BRINGING A POPULAR STYLE INTO MODERN TRENDS
Photos by 434 marketing

A century ago, farming was a dominant industry and private endeavor in our country. And farmhouses, well, that’s where farm families and workers lived. Function over form dominated these homes in structure and design. Wood was cheap and easy to come by for construction and furnishings, and shiplap preceded the sheetrock walls of today. You could say that the “farmhouse style” of the day was simple, intentional, and purposeful. There was little “fluff” because, frankly, there wasn’t time for it. >>

But about seven years ago, an HGTV show out of Waco, Texas, brought farmhouse back with a bang. We were all scrambling to find vintage, chipped pieces (or create them), and “shiplap” quickly became a household word. Every nook and cranny of our homes reflected this movement. If there was a blank space on the wall or empty corner on a counter, it had to be filled with a collage of word art, and galvanized metallic accents—the more we accessorized, the better!

“Joanna Gaines definitely set the farmhouse tone, but we all have been overplaying it,” explains Katrina Morris, owner of The Morris Manor and a new home décor shop inside James T. Davis Paint and Design Center called Katrina & Co. “Social media has also taken it to a whole new level, as we all compete to show that we live in a farmhouse—if it’s old, we wanted it, and if it was wood, we painted it.”

Currently, in our desire to embrace it, this trend has become a bit exaggerated. Simplicity of style and vintage charm have given way to clutter and visual stress. “Anytime you do too much of a good thing,” Morris says, “you lose the meaning and the beauty.”

It’s time to reign in this style, modernize it, and create a look and feel that is timeless.

Reframing the Farm

So, how can we retain the appeal of the farmhouse style and apply modern sensibilities?

According to Morris, “We need to edit the space. The key is to create focal points where, when you come into a room, you notice one or two key pieces.”

Examples include a tray with loved items corralled on it or one large—and meaningful—art piece. “Retaining clean lines and incorporating some texture and a few vintage items really refines this trend.”

Think beauty plus function. If you love a sliding barn door, go for it. Just install it in the right place and not at every doorway. Identify farmhouse attributes that mean something to you and provide purpose within your lifestyle. If you went a little crazy with painted furniture because you really liked it, keep some of it—your coffee table, desk, or media table, for instance. Otherwise, consider returning wood furnishings to their raw origins. And all that stuff? As another popular TV personality puts it, hang on to what brings you joy, and let go of the rest.

Create a Modern Mix

“What’s really exciting now is the modernization of the farmhouse trend,” Morris says. “It goes beyond editing the overkill to applying a fresh approach.” She explains that the current—and enduring—movement is to combine vintage with contemporary. “Blending raw and painted woods with clear, acrylic furniture and integrating gold or brass fixtures immediately elevates this style.”

Picture your antique farmhouse dining table surrounded by Lucite chairs, or your overstuffed leather sofa flanked by sleek acrylic end tables. In lieu of galvanized metals, gold accessories deliver visual impact and a bling of sophistication. Think high-contrast paint, too. Farmhouse style is typically awash in white, so try adding elements of deep blues or even black to add impact and pop. Morris elaborates, “The metallic tones of today’s gold and brass is the same as previous fashion eras, but the style is very different. We’ve gone from the ornate 1990s faucets to industrial goosenecks and bridge faucet styles of the 20s and 30s.”

Modern farmhouse is refined, functional, timeless. According to Morris, “Items in our homes should be collected because we love them and then displayed in a clean, simple way.”

Pieces are quality and long-lasting, typically getting more beautiful and loved over time. “And no matter the style or era of home you have—from Victorian to mid-century to new build—these elements work.”

So, let’s harken back to the days of the pioneers, with their purpose-driven abodes, and then amp up the style (because, let’s face it, most of us don’t farm our land anymore). Embrace the vintage and add chic accents.
But most importantly, make it beautiful (to you), so you love where you live.

Katrina Morris is an interior designer, social influencer, and DIY expert. In addition to her blog, TheMorrisManor.com, she has recently launched her own home decor shoppe within the James T. Davis Paint and Design Center. The line, Katrina & Co., is a curated selection of decor items and interior design inspiration, all chosen by Katrina herself. Visit her website at www.themorrismanor.com and follow her on Instagram @themorrismanor. Shop the line in person at 3416 Candlers Mountain Rd, Lynchburg, located inside James T, Davis Paint and Design Center.

During the Pandemic…

“Now more than ever, home has become our safe haven and refuge. It plays a vital role in our well-being and should be filled with the people and treasures we hold most dear.” – Katrina Morris, The Morris Manor and Katrina & Co.

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Doing Modern Farmhouse Right
with Rebecca Boles
Photos by Ryan and Kelly Portnoy

How did you find your design style?
I’ve always loved interior design—but I never studied it. My mom always had a country-styled home and she was really intentional about adding what she loved. It was cozy, but not cluttered. So, I’ve always loved things that make my home feel like my space. My style has definitely evolved, and I think having access to social media to get inspiration is really helpful. I’ve tried to find things that caught my eye and then figure out why I love it.

How would you define the typical farmhouse style?
It’s definitely shifted from its original intention of rustic simplicity and repurposed wood. Now, I think people tend to go overboard with too many antiques and too much distressed stuff—everything made out of pallets, for example.

