CENTRA WORKS HARD TO KEEP SLEEPING INFANTS SAFE

Forget what your grandmother, or even your mother, told you about how a baby sleeps best. It could be fatal advice.

Every year researchers are finding new techniques to prevent infants from suffocating in their sleep.

“The biggest thing they taught us was to be sure they are lying on their backs,” said Victoria Solomon, whose daughter was born in September at Virginia Baptist Hospital. Like many new parents, Solomon said she was most concerned about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, when babies die in their sleep for no apparent reason.

Solomon and other mothers are benefitting from a new program being used by Centra, which was recently recognized by the National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program with the highest designation as a “Gold Safe Sleep Champion” for their commitment to best practices and education on infant safe sleep.

“Sleep-related death (SRD) results in the loss of more than 3,500 infants every year in the U.S.,” Michael H. Goodstein, M.D., neonatologist and medical director of research at Cribs for Kids®, said in a news release. “We know that modeling safe infant sleep in the hospital and providing education to families has a significant effect on infant mortality. Cribs for Kids Hospital Certification Program is designed to recognize those hospitals that are taking an active role in reducing these preventable deaths.”

Last summer, Centra began using swaddles on all infants born at Virginia Baptist Hospital, funded by the Centra Foundation. “Right after Ellie Grace was born, one nurse taught my husband how to swaddle while another helped me,” Soloman recalls.

Dr. Holly Turner, a Centra pediatrician, says swaddling infants prevents them from waking when they have a startle response, keeps them warm, and simulates the security of the womb.

One of the newer recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics is to keep the infant in a bassinet or crib in the parents’ bedroom for the first six months to a year. “You are within earshot if the child is having a choking episode or is in any kind of distress,” Dr. Turner said.

While monitors can alert parents to trouble, it’s difficult to see what’s actually happening, she added, so it’s better to have an immediate visual of the baby. It’s also far more convenient for nursing mothers to have the child nearby.

Solomon said she and her husband sleep well with their daughter in the room and that it’s reassuring to know the most up-to-date practices for sleeping infants. “I think SIDS was always a concern for us,” she said.

While infants should be in your room, you should never sleep with them in your bed because of the chance of rolling over and suffocating them, Dr. Turner added, explaining how most SRDs occur at four to five months.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, there were 3,600 sudden unexpected infant deaths (SUID) in the United States in 2017. These deaths occur among infants less than one year old and have no immediately obvious cause.

The three commonly reported types of SUID include: sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), unknown cause, and accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed. Of those deaths, 1,400 were due to SIDS, about 1,300 deaths due to unknown causes, and about 900 deaths due to accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed.

Dr. Turner said doctors still don’t know what causes SIDS, but accidental suffocation and strangulation can be prevented by following safe sleep guidelines, which also include keeping a baby’s sleeping surface firm and free from blankets, pillows, stuffed animals, or crib bumpers. “I talk to parents about that until my face is blue,” she said.

Putting infants on their back has proven the best position, Dr. Turner said, because children normally turn their heads if they spit up. On their stomachs they have no way to turn their heads and can suffocate. Dr. Turner also noted that pacifiers can help reduce the chance of SIDS, though it’s not clear why.

All the Centra pediatric nurses and physicians talk to new moms about best sleeping practices, as well as demonstrating them at the hospital while mother and child are there. Women with vaginal births stay 48 hours, while those with Caesarean sections stay 72. New moms also get handouts about safe sleeping. “The more knowledge you give parents, the more numbers [of deaths] decrease,” Dr. Turner said.

For more information on the Cribs for Kids® National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification program, visit https://cribsforkids.org/hospitalcertification/.

Create a Safe Sleep Environment
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends:

• Place the baby on his or her back on a firm sleep surface such as a crib or bassinet with a tight-fitting sheet. Use a swaddle or sleep sack.
• Avoid use of soft bedding, including crib bumpers, blankets, pillows, and soft toys. The crib should be bare.
• Share a bedroom with parents, but not the same sleeping surface, preferably until the baby turns one but at least for the first six months. Room-sharing decreases the risk of SIDS by as much as 50 percent.
• Avoid baby’s exposure to smoke, alcohol, and illicit drugs.

GO BRIGHT OR KEEP IT LIGHT BUT DON’T BE AFRAID TO CRANK UP THE PIGMENT IN 2020

After a long stretch of whites and neutrals, we are extremely excited to announce: color is making a comeback. And if you’re ready to bring some bolder hues (and patterns) into your home, what better place to start than on the walls?

“People are definitely wanting to add in more color,” says Mary Lou Stufano at James T. Davis Paint and Design Center in Lynchburg. “There has been a very strong shift towards the artisanal movement and working with local artists. People are also traveling and bringing back fabrics from other countries that they want to work into their style.”

Mary Lou and fellow James T. Davis designer Kara Oliver not only showed us a few top color choices, they took it a step further and showed us how to style these paint options in your home.

