Grooming basics that pamper your pet

What we consider self-care, most pets are…less than thrilled about. Whether you’re bathing an uptight pup or clipping the nails of a rambunctious kitten, grooming can be easier for you and for your pet. We’ve rounded up the grooming tricks that’ll keep you and your pet calm.

BATHS
Before you even fill up the bathtub or sink, get your space ready. A towel on the floor will keep your dog from slipping after their bath, and one or two of their favorite waterproof toys will keep them distracted and entertained. If your pup is fond of peanut, almond, or cashew butter, a swipe or two along the side of the tub will keep them busy. Of course, if nut butters aren’t their favorite snack, just having a treat or two on standby will work just as well.

Brush out your dog’s fur and wet their face with a damp cloth before the bath begins. This will get them used to the movements of the bath first, without the surprise of the water. Fill a pitcher full of warm water, and use that to gently wet your dog’s fur. If your dog starts to shake their fur out mid-bath, place your hand on their head to keep them still—maybe even give them a scratch or two behind the ears while you’re at it to let them know how well they’re doing.

Cat owners, you can skip bathtime! Cats are excellent groomers and can be left to their own devices when it comes to keeping themselves clean. In fact, baths have a tendency to rid a cat’s fur of important oils, so baths should only be reserved for when your cat is particularly dirty or smelly.

NAIL TRIMS
Most cats need a nail trim every two to three weeks, and most dogs need one every three to four weeks. Ideally, you would tag team your pet’s manicure with a second person—one person to hold the pet and keep them calm, and another to trim the nails. But nails can be trimmed solo, too! You’ll learn what’s best for your specific pet over time, but as a general rule, pets respond better when you hold their paw while you’re sitting beside them or behind them. While you’re holding their foot, place your forefinger on a toe’s pad and your thumb on the top of the toe. Gently and slightly push your forefinger up and backward on the pad to extend the nail away from the foot. This will give you plenty of visibility so you can see just how much of the nail you’re trimming. This visibility is important because you need to ensure you’re not trimming the quick, which is the pink part of the nail and contains a nerve.

TOOTHBRUSHING
Just like their humans, daily toothbrushing is best for cats and dogs. Of course, that isn’t often the reality. If you’re like most of us and don’t brush your pet’s teeth every day, there is still an opportunity to start the habit. First, put a small amount of pet-friendly toothpaste (toothpaste for humans contains too much sodium and Xylitol) on your finger and let your pet smell or taste it. This will help them get acclimated to something new without the toothbrush. Once they’ve warmed up to the scent and taste, progress to dabbing a little bit of toothpaste on their tooth. From there, you can introduce the toothbrush and first have your pet lick the toothpaste off of the toothbrush. Over time, your pet may even come to expect or enjoy the experience. If they don’t, talk with your vet about food or treats that are best for oral health. They may even have oral chews that they can recommend as a toothbrushing alternative.

A Family of 5 Brings Urban Homesteading to a Historic Rivermont Home

Jennifer Woofter opened the door of her circa 1907 Rivermont Avenue home in Lynchburg wearing red lipstick and a wisteria-colored linen dress she sewed herself, looking every bit the chic urban homesteader she appears to be on Instagram (@weboughtamanor).

“I am living my best ‘Lady of the Manor’ life!” she said with a laugh, as she ushered us inside the impressively proportioned property she shares with her husband of 13 years, Bill Bohn, and their three children. The grand dame of the home, with its red brick and soaring white columns, cleverly conceals a large swatch of land out back that is host to a lush garden and a gaggle of pets, all living happily in the center of the city. It’s a place that invites life at every turn, and the story of how the family landed at such an address is just as surprising as the way they have chosen to live in it.

“The Manor House”
“We were living in Northern Virginia, and we had just adopted two of our kids and were suddenly going from a two-person household to a four-person household and paying outrageous fees for daycare and it was just really expensive and a fast pace of life,” Jennifer said as she began the story of their big life change in 2013.

One day Bill found the stately Georgian-style home on a website for old houses and sent it to Jennifer with a text jokingly saying, “We should buy this house.” But things quickly got serious at Christmastime when the family visited Bill’s parent’s home in Charlottesville and decided to drive down for a look.

“We left the kids with their grandparents, and came down to Lynchburg and spent the night. And we toured the house and we were like, ‘This is really cool, we should buy it’—so we did!” Jennifer exclaimed.

Within 60 days, the family had uprooted their old lives, sold their home in NoVA, and moved into their new-old home in Lynchburg.

