 years of music—this is just the beginning.

Looking for something new to try with your family when school lets out? We have six ideas for you in our 1st Annual Guide to Summer Fun!

Bikes Unlimited
What better way to explore our blossoming downtown than cruising the Blackwater Creek trail on two wheels.
The shop at Bikes Unlimited not only offers full service and sales, but its location also guarantees a day of adventure for the entire family. After your trip, grab some post ride grub on Jefferson Street, home to some of Lynchburg’s greatest restaurants.

FEKS Martial Arts
There is NO summer better then a FEKS summer. With different themed weeks such as Ninja week, Power Rangers week, and many more, your kids are sure to stay excited and looking forward to week after week. Don’t let your kids be the only ones that have fun.
With four different high fitness and self-defense based adult classes offered, you are
sure to make some new FRIENDS and have a BLAST. FOR 6 WEEKS FOR $99 and a FREE Uniform, come try something DIFFERENT, EXCITING, FUN, and learn some AWESOME skills at the same time.

Liberty Mountain Snowflex Center
LMSC is all about offering experiences that enrich the lives of families! Whether it’s a birthday party, first-time snow sports lesson, or simply a summer night tubing with the family, Snowflex is the perfect place for you and your family to come together in the great outdoors. The above image shows how the Summer Day Camps at LMSC can leave kids feeling like family.

Lynchburg Beach Music Festival
Lynchburg’s Riverfront is turning into a Beachfront on June 24th from 12-7. Enjoy music from The Embers, The Castaways, The Band of Oz, & The Motown Legacy Revue. Included activities are the obstacle courses, climbing wall, carnival games, and kid activities. Unique Food Trucks! Beach Drinks! Dancing! Cash prizes given out all day long! Kids 12 & under free. Tix $35/Advance; $45/Door; $150/VIP.

YMCA of Central Virginia
The YMCA of Central Virginia enriches the summer months with a range of activities and plenty of time for friendships and adventure! Youth and adults can enhance their summertime fun with camp, family activities, senior trips, outdoor activities and community engagement. Visit ymcacva.org for more information.

9 Ways To Tell If Loft Living Could Be For You

1. You want to be able to walk or bike everywhere. Loft living means living in a city with quick access to shops, dining and entertainment, so while you don’t need to get rid of your car, you also won’t need it just to go up a block or two.

2. You hate yardwork. No yard, no yard to work in!

3. You appreciate history and architecture. If you love the character of older homes and buildings and despise all things cookie-cutter, a loft could be for you.

4. You adore an open floor plan. A loft, by nature, has an open floor plan and high or vaulted ceilings.

5. You don’t need many bedrooms. Even though some lofts are larger than single-family homes, most only come with one or two bedrooms.

6. You enjoy the aesthetic of exposed brick and ductwork. Don’t think chintz or French country when it comes to lofts; think more along the lines of industrial, steampunk or rugged in terms of style.

7. You desire a sense of neighborhood and community. Loft living means sharing bike racks, grills and outdoor spaces, as well as living in the heart of the hustle and bustle—you can’t help but get plugged into the area when you live this way.

8. You’re on board with Marie Kondo and her method. You try to keep only possessions that are useful, beautiful or spark joy, and don’t need a storage unit for keeping the rest. Storage is usually at a minimum in these kinds of properties.

9. You always wanted to live in a city. Maybe you’ve always dreamed of living in a chic Parisian apartment, but you have ties to this area (or you don’t speak French). Satisfy your steampunk self or your inner sophisticate and get downtown.

Spice Up Your Summer with Cajun Crawfish at Perky’s Restaurant

By RACHEL DALTON

Together with his mother, Gay Perkins, Greg Toren owns Perky’s Restaurant on Route 29 in Altavista. Greg tells me people come from all over to enjoy Perky’s family atmosphere and tasty food but quite often for one dish specifically—the crawfish! Crawfish or crayfish (or mudbug if you prefer) are freshwater crustaceans that taste like a combination of lobster and shrimp.

Listed as an appetizer or an entrée that comes with a salad and two sides (I’m partial to the twice baked potato when available), the Cajun Crawfish is served in a Cajun sauce alongside a spicy cocktail sauce. When all the crawfish tails are gone, Greg says his customers love to
soak up the leftover juices with their French bread.

His mother and her husband “Perky,” who passed away in 2011, decided to add crawfish to the menu when they transitioned the restaurant from a hotdog and hamburger joint to the cozy steak and seafood establishment it is today.

“One reason I think people love Perky’s so much is for the consistency! 90 percent of the time the same server waits on you, the same people prepare their meal, and they see the same friendly faces throughout the restaurant,” said Greg.

The Cajun Crawfish alone are worth the short drive from Lynchburg. And no matter if you’re a first timer or a regular, everyone is treated like part of the Perky’s family at this truly special restaurant.

Perky’s Restaurant
802 Wards Rd, Altavista, VA 24517
(434) 369-9908
www.perkys-restaurant.net