What do you suggest for refining farmhouse?
For me, a modern farmhouse style has a very welcoming feel—warm and inviting. There’s a mix of rustic and modern. Our home marries modern farmhouse with a calming, cottage feel. Clean lines, lots of white, and some coastal colors with warm undertones. We have natural wood pieces that serve as an anchor to the farmhouse style. Regardless of where you are on the farmhouse spectrum, I believe everyone needs to intentionally style their home in a way that makes them comfortable and happy.

Rebecca Boles is a wife and mother of four with a passion for interior design and healthy living. Her and her husband, Jeremiah, designed and built their home. Follow along with her on Facebook (@modernfarmhouselove6) or Instagram (@modern_farmhouse_love).

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

When most people think of raising livestock of any kind, they think of big farms and wide-open spaces—but we can’t all buy 50 acres and become full-time farmers. Thankfully, with the rise of urban farming and backyard gardens, you don’t need to own a lot of land or quit your day job to enjoy some of the benefits of farm life.

For my family, backyard birds are an essential part of our home garden. They are relatively low cost and low maintenance (after a few start-up essentials), they don’t require a lot of space, and they do so many wonderful things for us.

Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking with Rodney Chrisman, who owns and operates Wolf Hill Farm in Bedford County. His family-run farm specializes in breeding and selling chicks (and soon to be ducks) as well as farm products. They also offer “coop-ready” chickens for anyone wanting to skip the incubator stage. At any rate, Rodney is pretty much a backyard bird expert.

According to Rodney, the practice of raising backyard birds has been quickly growing in popularity every year as more people discover the benefits. As he pointed out, chickens take feed, table scraps, grass, and bugs, and turn them into fresh eggs and the best fertilizer around.

It’s true, chickens are great gardeners. Their clawed feet act as mini tillers as they scratch at the dirt to forage for bugs and treats—and at the end of the growing season, they are great at cleaning up your garden for you! They produce nutrient-rich waste which, if composted with their used bedding, makes incredible fertilizer. But the benefits don’t end there.

There is nothing like a beautiful, farm-fresh egg and the pleasure of being intimately connected to the food you and your family consume. Furthermore, chickens are dedicated foragers, and they love to eat the bugs we detest in our yards! In fact, ticks are a favorite snack, and the average hen can consume at least 60 ticks per hour! Rodney says that even if you don’t free-range your chickens, rotating their coop to new locations throughout your yard or allowing them an hour or two of free-range foraging time will drastically reduce the number of ticks and mosquitos around your home. I live in a fenceless yard, in a neighborhood with lots of roaming pets, so my flock stays in a fenced-in coop most of the time—but I love to let them wander and eat up all those undesirables while I’m working in my garden or enjoying the evening on the back porch.

If you’re sold on the idea of raising a flock of your own, there are a few things you should know before you go out and make a purchase. First: check your local regulations. Most localities in our area have some regulations surrounding backyard bird raising. These might include maximum flock size, distance from property lines, or yard size requirements. Fortunately, most localities do allow residents to keep poultry, even Lynchburg City!

Next, it’s a good idea to carefully research the breeds available to you before you buy, and choose the breed that is best for your needs. Personally, I like chickens that lay plenty of brightly colored eggs, so we’re raising Ameraucanas, who lay blue-green eggs, and Welsummers, who lay rich terracotta speckled eggs. When it comes to ducks, we’re looking for an easy temperament and a high egg production. But maybe you are looking to raise birds for meat or want chickens with great personalities who will doze on your lap in the sunshine. Always do your research, and if you’re not sure, my friend Rodney would be happy to help!

Then, there are a few essentials you’ll need to provide for your flock, in order to keep them safe, healthy, and happy:

If you’re starting with babies, you’ll need a safe place for them to grow, away from the elements and predators. You can use almost anything as long as it is secure, big enough for all of the birds plus their food and water, and can be kept very warm. We use a big plastic tote and keep it in our mudroom.

Baby birds are very sensitive to temperature changes and must be kept very warm (80-90 degrees). Even after they’ve been moved out to their coop, you’ll want to move the heat lamp outside with them in case of cool nights. You can pick one up at just about any farm store. Slowly move the heat lamp away from the brooder as the chicks age.

Whether you are going to free range or keep your birds in a coop, their diet will require regular feedings of specifically formulated feed to stay healthy and lay eggs. Babies require protein-rich starter feed for the first few weeks of their life. Then, you’ll want to slowly transition them to a grower feed for the next few weeks. Once they are starting to lay eggs, you’ll switch them to a layer feed, which they will eat happily for most of their lives. Mix in crushed oyster shells and grit, which can be purchased with the feed, to achieve the necessary balanced diet.

Your birds need a strong, secure shelter where they can sleep, lay eggs, and be kept safe in inclement weather or while a predator is on the prowl. Remember, everyone (and everything) loves chicken, so protection is critical. Chickens and ducks require about two to four square feet of space each inside their coop, and if they are confined to a run, at least twice that outside. Bigger is always better. Inside, you may want easily accessible nesting boxes of about one square foot each, and something for the chickens to roost on. (Old wooden ladders work great!) Also, make your life easier by adding a large, locking door for coop clean-out. Their run should be fully enclosed with sturdy fencing, and you’ll want to consider fencing above and below to prevent animals that may try to dig under, or hawks that would swoop down from above. At Wolf Hill, Rodney uses hoop houses for ducks and chickens. He says they’re great because they are very secure, and they can be moved around your yard so you can reap those fertilizer benefits.