Colors of the Year

While you may have heard about Pantone’s widely publicized “Color of the Year” (their 2020 pick is an elegant Classic Blue), you may not realize that local paint stores, such as James T. Davis, research and prepare their own list of recommendations. What’s even better—it’s not limited to just one color!

From “Mullen Pink” to “On the Nile,” their 2020 lineup includes mostly vibrant, rich colors—with only a few tamer counterparts. The color palette as a whole gives off a formal, traditional vibe. Kara and Mary Lou see these colors working well in one of Lynchburg’s older, historic homes with dark mahogany furniture, even wicker and rattan. But don’t forget to bring in some modern touches so it doesn’t look dated.

“Add maybe a brass and glass coffee table or a very modern piece of art to tone down that traditional feeling,” says Stufano.

If you aren’t quite ready to paint your living room the orange-inspired “Ballet Cream,” Oliver suggests starting small. “Think in small doses. A half bath for example. A homeowner can have some fun with that space,” she says.

Transitional Style

Taking a step down from the Colors of the Year are two “transitional” looks created by our James T. Davis experts. “These are a transition between a traditional and contemporary design. You may see a traditional style or wood furniture but much cleaner lines. Not curly and fussy,” Stufano says.

The colors they chose for these looks—a range of pinks and blues—are not neutrals, but they are soft and feminine, even in their darkest shades.

“Gold accents can play well off the blue,” Oliver says, but adds that silvers would work as well and encourages homeowners to mix metals. “Because they aren’t as glaring and shiny anymore, some metals you can’t even really tell if it’s a gold or a silver.”

One way to bring a metal into a room is with wallpaper. A modern, geometric pattern can give these pink and blue shades a little bit of an edge. Add other textures to draw people in such as velvet, a popular fabric choice. “People like things that feel good, and light plays off of velvet differently than it would a linen,” says Stufano.

If velvet and Laura Ashley–inspired colors have you thinking, “what decade are we in?” don’t fret. “Some colors and textures are definitely coming back into play, but they are being presented differently. For example, we are seeing cleaner, straighter window treatments. None of those valences that used to be popular,” Stufano says.

Overwhelmed By Your Choices?
Oliver and Stufano tell clients to find items in their home that they love and bring them to their consultation. Then, they can start choosing some colors around those choices. “This could be a pillow, a fabric, a piece of art. I had someone bring me a shell once,” she says. “For people with new builds or those who are ‘I don’t know where to start,’ this narrows down their selections.”

Spring Tablescapes

Goodbye folded laundry and paperwork—it’s time to return your dining table to its former glory

If a spring brunch or dinner party is on your end-of-winter-celebration checklist, there is an easy way to take your dining area décor to the next level: a styled tablescape. “Tablescapes can elevate furniture, from an incredibly simple table to a hand-me-down set to something brand new,” says Ashley Hilbish, interior designer with Curtains, Blinds & Bath. “They add tons of visual interest to a room that typically gets the smallest budget and is usually left for last when it comes to decorating.”

Looking at your empty table and not sure where to start? Ashley says first, try to block out the colors in the rest of your home. “The table is one place where you can get away with not matching the rest of your space,” she says, adding that great tablescapes have lots of layers as well as contrasting colors.

To show us how it’s done, Ashley created two table settings—in two very different styles—that we hope will inspire you to reclaim your dining table this spring.

Bright & Traditional

Versatility is the backbone of this transitional tablescape that’s perfect for someone trying to incorporate updated pieces into their more traditional home. “It neither screams stuffy or too casual,” Ashley says. “This look can go from full-blown Easter meals with the family to a simple cheese and wine pairing on a sunny afternoon with friends.” In fact, this table setting is so versatile, just switch out your textiles and flowers from season to season—everything else can stay.

Give your table a personal spring touch by painting the names of your guests on eggs.

Ditch the rings and tie your cloth napkins into a bow-tie shape. Also, don’t be afraid to use a mix of metal finishes.

Intricate floral candlesticks are a nod to traditional style. For a finished and cozy look, add white unscented candles.

Ashley encourages clients with longer tables to try using two table runners horizontally instead of one down the middle.

This more formal spring centerpiece features orange tulips alongside a diverse mix of white flowers, pampas grass, and feathered/seeded eucalyptus.

Like What You See?
Many of these items from both tablescapes are for sale at Curtains, Blinds & Bath—18458 Forest Road, Forest, VA 24551.

Bold & Whimsical

Dark colors, matte finishes and soft textures collide gorgeously in this “moody” tablescape that would fit well in mid-century, boho or modern homes. It gives off a metropolitan vibe—you may even want to pretend you’re brunching with friends in New York or Los Angeles. “Am I saying you can’t mix in grandma’s vintage silver with this for a personal touch and still make it work? Not at all … but I think overall, the textures and finishes—even down to the eucalyptus greens—really make this look on trend,” Ashley says.