“We didn’t know a single person, we had no connection to the community, but I think what we quickly found is that Lynchburg is a place where you can make a home and find your community. That was 8 years ago and we have been here ever since,” Jennifer recalled.

One of the aspects that attracted Bill and Jennifer to the home is its rich history. The 115-year-old property has had many chapters, beginning as a single family residence before transforming in the 1960s into part of a private girls school known as the Seven Hills School. Later, it became rooms and dormitories for the Virginia School of the Arts, then had a stint as a commercial office space before finally being converted back into a single family home.

“I think a lot about honoring the history of this house,” Jennifer said. “I think a lot about what was happening in this house when women got the right to vote. Who was living here and what did that feel like? What happened on Pearl Harbor? Throughout all of these momentous points in history, people were living here, living through it.”

The Kitchen
In a home this large and this old, there will always be projects. But Jennifer and Bill decided right after moving in that the only major renovation they wanted to undertake was the kitchen. What used to be two rooms—“a tiny little breakfast room and then a quite small kitchen”—soon joined to make space for an expansive kitchen the family could comfortably enjoy for years to come.

“We’ve got three kids and Bill loves to cook and while [the former kitchen] was beautifully done, it just wasn’t functional for the way that we live,” she said.

It took 11 months, but the result is a kitchen that remains aesthetically true to the home. Among the many thoughtful changes to the footprint is an expanded door frame with custom pocket doors made to match the originals that opens to the area they now use for dining. They also married in multiple modern amenities, including a few splurges. For Jennifer, that included two dishwashers and two sinks—one for cooking prep and one for washing produce.

“Bill is the cook of the family, so he definitely had a perspective of the kind of stove he wanted and the functionality of the ovens, and I just wanted it to be pretty,” she said.

Throughout the kitchen are reminders of the vibrant life happening just out the window, from leafy greens soaking in a sink and canning preserves in glass-front cabinets, to chicken and duck eggs resting on a custom egg holder made by Jennifer’s dad. A little bit country, a little bit glamour, the kitchen at the heart of the home now represents exactly the kind of life the family has worked to build there.

The Animals
To visit the manor is to run straight into animals of all varieties. Greeting you at the door is Lucy, the black rescue dog. Four black cats also flit throughout the home because “we are an only black pet household,” Jennifer said unapologetically.

Out back in an expansive gated area next to the even more impressive garden space are even more critters—three goats and about 14 chickens and ducks to be precise.

“Hello friends,” Jennifer greeted the goats, Jezebel, Charlemagne, and Scheherazade, as she walked past a teal chicken coop while the yardbirds scrambled around underfoot.

The coop’s bright color was at one point a topic of much debate, Jennifer said, but she loved it and won that round. Where she often concedes is the “how” of what Bill prefers when it comes to structures.

“Because Bill’s profession [as an engineer] is dealing with natural disasters, everything he builds is apocalypse-ready. Everything is sunk into concrete. If there’s a hurricane, we are coming out to the chicken coop,” she said.

With this many living creatures in one place, funny stories are never far behind. A memorable one took place right after the family first got the goats.

“When we first brought home the goats six years ago, they escaped and got on the roof of the house. People were calling us, like ‘There are goats on your roof!’ And I said, ‘Yeah, I know… I will get to that later!’” she laughed.

The Garden
“I don’t think I ever saw myself as a farmer,” Jennifer conceded as she walked under the kiwi-vined arched trellis into the family’s massive garden project.

The family has taken full advantage of their 1.7 acre lot, which now boasts 1800 square feet of garden area with 52 raised beds and a full drip irrigation system. An area is cleared for a future greenhouse build. The space is verdant with growth, and each season brings something new to do.

“Our process is, Bill grows and plants and I harvest and process in whatever format that looks like,” Jennifer said.

The backyard didn’t always look like this. It once held three tennis courts and, by the time Jennifer’s family moved in, the two remaining tennis courts were in bad shape. So they saved up and removed them and built the raised beds in their place.

Jennifer relayed that many lessons have been learned as she and Bill have dialed in what they wanted in the garden and how they wanted it to function for their daily life. Some of those lessons came down to marital compromise.

“Bill has the patience of a saint,” Jennifer said. “I decided I wanted all those raised beds painted white instead of natural wood, and heavens if he didn’t spend all summer painting those, along with the kids.”

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How Does Your Garden Grow?
In any one calendar year, about 75 different herbs, vegetables, and fruits grow in the family’s garden, including:
Peas, Lettuce, Bok Choy, Garlic, Shallots, Scallions, Asparagus, Soybeans, Strawberries, Blackberries, Kiwi, Peach, Pear & Apple Trees, Rhubarb, Jerusalem Artichoke, Potatoes, Tomatoes, Broccoli, Chives, Fennel, Oregano, Sage, Rosemary, Curry, Thyme & more!