You’ll need to provide plenty of clean straw in the coop and the nesting boxes. Avoid hay, as it creates a lot of dust and attracts mites, which are harmful to chickens.

All in all, raising backyard birds is such a great experience for the whole family. “It’s good for the birds and God’s creation in general to be raised in a backyard environment,” says Rodney. “Every egg that someone raises and eats themselves helps the environment, and goes a long way to prevent some of the inhumane practices that take place in modern poultry factories.”

Not to mention that the simple good work of caring for living things and producing your own food is an invaluable experience that brings joy and contentment to all who undertake it.

Even in light of unprecedented recent challenges in our community and in our world, we look forward to spending time this summer* with family and friends and enjoying some of the wonderful events and attractions the greater Lynchburg region has to offer. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
*As this issue went to print in mid-April, a stay-at-home order was in effect for all Virginians through June 10.

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Register your child right now for the best week of summer ever! Camp Hydaway offers outdoor adventure, ziplining, water-toys, sports, and more in a safe, fun environment centered around Jesus. There are day camps for campers completing 1st – 3rd grade and overnight camps for those completing 3rd – 5th grade. Go to www.camphydaway.com to register.

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The beauty of Red Hill and the landscape surrounding it is virtually unchanged from the days when Patrick Henry lived here. The peacefulness in this place Henry called the “garden spot of the world” flourishes.

July 4th at Red Hill is a day full of living history, music, patriotism and fireworks! Events begin at 3pm, fireworks at dusk. Open year-round. www.redhill.org

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Kick off the start of summer at the 12th Annual Virginia Summer Solstice Wine Festival on June 20th from 11am-6pm at Lazy Days Winery. Celebrate great wines from local Virginia wineries, live music on two stages, great festival foods, craft vendors, belly dancers, a petting zoo and more! Wine tasting tickets include a free souvenir glass. Tasting tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the gate. Admission is free for kids 12 and under.

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Summer is a time when family traditions and memories are made. This summer, take your family on an adventure they’ll never forget! Whether racing around the area’s only go-kart track to the sound of fans cheering in the stands, stealthily navigating the two-story laser tag arena on a mission to secure the team base, or winning big in our 40+ game arcade, one thing is certain: Summer will never be the same again! Summer will be the time when the kids learn that Grandma invented water wars in the bumper boat pool, that Dad can’t be beat at air hockey, and that no one can ace a shot like Mom on the Putt-Putt® course! With great deals on unlimited attractions starting at just $17, Putt-Putt Fun Center® delivers affordable family fun every time! Discounts are available for groups of 15 or more. At these prices, it’s easy to plan a day of adventure at Lynchburg’s destination for family fun! With two 18-hole Putt-Putt® Golf courses, a go-kart track, bumper boats, softball and baseball batting cages, bumper cars, laser tag, and the area’s largest arcade, even Grandpa will be eager to join in on the action. Visit Putt-Putt Fun Center® and begin your summer family tradition today!

8105 Timberlake Rd | 434-237-7888 | puttputt.com/lynchburg

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Did you know that during World War II superheroes promoted the war effort in the pages of comic books? Superman championed Victory Gardens while Captain America, Wonder Woman, and Batman fought the Axis Powers.

Learn more about their influence on World War II during the National D-Day Memorial’s Spirit of ’45: Outdoor Movie Night on Saturday, August 8, 2020 featuring “Captain America: The First Avenger” (PG-13). The movie will start at sunset, approximately 8:00 p.m. Before the movie, you can enjoy superhero themed activities, food trucks, and self-guided tours of the Memorial. Free admission. Learn more at www.dday.org.

Note: The National D-Day Memorial is continually monitoring the evolving COVID-19 situation. Please visit www.dday.org for the most up to date information about this and other events.

LOCAL WOMAN OVERCOMES MUSCLE DISORDER TO BECOME TRIATHLETE

There was always a chance 28-year-old Laurel Graham could have Charcot-Marie-Tooth disorder—but growing up, she tried to push the thought out of her mind.

A hereditary disease, Charcot-Marie-Tooth affects the muscles in the feet, causing them to become weak, and hardens the development of bones.

“I knew it ran it my family, but we were optimistic,” Graham, a Lynchburg resident and Sweet Briar College alumna, said. “I would walk on the sides of my feet and running was always difficult. But I played soccer. We just thought maybe it was just that my feet were a little deformed.”

But in eighth grade, she received her official diagnosis. Soon, Graham hung up her soccer cleats and was unsure of what her future held.

“I couldn’t play sports anymore, which I just accepted,” Graham said. “I was still able to do equestrian so I could still be active.”

But in college, Graham decided she no longer wanted to be so limited and opted to have reconstructive surgery on her feet. She knew the road to recovery wouldn’t be an easy one. One foot would be operated on at a time and require at least a year to fully heal.

“Imagine having your feet completely ripped apart and then stitched back together,” Graham explained. “It was a lot like that, but I’m still grateful for it. [After the surgery], it was the first time I could feel my feet. There was hardware in my feet where they had screwed in bolts. The first real part of recovery was learning to walk again, and it was painful.”