Create your own floating plants—these centerpieces are easy to make and work well with most décor styles.

A white boho-inspired runner gives this table setting a more laid-back vibe. For those with a playful spirit, ceramic bunnies give this décor the “spring” touch it needs.

Burgundy Scabiosa gives a pop of color to this arrangement that features delicate pink Quicksand roses.

Select items with varying heights to add dimension and interest.

Soft pink bowls contrast sharply with black plates, fitting in with a modern aesthetic.

Many thanks to:
Tablescape Design: Curtains, Blinds & Bath,
www.curtainsblindsbath.com
Venue: Atelier Studio & Gathering Space,
www.atelierlynchburg.com
Photography: Adam and Sarah Mullins,
www.themullinsphotoco.com
Floral Arrangements: Fleur by Heather,
www.fleurbyheather.com

THINKING OUTSIDE THE (MEDICATION) BOX

This spring, just ask around (or simply pause to listen for the din of coughing, sniffling and sneezing), and you’ll discover that environmental allergies seem to be a common nemesis—especially in deciduous tree–dominated central Virginia. By taking a walk down any typical drugstore aisle, you can see just how prevalent the issue is by the number of “allergy relief” medications that stock the shelves. There are pink pills and green ones, nose sprays and eye drops. Look more closely at those labels, however, and you’ll see the unnerving plethora of potential side effects that result from continued use.

What if there was a more natural way to calm—or even eliminate—those bothersome allergy symptoms?

Nature’s vaccine

“I like to tell people that homeopathy* is a similar concept to that of vaccination,” explains Steffi Wells, a manager at Health Nut Nutrition in Wyndhurst. “Homeopathic supplements introduce your body to specific allergy triggers in order to gradually build up your immunity to those allergens.”

Wells recommends that those who suffer from seasonal allergies get a jump on natural treatments before symptoms begin. “It’s most effective to begin taking homeopathic supplements ahead of the season, starting with a higher dose and reducing the dose as the seasons continues,” she says. “Everyone responds differently, but many of our customers report a reduction in symptom severity—and some even eliminate symptoms altogether.”

So, how do you know which supplement is right for you? Many people have had testing done and know the specific culprits responsible for their sneezing and coughing. If this is you, you’ll be able to choose the perfect single-ingredient tincture from the shelf. And it’s perfectly fine to combine multiple supplements to create an individualized immune-boosting cocktail. “For people who don’t know what their specific trigger is,” says Wells, “the ideal is to take a supplement that has a combination of the most common allergens.” Again, as the body adjusts over time, the dose gradually decreases, with some people able to stop dosing by season’s end.

In addition to the vaccine approach, Wells recommends that allergy sufferers try a natural alternative to prevalent over-the-counter antihistamines: Nettle and Quercetin (both histamine regulators). “This supplement, that combines both, is ideal for immediate relief from sneezing and coughing,” she says. “And it works very well in conjunction with lower-dose homeopathy later in the allergy season.”

Moreover, this approach eliminates the grogginess and dryness often associated with antihistamine use. Although Nettle and Quercetin can be taken daily or as needed, there isn’t the same tolerance buildup like with antihistamines, which can require higher and higher doses for the same level of effectiveness.

Sweet relief

According to Wells, the most precise natural tactic to defend against spring allergies is to savor a few spoonsful of gooey golden goodness every day. “We sell a ton of locally sourced honey,” she says. “The bees have been spreading pollen specific to our region and to this particular year, so they’ve done all the work in identifying exactly the right ingredient.”

Much like the homeopathic supplements, ingesting the honey daily helps your body build resistance. Wells adds, “Taking just a tablespoon in the morning, one midday, and one in the evening can significantly impact allergy symptoms.” Health Nut Nutrition customers report that this sweet treatment is extremely effective—some families purchase a gallon of honey at a time. Bonus: Honey supplies antimicrobial qualities as well, delivering year-round benefits such as potential cold and flu prevention and faster recovery.

Turning to natural remedies isn’t new. In fact, many of the homeopathic ingredients have been used for millennia. And although their initial uses clearly predated laboratory studies, today’s science is demonstrating the hows and whys of these traditional treatments. So, if you’re one of those people who can sense the season’s transition not by the longer days but the number of sneezes, maybe it’s time to consider an alternative to those little pink pills.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

To learn more about natural remedies for allergies or discover the many benefits of natural holistic health, visit the Health Nut Nutrition website at healthnutnutrition.com. Or check out their store located at 1701 Enterprise Drive, and take a tour of all their organic groceries, supplements, and beauty products.

BEHIND THE SCENES

Temperatures were in the teens as we descended on Atelier Studio & Gathering Space January 23 for a styled spring-inspired photo shoot. Inside the Madison Street business, it was all hands on deck (or in some cases, ladders were used) to create two unique table settings—from the perfectly tied napkins to the exquisitely styled flower arrangements.