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The Mission
Perhaps the most rewarding part about the work of their hands is that the family is able to benefit others from it as well. With so much shareable produce growing, they set up a self-serve stand on the porch for people to come year-round, with the goal of one day building a full farm stand. They also donate a lot of their bounty to the Lynchburg Daily Bread. The rest sustains them throughout the year.

While the historic home and its grounds have certainly been a major undertaking, the benefits of the lifestyle they created have also helped them to put down intentional roots in their adopted city.

“One of the most rewarding parts of having the animals and the garden is it has really connected us to our neighbors, people who stop by and say hi all the time, the neighbor kids come by. Moms walking their kids around in the afternoon stop by and feed the goats,” Jennifer said. “It’s just been fun.”

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Simple Chive Blossom Vinegar Recipe
Jennifer discovered that the chive blossoms from her garden “make a beautiful pink vinaigrette.” Using the guidance of The Spruce Eats website, she places the chive blossoms in a clean jar and pours white wine vinegar over them until they are completely covered. “Let it steep for a few days and voilà, so easy!” she said.

Mushrooms are a strange, complex, and often delicious gift from nature. Fleeting and particular, foraging for them in the wild serves as a great way to get the family engaged in an outdoor treasure hunt. But there’s another way to access these tasty morsels—and help out an important cause along the way.

Here in Virginia, many delectable and highly prized mushroom varieties grow right under the forest canopy. There are over a thousand varieties of edible mushrooms out there. But, before we go any further, it is important to note that many mushrooms are not edible (most, even), and are in fact very dangerous. NEVER eat a wild mushroom unless you are absolutely certain that it is safe for consumption.

With that out of the way, let’s get down to business. When and where can you find these edible wild mushrooms?

In Virginia, certain varieties of mushrooms can be found all year, but there are a few that seem to be most highly prized among hunters and connoisseurs. Mushrooms are a fungus and they tend to grow on decaying organic matter, like logs and leaf-littered forest floor, in damp areas or just after a rain. And while the fungus that produces the mushrooms is usually very large, healthy and active underground, the fruiting bodies that we eat don’t last long, so it’s important to get out there as soon as the rain stops, but before the air/ground dries out!

It may be a little late in the season for morels, but if you’re looking for this coveted mushroom, here are a few tips:
• Hunt when the air and soil temps are not too cool, but not too warm: about 60 – 70 degrees during the day, 50 degrees overnight.
• Wait until after a good rain storm or two, and look for an area of recently disturbed or burned forest.
• Morels love decaying yellow poplar, ash, elm, a nd oak. They’re also known to pop up around spicebush.
• And a great tip for ALL mushroom foraging: find a friend (or make a new one) with experience hunting these and other mushrooms! They can help you find good hunting grounds, and help you identify true morels.

Chanterelles are a different character. Unlike the morel, they love to emerge in warmer weather, and can be found all through the summer. Their yellow/orange color makes them easier to spot on the forest floor, and, like most mushrooms, they can be found in moist, shaded areas with lots of healthy organic matter. Fallen logs and leaf litter are good signs for finding chanterelles. A great place to spot these delectable mushrooms would be along creek beds and places where ephemeral streams form after showers. They tend to grow individually, or in small clusters, but where there’s one, there’s usually more. Look closely, though, and have your identification guide handy. Chanterelles have a poisonous look-alike called the jack-o-lantern. The biggest difference between the two is the gills on the underside of the mushroom head. The chanterelle has pale-colored false gills, which look more like wrinkles, whereas the jack-o-lantern mushroom has true, deep gills similar to the color of the mushroom head. The jack-o-lantern also grows in heavier clusters, and has a deeper orange color all over, whereas the chanterelle has a paler stem. Not to mention, the jack-o-lantern glows in the dark!

When you find your prize, it’s best to snip the mushroom at the stem rather than pull it from the roots. This way, the fungal system underground can continue to grow and produce more mushrooms. You’ll want to bring along a basket for collection, or something in which you can place the mushrooms so they can breathe and not crush one another.

But wild foraging isn’t the only way to enjoy these colorful culinary treats. We caught up with Bethshan McLeod, who along with her husband, James, serves as the director of Providence Veterans Farm and Mission Mushrooms in Concord, VA. Their non-profit has found a unique way to finance their critically important cause: mushrooms!