As she slowly recovered, Graham set a goal: “I told myself that if I could make it through the pain, I would start running. It gave me a new lease on life.”

Graham’s doctors, however, weren’t so optimistic.

“They told me that I shouldn’t expect to run,” Graham said. “And even if I did, it would be too painful to do.”

Still, Graham wanted to try. After getting married to her husband, Mike, in 2013, she decided to start with something attainable and began training for the Virginia 4-Miler. In 2014, she crossed the finish line and was hooked.

“It felt amazing,” Graham said. “I was never a runner before my surgeries, but I wanted to try and see how far I could go.”

It was then Graham decided she wanted to try to train for a triathlon. She had always been a fan of swimming. For a year, she followed a rigorous training schedule that involved running two or three miles after a bike ride, followed by intense workouts during the week. The following summer, she completed her first triathlon in Chapel Hill, N.C.

“I felt pretty good about it,” Graham said. “I was trying to be smart about not hammering on my feet and trying to take it easy. But the real joy was in finishing, despite the soreness.”

As she continued to train for triathlons, there was a nagging desire in the back of Graham’s mind to complete an Ironman. While an Ironman is still a form of a triathlon, it’s much more intense. An Ironman race includes a 2.4-mile swim, followed by a 112-mile bike ride, and a full marathon.

Graham competed in a half-Ironman first in 2016 and quickly began preparing for a full.

“It’s a very time-consuming process,” she explained about training. “You’re running 10 or more miles at a time and setting aside other responsibilities to train. You have to sacrifice a lot—time with friends and family. And it’s hard to explain to people.”

Finally, in 2018, Graham was ready for Ironman Chattanooga. But eight days before her race, she got into a bike accident on one of her last training rides and was unable to compete. She ended up needing surgery on her collarbone and acromioclavicular joint.

“It was a really hard setback,” she said. “For a year, you’re set on this goal and consumed with training and then suddenly it was over.”

Friend and fellow triathlete Lisa Peltier said it was devastating to watch her friend be unable to compete. Peltier and Graham had met early on in Graham’s training.

“I just couldn’t believe it happened,” Peltier said. “I see Laurel as a daughter, and it was hard to see it come crashing down in a weekend after she had this commitment to train for so long.”

But Peltier said Graham didn’t give up and set her sights on Ironman Louisville—another year away.

“Laurel is a ‘glass half full’ type of person,” she said. “She’s never let a disability stop her and once she has her mind made up, she’s determined.”

Graham said she’s convinced that her surgeon for her bike injury thought she was crazy for wanting to get back into training: “But he did all he could to support me and get me back on my bike as soon as possible.”

A year later, Graham finally completed her first Ironman in Louisville, Ky. Peltier traveled with her to watch her friend finally cross the finish line that she had worked so hard for.

“It was the first time I had attended an Ironman as a spectator and Louisville was such a fun event to be there for,” Peltier said. “It has the most amazing atmosphere for those competing. The finish line is bright so you can’t see anyone except the end.”

Graham called the entire experience surreal.

“The pain I felt through racing just melted away,” she said. “It made every single moment to that point worth it. I couldn’t believe that I had crossed an Ironman finish line after years of dreaming about it.”

As for her doctors, Graham said they are still in awe of what she’s been able to accomplish.

“My orthopedic surgeon who worked on my feet and ankles isn’t completely thrilled due to the stress and wear it places on my hardware and the negative impacts it could have,” she said. “But my physical therapist has been incredibly supportive and thinks it’s amazing.”

Through training, Graham said she has become part of a tight knit community of triathletes, who she says have become her closest friends over the years.

Triathlete Kayla Long met Graham through her job where Graham served as a scribe.

“One of the doctors that she was working for told me that she was training for a triathlon and that I should talk to her about it,” Long said. “I trained with her while she was working toward Louisville and I’ve just seen her go through the highs and lows of training.”

When we first started talking with Graham earlier this year, she was intensively training for Ironman 70.3 Virginia’s Blue Ridge in Roanoke. She kept up her training schedule as best she could during the COVID-19 pandemic, although she couldn’t swim since pools were closed and had to limit bike rides to reduce the risk of an accident or injury that would send her to the hospital.

However, around the time this magazine went to print, the announcement was made that the triathlon was rescheduled to 2021.

While it’s “definitely a bummer,” Graham says she’s going to continue training because she enjoys it. She’s also signed up for an Ironman in North Carolina in October.

Graham also has her sights on a new goal too—medical school. She said it’s a career path she’s always come back to and has begun applying.

“I had so many great physicians and medical personnel care for me,” she said. “What I’ve been through has given me this empathy because I’ve been there.”

Ultimately, Graham wants to continue to use her story to encourage others.

“People should never sell themselves short or count themselves out,” she said. “Everyone has their stuff. You either find a way [through] or you’ll find an excuse.”

Batter Bar brings its crepe creations to Downtown Lynchburg

It’s been a whirlwind six months for Nicole Davidson and Chelsea Doebler, the Lynchburg natives and sisters who opened Batter Bar. The eatery debuted as a food truck in November 2019; by late February, they were already expanding to a brick-and-mortar presence inside the Gilded gift shop on Church Street. “It’s a really cool collaboration,” Nicole said.