Later in the day, at the home of Jill Rufus in Forest, the family dog Hershey offered plenty of comedic relief as our freelance photographer, Laura Beth Davidson, worked her magic—(we’re not 100 percent sure, but we think he was subtly telling us he wanted a belly rub?)

Flip to our expanded Home & Garden section on page 25 to see how it all turned out!

Local Openings & Closings

Hello! to Hawaii Poke and Greens in Cornerstone.
Hello! to County Smoak on Timberlake Road (near Tiny Town Golf).
Goodbye to the Calle Cruz Miami and Uprooted food trucks as the owners relocate to Florida this year.
Hello! to Mardel Christian & Education. The book store will open next to Hobby Lobby this spring.
Hello! to Mrs. Joy’s Absolutely Fabulous Treats. The bakery will not be relocating and is staying in Downtown Lynchburg!
Goodbye to Whole Health Physical Therapy in Wyndhurst.
Goodbye to Waitr in Lynchburg. The app stopped its service here in late January.
Hello! to a new location of Batter Bar on Church Street.

Mark Your Calendars

M*A*S*H, The Play
March 5-7, 8 p.m.
Based on Richard Booker’s 1968 novel about three Army doctors, this Renaissance Theatre performance is full of comic adventures… with a little bit of romance and drama, too. Buy tickets at www.renaissancetheatrelynchburg.org and see our complete Theater Preview Guide starting on page 52.

Empty Bowls 2020
March 21, 10:30 a.m.
Raise money for Lynchburg Daily Bread at this 12th annual event at the Academy Center of the Arts’ Warehouse Theater. Your $20 ticket includes a hand-made ceramic bowl (all are donated by
local potters), soup tastings, bread, dessert and a beverage. Buy tickets at academycenter.org.

Lynchburg Garden Day
April 21, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
This self-driving tour, part of Historic Virginia Garden Week, features five local properties full of history and unique charm. This year’s lineup includes the octagonal villa and ornamental gardens at Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest. Find more information at www.lynchburggardenclub.org.

Antique Rose Festival & Sale
April 25 – May 31
2020 marks the 25th anniversary of this beloved Hill City event at Old City Cemetery that’s also the largest antique rose sale in the Mid-Atlantic region.
The festival includes a series of special events at the cemetery and downtown. Learn more at gravegarden.org and read more about the history of the festival starting on page 93.

Dance Theatre of Harlem
May 2, 7:30 p.m.
This dynamic, multi-ethnic ballet company will take the stage at the Historic Academy of Music Theatre. Dance Theatre of Harlem’s performances include classic as well as contemporary works that use the language of ballet to celebrate African American culture. Buy tickets at academycenter.org.

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS EXPLORE EXPRESSION THROUGH HIP-HOP

Photos by Lucas Moore

What happens in Freestyle Fridays, stays in Freestyle Fridays.

That’s the rule teacher Casey Wood has for students in his “Exploring Language and Culture Through Hip Hop” class at E.C. Glass High School, an elective that explores hip-hop and rap as an art form.

As soon as the bell rings on Fridays, the classroom is quickly transformed into a makeshift performance space. Students circle up and huddle around their “DJ booth,” a filing cabinet with a computer and speakers on top. But it does the job as they pass the microphone around and rap about whatever comes to mind.

As the music blasts through the speakers, other students are scattered around the room. Some write, some draw, and others choose to quietly watch the performance unfold.

“The teacher next door is pretty understanding,” Wood jokes. “He doesn’t give his students tests on Fridays since he knows what we’ll be doing in here.”

A Bedford native, Wood began teaching English at E.C. Glass in 2006.

“Growing up, I had a lot of teachers who inspired me,” he said. “When I was halfway through college, I just knew that was what I wanted to do.”

Over the years, Wood wanted to find a more creative way to teach classic literature—a way that was relatable to his predominately black students. He already had a form of Freestyle Fridays in his English classes as a way for students to burn off steam following a long week of learning vocabulary. That led him to present the idea of a hip-hop elective to the administration. A musician himself, Wood thought this could be another way to bridge the gap with his students, since most of them have listened to hip-hop since their childhood.

“I started thinking about how I could connect Charles Dickens to Tupac,” he said. “Ultimately, it’s all about how people use words to touch other people. Words matter and influence our lives, but art looks differently to other people.”

This is the third year Wood has taught the class, which is open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors. It has a strong following, with nearly 100 students enrolled over three sessions.

“We cover poetry, storytelling, some lessons on hip-hop artists, and politics. This year, we’ve introduced a music production continuation of the class where our students can do some recording or DJ,” Wood explained.

The coursework also allows room for creativity. For example, Wood asks students to choose an artist and see how far back they can trace his or her influences—some dating all the way to Mozart. More recently, the students studied Kendrick Lamar’s “good kid, m.A.A.d city” album.