That’s right, the McLeods oversee an operation employing veterans who grow and sell top-quality mushrooms and mushroom grow kits. Their mission is to serve the families of service members who have experienced trauma during service. Military trauma tends to affect the entire household, and leads to high rates of divorce, mental health struggles, unemployment, and other problems regularly faced by these incredibly important members of our community. Mission Mushroom seeks to strengthen these families, and stop the spread of generational trauma so that service can continue in a healthy way, one mushroom at a time.

Their 90-acre farm offers four transitional homes for those in need, as well as opportunities for engagement, trauma healing, and mentoring. Bethshan said that mushrooms and farming are a natural fit for trauma recovery because of the intrinsic healing and calming qualities of gardening and agriculture. They also have two highly specialized mushroom growing facilities designed to grow specific mushroom varieties, particularly oysters and lion’s mane.

If you’ve been reading this as someone who doesn’t particularly care for mushrooms on their plate, you’re in good company with Bethshan! But she likes the ones they grow at Mission Mushroom because unlike most commercially grown mushrooms that are grown in manure outdoors, theirs are grown on a non-manure, non-chemical substrate in an indoor, controlled environment. They are never chemically treated or sprayed, and don’t even need to be washed before they’re cooked!

Mission Mushroom can be found at both the Downtown Lynchburg and Bedford farmers markets. They also have an online store offering a monthly subscription box! Every month, you’ll get a few pounds of mushrooms delivered to your door, and you’re helping out a really important cause in the process.

Mission Mushroom also offers an at-home grow kit. Visit their online store, choose the type of mushroom you’d like to grow, and have the kit delivered to your home. It’s a tiny version of their operation at Providence Veterans Farm, and you can grow about a pound to a pound and a half of your very own mushrooms. After the mushrooms are all gobbled up, Bethshan says the mycelium left over in the substrate makes excellent fertilizer! Just break up the grow bag, toss it into your garden,
and it’s a gift that keeps on giving.

Who knew the mighty mushroom could be the vehicle for inspiring healthy bodies and minds for warriors and their families right here in our community?

No matter how you come by them, if you’re looking for a fun new way to spice up your dinner plate, mushrooms are a great place to start.

Crossing the Potomac River along I-395, a quintessential D.C. landscape fills the foreground. Drive by landmarks like the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the way to something new in a historic part of our nation’s capital.

Scenically and conveniently located near downtown Washington D.C. and Dupont Circle, the Kimpton Banneker Hotel offers relaxation and sophistication in the historic area. Rounding Scott Circle, the modern hotel that opened late June 2021, is situated along the charming tree-lined streets.

Before the Banneker, the location was the site of the former Kimpton-run Hotel Rouge. After a $20 million renovation, the accommodation was completely transformed into a 10-story boutique property. The Banneker embraces the spirit of D.C. through an appreciation for its history, art and culture.

Contrasting the Banneker’s contemporary, slate-colored exterior is a warm and comfortable vibe in the hotel’s lobby. Showcased on the wooden wall opposite the front desk is an abstract portrait by D.C.-based artist Rob Matthews that is not only a representation of the Banneker’s art collection but is a portrait of the hotel’s namesake.

The Banneker’s name is a nod to one of the country’s major Black innovators, Benjamin Banneker. Banneker made significant contributions to astronomy, mathematics, and civil rights. He also played a key role in surveying the land that would become Washington D.C. in 1791, specifically identifying the meridian line for D.C.—a line that is now 16th Street, where the hotel is located. To honor Banneker, the hotel has several constellation motifs and even provides guests a card that describes which constellations will be visible during their stay.

The Banneker portrait is just one of the many original works of art within the hotel. The Banneker has thoughtfully curated an art collection highlighting D.C. natives and international artists in a variety of mediums. From the lobby mural by D.C.-based Nigerian-American artist Victor Ekpuk to abstract paintings, photographs, and more throughout the hotel, the Banneker could also double as an art gallery.

Complementing the hotel’s collection of art is the refreshed interior design led by Toronto-based firm Mason Studio. Each of the 144 spacious guest rooms presents a blend of warm tones and cool minimalism, designed with lush materials like corduroy and velvet.

Once you settle in and decompress from the inevitable traffic on I-95, mosey back down to the lobby for a complimentary evening wine hour in the adjacent sitting area. The wine hour is a perfect precursor to dinner at the Banneker’s in-house restaurant, Le Sel.

You may forget when you first walk into Le Sel that you’re in Washington D.C. The restaurant’s wall-to-wall windows fill the dining room with light and open up to 16th Street NW, drawing inspiration from Paris bistros. The 750-square-foot outdoor patio attracts pedestrians to dine at the inviting restaurant.