Nicole came home to Lynchburg after spending four years in Nashville working as a sous chef at an upscale Japanese restaurant and a catering company. Not only was she ready to take on a new challenge, she wanted to be closer to her family. “Before I left, I got to see Lynchburg start to grow,” she explained. “Then in the little bit I was gone, it really boomed.”

Once she convinced Chelsea to open a restaurant with her, they landed on the idea of crepes. The thin pancakes hail from France and are very popular in Nashville—but there wasn’t much of a market in Lynchburg. “My sister and I are really into Japanese culture and she was like, in Japan, there are these cool Harajuku-style street crepes. They roll them into a cone shape and super stuff them with fillings,” Nicole said. “It’s your traditional French base, but it’s a little quirky and different.”

And perfect for a food truck, where you can grab a cone and go—no utensils needed. Since they started serving locals, Nicole says their savory crepes are the best sellers, with the “Avocado BLT” coming out on top. The sweet crowd usually gravitates toward the “Hazelberry,” which includes Nutella, strawberries and whipped cream.

Fresh baked goods are another staple of the Batter Bar menu—and when restaurants were forced to close in March, the eatery decided to pause on their crepes and only sell bakery items to-go. But that’s okay, because Nicole says they chose the name “Batter Bar” to hopefully allow them room to expand the menu in the future. “Brownie batter, cake batter,” she said. “I think it’s important to have long term goals but I’m trying to be present in the moment.”

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Batter Bar

1103 B Church Street, Lynchburg
(Inside Gilded Gift Shop)
Tues – Fri, 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sat, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sun, 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Closed Mondays
(Operating hours may be affected
by COVID-19 restrictions.)

For the food truck schedule
and to book a private event,
visit www.batterbarlyh.com.

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During the Pandemic…

“Switching to a pre-ordered, grab-and-go system has its challenges, but we are trying to stay positive through everything. The response and support from the community has been so very supportive from those buying gift cards, ordering our mystery baked boxes, and the kind words on social media from those who can’t wait for us to open the doors again.”

When staying at home shows we are coming together
Photos by Laura Beth Davidson

The idea of the Front Steps Project originated from a photographer in Massachusetts, who recommended having participating photographers take family portraits in exchange for donations for a charity. Photographer Laura Beth Davidson, of Forest, brought us the idea. After taking a few photos for Lynchburg Living, she put a call out in the community and requested donations for Miriam’s House. As of mid-April, more than 50 families had signed up and over $1000 had been raised! Learn more about her efforts at www.frontstepslynchburg.com.

Here and on the following pages, we highlight a few of her family portraits—they represent members of our community in various professions. Everyone is experiencing this pandemic differently, so we asked them all to answer the same question:

During the COVID-19 pandemic, I have learned…

The Health Care Workers

“…how amazing our team in the emergency department is. I always knew the people that work in the ED are special, but watching how everyone has come together to protect and care for our community has been so inspiring. In the face of something that could so easily paralyze in fear, the staff in the ED has continued to function at a high level while displaying kindness, strength and courage.” – Leigh Anna Tucker, nurse at Lynchburg General Hospital. Her husband, Drew, is also a frontline health care worker and works in the emergency department as a physician’s assistant.

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The City Manager

“…that unprecedented times call for a focus on innovation and epic kindness,” said Bonnie Svrcek, city manager of Lynchburg. She says this pandemic is unlike any local government emergency she has experienced in her 40-year career. Svrcek is set to retire June 30.

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The Nonprofit Director

“…that we are all incredibly adaptive as we develop and implement innovative ways to stay safe while caring for our community,” said Sarah Quarantotto, executive director of Miriam’s House. The nonprofit had to quickly develop protocols and processes that would allow them to continue serving the homeless while ensuring everyone’s safety.

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The School Principal

“…that kindness and serving others can help us overcome the most challenging obstacles. Central Virginia is a powerful community full of resilient and inspiring citizens,” said Derrick Brown, principal of Amherst County High School. Brown said the lack of internet access in rural parts of the county was their biggest challenge as they implemented a virtual curriculum.

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The Restaurant Owner

“…that we really are all in this together, despite all our differences,” said Dave Henderson, owner of The Water Dog. Despite seeing “unreal” unemployment numbers in the local restaurant industry, Dave says is proud to be a part of a resilient group of people who are “driven with grit and determination” as they had to redefine their businesses overnight.

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The Religious Leaders

“…the importance of washing hands, staying socially and spiritually connected while physically apart, and of my faith in family and friends,” said Rev. Dr. Diane Vie,
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Vie and her husband, Rev. Todd Vie, say two tech-savvy employees helped the church learn how to stream services online and that learning how to preach to a camera was a “strange” adjustment.

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The News Anchor

“…how love, understanding, compassion and kindness—something we call LUCK in our house—are the qualities needed now more than ever to help us defeat the fear and uncertainty surrounding the pandemic,” said Mark Spain, news anchor at ABC-13. Mark and his wife, Lynita, decided to use this time to create some custom t-shirts for themselves—one of their designs includes LUCK.

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The Police Officer

“…that sadly it takes tragedy or an epidemic to really bring people together. We are being neighbors again, having family structure again, and praying hard for people who are affected,” said Det. Rob Miller, Lynchburg Police Department. Miller and his wife Kelly have four daughters; they celebrated the birth of their first grandchild, Riley, in March.