When Tavian Edwards first signed up for the class, he saw it as an easy way to fulfill his graduation requirements. But after he was assigned a project about the meaning behind “What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye, he realized the impact music has on the world.

“You don’t really listen to the lyrics most of the time,” Edwards said. “But when you sit down and focus on it, you can see how much pain and feeling [Gaye] put into that song and how he wanted to bring the community together.”

Senior Victoria Jenkins also had mixed feelings about the class before it started.

“At first, to be honest, I didn’t know how learning hip-hop from a white teacher was going to go. But I appreciate Mr. Wood’s incorporation of the culture and how he tries to understand what rap music means to us,” Jenkins said, adding that the class is a true safe haven for students.

Senior D’Kiya Jackson agrees, saying many students feel like they can’t truly express themselves while at school—but in this class, there is a different vibe.

“Mr. Wood is open to everything,” Jackson said. “Whether you like poetry or jazz, if you like hip-hop, he’ll allow you to express yourself in any form. He doesn’t exclude anyone. … That’s really important with kids our age.”

Though Freestyle Friday is a time to perform, Wood doesn’t pressure his students to share publicly. Fridays are also a time for students to journal, draw, record or pursue whatever art form they choose. For example, in the weeks after Kobe Bryant’s death, Jackson took time to sketch out a tribute to the basketball player during Friday’s class.

Wood said there are many benefits to giving students open-ended time to be creative.

“It boosts their voice and gives them confidence,” he explained.

And Jenkins said she has seen many classmates come out of their shells this year by embracing the rhythms of rap or hip-hop—regardless of their background.

“It’s not just a certain group of students rapping in the class,” she said. “You got all types of genders, colors… everybody’s rapping. It’s not condensed to one type of person.”

“It’s not the same type of rap either,” Edwards added. “It’s not just heavy beats or snare drums. You can have something that’s more spiritual. Sometimes there’s pan flutes and the beats can switch and become a different type of music.”

The impact this class has had on students continues well after they graduate. Wood says he still keeps in touch with some of his former students.

“Many feel like they’ve found their voice [because of the class],” he said. “That’s how I judge if I’m successful as a teacher.”

As Jenkins, Edwards, and Jackson get ready to graduate in a few months, they are already reflecting on what they’ve learned from Wood and his hip-hop lessons—that anything is possible if you just put yourself, and your voice, out there.

“You have the ability to be open in the world,” Jackson said. “We’re entering a new chapter in our lives and Mr. Wood taught us to be open. Try new things. It’s okay to step out of your comfort zone.
I feel like that’s what his class is about. It’s about expressing yourself and being free.”

Step away from the vase (and out of your comfort zone) and give one of these STUNNING displays a try

Photography by Heather Kidd

Special spring events call for statement-making blooms. According to Mary Ellen LaFreniere of Steel Cut Flower Co., one of the biggest mistakes she sees is when people display flowers in vases all over their home. “Focus all of your attention on one area, make that the focal point,” she says.

Ready to try something different? Mary Ellen created three unique options to get you started.

Chandelier

Most people have a chandelier over their dining table, and it’s already a focal point, especially if your event centers around a meal. First, Mary Ellen suggests keeping it simple—choose one color palette or even just one flower. “With one color family, the placement of flowers won’t matter as much,” she says. (In all three of these arrangements, Mary Ellen used tulips, sweet peas, heirloom carnations, peonies, bush ivy and lilies.) For the modern, rectangular chandelier on the previous page, she molded chicken wire into a column shape—to create a base for greenery—then after attaching it to the chandelier, added in flowers throughout. Let the flowers cascade down and be natural, she says, “as a way to liven up the space.”

Tip: For those with traditional chandeliers, Mary Ellen says she would wrap greenery around the center point and then use the fixture’s natural curves as places where flowers would hang down, affixed with small wire hooks.

Chair

An exquisitely decorated chair is perfect for a gathering with a “guest of honor” who will be the center of attention in lots of photos. Mary Ellen used chicken wire molded into a column shape to create the backbone of the arrangement, then fastened it to the chair with boutonniere pins. She suggests starting from the ground and working your way up to create an organic, climbing shape. The goal is to make the greenery and flowers look like they are connected to the rest of the space. “We like for things to look natural, have a liveliness factor. Instead of just a decoration we stuck on the chair,” she says.

Tip: Don’t go overboard. You don’t want this arrangement getting in your guest of honor’s way or dominating photos.

Mantel

A home’s mantel is often already the focal point of the living room. Why not dress it up? Mary Ellen says the goal is to have the arrangement feel as though it’s reaching out into the room. “People tend to go upward on mantels,” she explains. “But due to the height of them, it looks better when they are more at eye level and reaching out.” Also, asymmetry is key to make the arrangement feel more “alive” and less stuffy. Here, you can embrace finicky flowers that don’t always look great in vases (we’re talking about you, tulips) and have them cascading upside down for a modern look.