LOCAL RESIDENTS, ORGANIZATIONS UNITE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

As unprecedented shutdowns from the coronavirus left people without work, food, or places for children to go, local governments, schools, and nonprofits stepped up to be sure people could meet their basic needs. Likewise, volunteers began helping neighbors and strangers alike during these unsettling times. People found creative ways to thank those who kept working, to keep businesses open, and to entertain each other— proving that in times of crisis, our greater Lynchburg community unites.

LENDING A HAND TO HEALTH CARE WORKERS

With nationwide shortages of masks and hand sanitizer, Central Virginians decided to take matters into their own, well, hands.

The Junior League of Lynchburg created “Mask-Her-Aid,” a project to sew masks for Centra. Existing sewing groups such as Patches ‘n Pieces Quilt Club and the Seven Hills Quilt Guild also jumped in to help.

Throughout the region, other women formed groups of their own. Emily Harris said friends at Blue Ridge Community Church called area hospitals to see if they would want cloth masks made by volunteers. The answer was a resounding, “Yes!” After receiving an “influx of requests” to donate masks, Centra Health said on Facebook that cotton masks would be used by patients and visitors upon entry in low-risk areas or used for covering coughs and preventing someone from touching their face.

Harris, a hair stylist and makeup artist, was unable to work because of the pandemic. With both a sister and a brother-in-law who are doctors, as well as friends who are nurses, she felt especially compelled to do something. “It makes me feel better to be of service,” she said. “It makes me feel helpful and hopeful.” Harris, who used to make designer bathing suits, had plenty of elastic on hand so she got busy, along with nine others on their sewing team.

In early April, about a week after getting a call from a family that works at Lynchburg General Hospital, nonprofit Vector Space organized an effort to create 3D-printed face shields for nurses in the non-COVID intensive care unit. After delivering 28 face shields to the hospital, Vector Space also started conversations with local anesthesiologists about prototyping ventilator parts and intubation boxes.

“We are so grateful for those that have stepped up to offer help with this project. Individuals and organizations have volunteered time and money, fired up their 3D printers and sewing machines, and sourced all kinds of materials to contribute to the cause of getting personal protective equipment and other needs to our medical community,” said Elise Spontarelli, co-founder of Vector Space.

Price Blair, a professor of physical therapy at the University of Lynchburg, learned that Centra needed glassware and alcohol for making hand sanitizer. Lab instructors Desi Justice and Steve Burris teamed up with mathematics professor Mike Coco to pull the supplies together from the university’s labs.

Randolph College also put some unused personal protective equipment to good use by donating items such as gloves, disposable lab goats, isolation masks and protective masks to Centra Health. “Our healthcare workers are on the frontlines and shouldn’t have to worry about their safety,” said Bradley W. Bateman, Randolph’s president.

Liberty University’s respiratory therapy program, which launched in 2019, loaned two mechanical ventilators to Centra Health for use at Lynchburg General Hospital. Dr. Brian Walsh, the program’s director, and his staff also provided online training to area medical personnel on how to operate ventilators.

Other notable donations to Centra Health include 3,700 masks and 100 hazmat suits from the Southern Baptist Convention of Virginia. The Centra Foundation released funding to purchase six new ventilators and five portable x-ray machines as well as conduct a public health campaign about COVID-19 for the region.

FEEDING THE MASSES

In response to school closures, Lynchburg City Schools immediately mobilized to prepare and bag meals for delivery to children age 18 and younger at school bus stops, beginning March 16. In just two weeks, the schools delivered 24,000 meals. In addition, Lynchburg Parks & Recreation supplied vans for meal delivery in many of the city’s housing complexes and at six community centers for meal pick-up. Other area school systems soon followed suit.

“I was honored to have been able to volunteer and take food out to the students of Lynchburg,” said Karl Loos, representative for the Lynchburg Educators Association. “Our food service colleagues are amazing. Everything was safely and perfectly prepared. Our bus drivers are outstanding ambassadors for LCS, as they spoke to every student and parent and represented us so well. Lynchburg should be proud.”

Park View Community Mission’s Food for Thought program continued to provide weekend food bags—with up to 7,000 pounds of food each weekend—at bus stops on Fridays.

Many area soup kitchens and food banks made sure individuals and families kept eating as well. Lynchburg Daily Bread started serving to-go meals instead of a sit-down meal. “We are the busiest we’ve been in six years,” said Tracey Dixon, executive director. “We have lots of new faces every day.”

The Daily Bread typically feeds 80 to 130 people a day, but were averaging 175 a day by late March. And while fewer restaurants were open to contribute donations, lots of individuals, businesses and churches stepped up. One man dropped off 10 hams, for example. “It’s been amazing,” Dixon said. “This community really is stellar.”

RESTAURANTS CHANGE GAME PLANS

Many customers were making a point of getting takeout from their favorite restaurants to help them stay open, while some restaurants changed their business model more significantly. “I was stressing really bad and my husband said we’ve got to try and think of something different,” said Adi McCauley, co-owner of Magnolia Foods.

So they turned her restaurant into a small grocery store, providing juice, milk, fresh produce, bread, and chips instead of pre-made salads and meals. Waterstone Pizza unveiled a similar idea inside their Jefferson Street restaurant, selling items that might not be found in local stores such as bread and toilet paper.

Mama Crocket’s Cider Donuts food truck began taking orders online, preparing the donuts, and then sliding them through a shoot to protect both their workers and their customers.