Tip: If you want the arrangement to last, put shallow bowls or planters on the mantel to keep your flowers in place and watered. For day-of décor, use chicken wire as the structure, and attach to small nails in the back of your mantel.

DOLLY PARTON’S IMAGINATION LIBRARY WILL EXPAND IN LYNCHBURG THIS YEAR

The Dolly Parton Imagination Library, an international initiative that sends free books to children from birth to age five, is extending its reach to additional Lynchburg-area zip codes this year. Local education-focused nonprofit The Aspire Foundation began partnering with DPIL last fall and has since signed up many families who reside in the 24501 and 24504 zip codes.

“When we started the program last September, we didn’t know how fundraising was going to go,” says Aspire Foundation co-founder Mary Omotoye. “We decided to start the program in 24501 and 24504 because according to the U.S. Census Bureau, those are the most socioeconomically challenged areas in Lynchburg. We are happy to announce that we now have enough funding to open the program up to 24502 and 24503 as well in 2020!” Grants from the Schewel Family Foundation, Centra Foundation, Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation, and Mustaches 4 Kids increased DPIL funding significantly.

Omotoye first learned about DPIL when she and her family lived in Cleveland, Ohio. She and her husband, Samuel, enrolled their two young sons in the program and received free books for about half a year. When the family moved to Lynchburg, however, they discovered that DPIL was not available. For the Omotoyes, this absence proved to be an exciting opportunity rather than a disappointment.

“I checked the Imagination Library website and found out that in order to be an affiliate of the program, you have to be a nonprofit organization,” Omotoye notes. “I talked to my husband about it and we thought, ‘Why don’t we start a nonprofit?’ We always had it in mind that we eventually wanted to do nonprofit work in the education sphere, so we thought this initiative was a great place to start.” The couple founded the Aspire Foundation in 2018.

Rox Cruz, a local mom and Freedom Schools Site Coordinator for The Listening, Inc., was one of the many parents who was excited about DPIL coming to Lynchburg.

“I am a major Dolly Parton fan, so I’ve known about this program for over 10 years,” Cruz says. “Once I had my first son, I wanted to sign him up for the program right away. We were living in Florida at the time, but unfortunately our zip code was not eligible for the program. I was so stoked to find out we were eligible in Lynchburg!”

Beloved country music artist Dolly Parton founded DPIL in 1995, and the program has since expanded beyond Dolly’s home state of Tennessee to all 50 states and to Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Ireland. Childhood literacy is a passion of Parton’s largely due to her own upbringing.

“Dolly Parton’s father was illiterate, and she grew up very poor. Her mission is to provide books for all children, no matter their family’s income,” said Omotoye, who also experienced a humble childhood. “My husband and I are immigrants and didn’t have a lot growing up, but good educations and a love of books and learning helped us find success—I’m a pharmacist and my husband is a physician.”

By 2003, DPIL had mailed one million books, and now the program sends out over one million books per month. DPIL earned the Library of Congress Best Practices Award in 2014, and the initiative’s 100 millionth book was dedicated to the Library of Congress in 2018.

Enrolled children between ages birth and five receive one free, high-quality book each month until they turn six. The books are selected by an expert panel and come from reputable publisher Penguin Random House. Titles are age-appropriate, at least two bilingual titles are sent to each child each year, and DPIL’s partnership with the Braille Institute of America ensures that blind and visually impaired children receive Braille books.

Cruz, whose sons are one-and-a-half and four, is especially grateful for the addition of bilingual books to their home library.

“My husband is Puerto Rican, so it is really meaningful to us that this program occasionally sends out bilingual books,” she says. “I was so excited when my four-year-old received A Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats in English and Spanish last month.”

Although DPIL is beneficial for all children in the targeted age range, it is ideal to enroll a child at birth.

“What’s special about this program is that it really starts from birth,” says Omotoye. “We’re really trying to target that age group before kindergarten because there are tons of studies that show that just having books in the home early on in a child’s life—before the child is even talking—is incredibly impactful on brain development and reading readiness.”

Of course, reading to your child is even more beneficial than simply having books in your home. “For parents, the DPIL books are a reminder to be more intentional about sitting down and reading with your children,” Cruz says.

Omotoye adds that DPIL has a “large impact with a relatively low financial input.” It costs $25 per child per year, which comes out to $2.10 per book including shipping costs.

With the upcoming inclusion of additional Lynchburg zip codes, the Aspire Foundation will be focusing on registering new families for DPIL in 2020. Existing partnerships with Miriam’s House, Johnson Health Center, Richeson Drive Pediatrics, the Jubilee Community Center, and Lynchburg City Schools (specifically the Pre-K Headstart program) will continue to raise awareness of and participation in the program, and Omotoye hopes to work with even more community partners this year.

“To register as many children as possible, we want to partner with places that provide services and programs for children,” she says. “We have many wonderful community partners already and are hoping to partner with One Community, One Voice and other organizations in the near future.”

Cruz highly recommends enrolling in the program as a supplement to taking your children to the library.

“We love taking our kids to the library, but this program brings free books to us when we’re too busy to go out or it’s flu season and we don’t want to risk our kids getting sick,” she notes.

Although the long-term benefits of DPIL, libraries, and reading books in general may be lost on little ones, the joy of receiving a free and personalized gift in the mail applies to folks of all ages.

“For kids, it’s simply a gift that they get in the mail,” Cruz says. “There’s a kind of magic in receiving snail mail, especially when you’re receiving something wrapped up with your name on it. My four-year-old thinks Grandma Dolly sends him the books personally!”

To check your family’s eligibility for DPIL, visit aspirefound.org. Although it is possible to register online, Omotoye recommends doing a written registration form at this time. To learn more about DPIL, visit imaginationlibrary.com.

I joke with my friends when each issue of Lynchburg Living comes out, “This one is my favorite.”

True, there are some magazines that stand out in my mind more than others over the past four years. (And there are a couple that I recall thinking, “Well… we’ll do better next time.” Such is life.)

But for real—this issue is my favorite.

When I look back on how it all came together, two words come to mind: connection and collaboration. Starting last summer, I began organizing what kind of content we would include in our Home & Garden issue. A colleague recommended I check out Jill Rufus’s home in Forest. During our first phone conversation, we connected on so many levels—from how hard it is to balance work and family to our gravitation toward colorful décor. Not only was she a delight to work with on our home tour—“Bold and Beautiful,” page 27—I feel as though I’ve made a friend, and gained a mentor, too.

We also collaborated with several phenomenal local businesses to pull off some stunning Home & Garden content:

I suggested a styled tablescape to Ashley Hilbish at Curtains, Blinds & Bath—done, she said. We needed a location—Adam and Sarah Mullins welcomed us into their Atelier Lynchburg space. Then, Heather Smith of Fleur by Heather didn’t hesitate when asked if she could create centerpieces.

James T. Davis not only agreed to talk paint colors with me, they took it a step further and created full design boards for us.

Mary Ellen LaFreniere, of Steel Cut Flower Co., said “yes” to a relatively late-in-the-game decision to do a photo shoot showing unique ways to decorate with flowers.

These folks made my job easy—I’m grateful for a community that is open to new ideas and creative concepts.

Who are you connecting and collaborating with this year?

I’d love to hear.

All My Best,

Shelley Basinger, Managing Editor
Shelley@lynchburgmag.com

USING FLOWERS AMONG FOOD CROPS

There is a certain satisfaction in seeing crisp, clean rows of tomatoes or tightly packed lines of lettuce. But in my gardening experience, I have found that my plants are happier and healthier when they are given a bit more freedom—not unlike people.

In nature, plants don’t tend to segregate themselves into exclusive groupings, but rather they grow together, mixing and mingling. In doing so, they achieve a symbiosis; they benefit from and protect one another.

Polyculture is an agricultural practice that seeks to mimic this natural diversity by growing a variety of plants together so they can help one another grow. Planting flowers in and among vegetable crops is a wonderful way to naturally promote garden health and, as an added benefit, enhance the beauty of your garden spaces. I personally love gardens that take on a wild, lost-cottage appearance—but flowers don’t have to look messy and haphazard. Considering size and height, complementary colors, and spacing will help to give your garden an elegant, graceful appearance.

However, the main reason to plant flowers alongside your veggies is that they can attract—and repel—insects. As gardeners, there are bugs we like, and bugs we would rather be without. Pollinators such as butterflies, moths, and, of course, bees, are critical to the survival of vegetable gardens. Then, there are the bad bugs: aphids, beetles, leafminers, squash bugs… the list goes on and on. Planting flowers can deter pests by their scent, make it more difficult for pests to travel and spread through your garden, and even attract other insects that eat those pests. >>

Pollinators, Please!

So much of the food we eat relies on pollinators to grow and produce fruit. Planting the right flowers can draw them in and give your garden the boost it needs to be productive.

Bees, well known for their productive pollination in gardens, can’t see the color red. They are especially attracted to blue and violet flowers that smell sweet and provide easy access to nectar. But bees are not the only pollinators we want in our garden! Butterflies and hummingbirds are excellent pollinators too, and they have different mouth-shapes and color preferences. Hummingbirds, for example, love red, cone-shaped flowers and can access nectar that is stored deeper within the bloom. So when in doubt, plant a variety!

Cosmos: Full disclosure, I listed these first because they are my favorite. I love how leggy and wild cosmos grow, especially when planted among sunflowers (which are also great for bees). But these beauties are professional pollinator magnets, with many varieties and colors to choose from. Bees love the purple and pink varieties, while the white sensation variety is especially good for attracting lacewings, who in larvae form have quite an appetite for aphids. Tip: They look stunning among anything that vines or climbs up a trellis.