Myke Barron, one of the new owners of White Hart Café, has been continuing to provide curbside carryout to his customers, but has found another reason to work during this crisis. “What we’ve latched onto is a community kitchen,” he said.

Partnering with LOJ Ministries, a local nonprofit, and local churches, White Hart is preparing hot meals to be distributed to folks in need. For example, The Ramp Church has a relationship with James Crossing, so White Hart cooks and Ramp members deliver.

“We are building community and relationships with people, even if six feet away,” Barron said. “People are scared and isolated. Isolation is not what we’re built for. …We need to get the ‘why’ that we can all latch on to so we can come out stronger on the other side.”

PUBLIC EMPLOYEES KEEP WHEELS TURNING

Government policymakers pitched in to help businesses and individuals stay afloat. Lynchburg delayed business license tax payments, waived late fees on water, and promised not to cut water off to those who couldn’t pay. The Greater Lynchburg Transit Authority suspended fare collection to protect drivers and help people get to work, grocery stores, and essential services.

VIRTUAL LEARNING

Local schools—both public and private—quickly switched gears to map out online education plans for the rest of the school year. “It’s our intention for students to be better prepared when schools resume,” Dr. Tommy Coleman, LCS Director of Curriculum and Instruction, said in an online message in early April. LCS school administrators also addressed that virtual learning opportunities were created with an understanding that most parents are not teachers.

Local organizations also were fast on their feet to provide ways for residents to stay connected. A few examples are:

More than 1,000 people joined the live Facebook page hosted by the YMCA of Central Virginia to enjoy programs about exercise, crafts, cooking and more. The Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance started hosting Wednesdays@One, a webinar series to support local businesses. The Academy at Home Series, hosted by the Academy Center of the Arts, features live-streamed performances, tutorials and living room concerts from area performers.

CHANGING THE VIEW

All of the extra time at home together helped families unite in creative ways, including artistically. Here, siblings Bobby Vinson and Rebecca Spitzer used painter’s tape to section off the glass on their front door. Then, they painted the shapes different colors, creating a beautiful stained glass effect.

USING SIMPLE INGREDIENTS TO CREATE DISTINCT FLAVOR PROFILES
Photography by Jenna McKenney

The art of cooking has just as much to do with your taste buds as your technique. According to Jason Arbusto, pro chef and culinary director at the Bluffwalk Center, the challenge is identifying “what goes with what to make it taste good.”

Enter flavor profiles: these are the “secret weapon” of flavor combinations (herbs, spices, etc.) that can take your home meal preparation to another level. “Flavor profiles will guide you to be more creative and venture out of your comfort zone while remaining fairly simple to prepare,” he says.

On the following pages, Arbusto will not only break down three distinct profiles but he will also show you how to use them in three tasty recipes. But don’t let that stop you from experimenting with his combinations in your own unique way!

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Thai Flavor Profile

Four simple ingredients can turn your basic chicken salad into a flavor bomb: Mint, Cilantro, Basil, Lime Juice

INSTRUCTIONS
In a small bowl, combine 6 oz. of shredded chicken with a good pinch of rough chopped mint, cilantro and basil. Squeeze in lime juice and add olive oil,
salt and pepper. Toss to combine.

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Mediterranean Flavor Profile
Five simple ingredients can turn your Sunday Salmon or shrimp into something special: Capers, Lemon, Olives, Tomato, Parsley

Ingredients
6 oz shrimp
Cherry tomatoes
1 T capers
2 sprigs of rough chopped parsley
Juice of 1 lemon
Olive oil

INSTRUCTIONS
Place shrimp in an oven safe casserole pan. Add a handful of cherry tomatoes cut in half. Place in the oven for about 5-7 minutes at 350 degrees. Once finished cooking, add a little bit of fresh parsley. Crush the tomatoes up a little bit to create some juice. Baste the seafood and serve with all the remaining ingredients on top.

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Israel / Middle Eastern Flavor Profile

Four simple ingredients can upstyle your next batch of roasted veggies: Yogurt,Pine, Nuts, Mint, Pomegranate Seeds

Ingredients:
2 large sweet potatoes
4-6 T yogurt
3 sprigs of chopped mint
2 T toasted pine nuts
2 T pomegranate seeds

INSTRUCTIONS
Peel and dice sweet potatoes. Roast in the oven for 25-35 min at 350 degrees. Remove and let cool slightly or serve cold as a salad. Spread a thin layer of yogurt on bottom of plate. Add sweet potatoes and top with mint, pine nuts and pomegranate seeds.

New Artistic Amenities in Bedford Await Brighter, Busier Days Ahead

Art, in its many forms, has become a source of distraction and comfort to many of us during these disconcerting times. Community-driven art initiatives are especially important—they serve as tangible reminders of what we can accomplish and share with the world when we work together.

Bedford’s recent beautification initiative, known as “The Loop Project,” is a shining example of what community partners can achieve. Some of the most recent additions to the Loop, the town’s popular walking route, are steel-fabricated benches and bike racks that display a local artist’s unique design.

Last July “The Loop Project” received an AARP Community Challenge Grant, a grant awarded for projects that aim to make immediate improvements and jumpstart long-term progress to help residents of all ages. The project was one of 159 projects selected from over 1,600 applications.

“The Loop is well-known within the town and beyond as a walking destination,” says Bedford Economic Development Coordinator Mary Zirkle. “The existing pedestrian amenities (concrete benches and wood-slat trash cans) were also starting to show wear and needed a facelift.”

The task of beautifying these amenities within the timeframe stipulated by the grant (about four months) was a challenge in and of itself, then town staff decided to add another challenge on top of that: the designs used for the proposed benches and bike racks would be chosen from submissions from the general public.

Fortunately, local artist Megan Davies was up for the task. She submitted the winning designs for the benches and bike racks and was also asked to come up with a sign design based on the findings of a “Design the Sign” public workshop. Her painting of the Peaks of Otter, called “Shape Our Land,” was selected for the bench design, and another one of her drawings of the Peaks was used for the bike rack design.

“So many people in this area love the iconic mountains, so I felt that design was a great fit for a public piece,” Davies says. “I love simple line-work. The lines and sections of the painting could be constructed into a bench several different ways, giving the fabricator more freedom and flexibility.”

To ensure that the design guidelines would call for proper functionality, Zirkle touched base with David Hanowitz, owner of Central Virginia Manufacturing. “I had met Dave in 2018,” Zirkle recalls. “I remember him saying they like to make different things that aren’t [always] industrial. I needed expert advice as we tailored the design guidelines when putting out the call for designs.”

After several businesses put in a bid for the project, Hanowitz’s manufacturing proposal was ultimately selected, and he and his team were excited for the unique challenge.

“I have worked with customers in the past to recreate artworks using our metal fabrication abilities, but this project was unique in the fact that there were several pieces of art to be incorporated into the different builds,” Hanowitz says. “Many times we cannot 100% recreate a drawing or painting to transfer over to cut-and-formed steel due to limitations within the material or machinery used.”

But after what Hanowitz describes as “many hours” designing the benches, they feel like they came as close as they could to making Davies’ painting come to life on a steel canvas. “At the end, we were very pleased with the outcome,” he says.

Central Virginia Manufacturing produced six benches, all of which have been placed, and six bike racks, all of which were in the process of being placed in mid-April. Two of the six benches are smaller, backless benches, and all six benches bear the new town brand on their legs. All the signs that have been produced have been placed, and a few additional signs are being made.

Although neither Davies nor Hanowitz reside in Bedford, they both feel strong ties to the town and are delighted to play a role in its beautification and advancement.

“Whenever I talk to other artists about how and where to get involved, I always stress to plant some artistic roots in Bedford,” says Davies. “The art community in Bedford is more like family and everyone is so supportive of each other. Bedford is my art home.”

“The community will embrace a project like this, especially when members of the community are directly involved with the design work,” Hanowitz notes. “These projects always benefit local companies that are involved as it gives examples of their abilities and can help foster future projects with other local businesses.”

Zirkle hopes this initiative will be the first of many art-focused projects, and community collaborations, in Bedford.

“I hope the benches and racks will encourage people to add more public art of their own and to request that of the town,” she says. “I want visitors to see that we are a creative and welcoming community, and these pieces can help convey that. Maybe one day we can have an ‘Art Walk’ of some kind for people to discover unique pieces and appreciate them. I think art should be a year-round celebration of what Bedford is.”

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During the Pandemic…
“Public Works placed these benches while this pandemic was going on. The director and I talked about how important it was for people to see things like this happening, that work on improving the community continues. The bench installation came at the perfect time with people needing to get out safely and to see something new that brightens their day.”
– Mary Zirkle, economic development coordinator in Bedford

Following the approval of our March/April issue in mid-February, I was ready to move forward—per usual. Home & Garden Issue, check. Food Issue—you’re on deck. Let’s do this.

But my once-predictable, formulaic plans—like all of yours—slowly started to change as we moved into March. As the COVID-19 pandemic ramped up, Lynchburg Living’s big food-related features were postponed; some photo shoots were cancelled. Once the dust settled from those disappointments, it was time to refocus and take a different perspective… the good news, I guess you could say: We now had the opportunity to tell a more timely story.

As I looked around during the pandemic (virtually), I saw that alongside the negative—school closures, job losses, challenges in the health care industry—there were countless examples of the positive. Donations, manpower, random acts of kindness. We were separated in our households, but still found ways to be there for each other.

So, the Community Issue was formed.

Our main feature, “Coming Together,” only scratches the surface of the good deeds and selfless acts taking place across the region during the pandemic. We also joined in on an international photo movement, The Front Steps Project, by highlighting various members of the community in different professions—on their front porches, of course. Also, our special “LYH” illustrated cover is another example of coming together. We asked Heritage High School art teacher Jon Roark for help and he didn’t hesitate to say “yes.”

The concept of community is also represented in other ways. From Tarsha Joyner’s decision to keep her “absolutely fabulous” bakery downtown to a unique outdoor art initiative in Bedford, this magazine is full of what we do best—positive, uplifting stories about the greater Lynchburg region.

I sure hope this continues. Not the bad stuff—we all are ready to get back into a “new normal” as it’s being called—but the generosity. That shouldn’t be a feeling that rises and falls with Christmas, like a seasonal flu that comes and goes.

Let’s make this concept of community contagious year round.

All My Best,

Shelley Basinger, Managing Editor
Shelley@lynchburgmag.com