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea): Bees love this stuff. Their purple, cone-shaped blossoms are the perfect color and shape for our busy, buzzing garden friends. As an added bonus, echinacea is well-known for its immune-boosting, cold-fighting qualities when used in tea.

Zinnias: An excellent choice for the vegetable garden, zinnias attract lots of beneficial insects. In particular, butterflies love them. They are bright and colorful, and provide late-season nectar for pollinators. They also invite beneficial insects, especially Monarch butterflies, to lay eggs in their foliage. They attract hummingbirds, hover flies and wasps, all of which eat up destructive pests. Plant them around your tomatoes to deter worms. If you need more convincing, they make gorgeous cut flowers. You can’t lose with a thick zinnia patch in your garden.

Columbine: Columbine is another personal favorite and has a very interesting history of adaptation to benefit the pollinators that drink their nectar. Biologists have found that the unique nectar spurs, or long tubes that lead to the flowers’ nectar, grow in length based on the tongues of their preferred pollinators. These are a favorite snack of hummingbirds.

Lavender: This divine smelling, purple beauty is a favorite of bees and gardeners alike. You probably already have some in your garden. Consider placing it nearer to your veggies. Choose long-blooming varieties—be sure to leave some uncut—and bees will come from miles around to enjoy the bounty of pollen and nectar that they provide.

Pest Prevention

There are all sorts of things we don’t want in our gardens. Flowers can be used to disguise food crops, confuse and trap harmful pests, and even attract insects that love to feast on all the bugs we don’t like. Better yet, strategically placed flowers are so much better for the garden than chemical pesticides, which can damage soil and stunt growth over time.

Calendula (Pot Marigolds): Who doesn’t love these flowers? Simple, compact, colorful, and late-blooming, pot marigolds are so cheerful and deter all sorts of unwanted insects, such as squash bugs, mosquitos, and lice. Considered a great “trap crop,” calendula attracts pests like aphids and whiteflies and produces a sticky substance that traps these garden pests before they reach your crops. Note: Calendula, an edible, herbal flower, is different from the common marigold, which is toxic when ingested.

Chrysanthemums: Did you know that some brands of bug repellent and pesticides use a chemical extracted from mums (pyrethrin) to deter pests? Not only do these flowers repel pests such as beetles and harlequin bugs, which destroy gardens, they also keep away lice, ticks, bed bugs, roaches, and other universally disliked crawling critters. I like to plant them among squash and potatoes.

Queen Anne’s Lace: A tall, elegant choice for the garden, Queen Anne’s Lace attracts lacewings, ladybugs, hoverflies, and a number of other pest-gobbling insects to the vegetable patch. They are also known to give tomato plants a little boost when planted close by! Like many on this list, they will keep coming back year after year and can spread prolifically.

Yarrow: Yarrow is becoming the permaculturists secret weapon. It attracts beneficial insects such as bees and lacewings, provides excellent nesting grounds for these helpful critters, and has a scent that repels garden pests. In fact, it would make an excellent addition to your cucumber patch. To top it all off, yarrow is a beloved medicinal herb, used to control bleeding, pain, and inflammation. It’s also known to fortify garden soil and activate compost. This is a powerhouse of a plant you should always make room for.

Nasturtium: These attractive edibles are another powerful multi-use companion, and they come with a cornucopia of benefits.
The flowers and leaves are edible (and quite tasty) and provide an extensive list of medicinal benefits. They also emit a powerful odor that masks the scent of crops that are often vulnerable to a pest attack. Plant them everywhere, but especially near your brassicas.

Consider experimenting with interplantings of beneficial flowers this spring. You’ll have a great time trying different height and color combinations. When you find yourself spending less time fighting off pest infestations and more time enjoying the beauty and bounty of your garden, you’ll become an instant polyculturalist for life.

General Tips:

Avoid chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
These products can be helpful to the gardener, but often their consequences outweigh their benefits. Pollinators don’t like them, and they can strip soil of its organic qualities. Use natural, cultural solutions when possible, and if chemicals are a must, check to make sure they aren’t harmful to beneficial insects.

Plant in small groups. A single flower is better than no flower at all, but planting in clumps is a good way to attract pollinators. It shortens the distance that they have to travel for food and encourages them to stick around. As pest repellents, groups of flowers perform better.

Shoot for year-round blooms. If you provide a constant food source for beneficial insects, they will return to your yard all year long—and likely make their homes close by. Try to keep something in bloom throughout the year.

Provide other resources. Bees, butterflies, and all of those garden-friendly bugs need more than food to survive. Consider providing housing (bee hotels are really cool, and make for a fun project) and shallow water to encourage long-term residence in your garden.