Le Sel, with a name that translates to “the salt,” features a menu that blends contemporary French fare with elevated comfort food. Executive chef Laurent Hollaender, a native of France, conceived an upscale, yet approachable, menu that utilizes locally sourced, seasonal ingredients.

Tomatoes from a farm in Maryland are the star of the restaurant’s Heirloom Tomato Carpaccio, served with crushed pistachio, buttery sweet Castelvetrano olives and balsamic glaze. The mushrooms served with the Roquefort Crusted Filet Mignon are sourced from a farm in Pennsylvania, while the apples used in the Pork Belly entrée’s fennel and apple salad hail from neighboring Virginia.

Hollaender put a spin on French staples by adding a mid-Atlantic twist. Steak Tartare is made with smoked oyster mayo and topped with an oyster to add a briny flavor to the savory appetizer. Seafood entrees include Seared Diver Scallops, served with an “eggplant caviar,” and flounder wrapped in thin slices of prosciutto.

Hollaender explains that after spending years in Orlando, Florida, he was eager to move back north and take advantage of the regional offerings from the water. “There was a bounty of seafood to choose from,” he says.

Additionally, Le Sel indulges diners with classic French dishes—onion soup overflowing with Emmental cheese, escargot in bubbling garlic butter, niçoise salad, Moules Frites and crème brûlée.

The Banneker’s location makes it easy to tour D.C. by foot. Historic hotspots, along with the National Museum of African American History, the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and the National Gallery of Art, are just a few miles away. The Banneker even offers complimentary bike rentals so you can pedal your way around the nation’s capital.

Follow the stars, much like Benjamin Banneker did more than 200 years ago, for a much-needed getaway.

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Kimpton Banneker Hotel is located in downtown D.C., a three- to five-hour drive depending on your starting point in Central Virginia. Learn more or make a reservation at TheBanneker.com.

President and Founder of Central Virginia Regional Rescue

Lynchburg Living Editor Megan Williams:
Tell me about your entry into the rescue world.
Laura Linn: As most children of the 80s, I rambled through my days, running amuck and exploring. In particular, I had an early and undivided enthusiasm towards animals—luring in lost animals (that probably knew precisely where they were and how to return home), rescuing and rehabilitating wildlife that my cat was determined to toy with and then bequeath to me. When I was 17, I acquired my first position at a local veterinarian as a kennel attendant and was introduced to rescue in the periphery. My first interlude into the world of rescue was as much an endeavor to keep my perspective on the bigger picture as it was to help animals. My husband and I struggled for years with infertility/IVF and applying my time and dedication to a worthy cause felt preferable to concentrating on disappointments. I volunteered with another rescue for around ten years before we founded Central Virginia Regional Rescue in winter of 2016.

MW: What does a typical work day look like for you?
LL: Completely unpredictable! One day, our animals are all well, the amazing team of volunteers proficiently juggles the day-to-day tasks, and we skip along in the business of rescue without challenge or conflict. Then the next day, everything can disassemble all at once. We get a call about a dog locked in a shed in labor with 21 puppies, we spend the morning coaxing a handful of feral cats locked in a shed into traps for neuter, seven kittens in our care break out with an upper respiratory infection, an inexperienced foster family requires guidance with a new dog, and someone reaches out to return a dog they adopted six years prior. There are heart-wrenching owner surrenders where you have to sit in your car for five minutes afterwards waiting for the stinging in your eyes to pass. And then there is the privilege of watching an eight-year-old boy meet the middle aged hound dog that no one wants and adopting him without ever noticing his imperfections. It is the very highest and lowest that life has to offer.

MW: That certainly does sound unpredictable! What types of challenges does CVRR face both working with animals?
LL: There is a vast amount of emotion and unpredictability in rescue. When we pull an animal from a shelter or take in a pet, to some extent it’s akin to eating one of those jelly beans from Harry Potter where you aren’t entirely sure if it will be a nice butter toffee flavor or a really gross flavor. We try to make a sound judgment call on the foster home best matched to an animal’s individual needs, but there are often surprises. We think they are house-trained and they aren’t, or they seem calm and submissive only to arrive at their foster home as a catapulting ball of sunshine. Flexibility and a sense of humor is an absolute requirement to being a foster family.

MW: What goals do you have for CVRR in the next few years?
LL: It’s my greatest desire that, in whatever direction we sail, we continue to invest in, educate, and empathize with the people of this community. I would love to see our foster family numbers grow, not only in quantity but in the diversity of their skill sets and interests. Finding and maintaining a volunteer who is enthusiastic about fundraising would make an amazing addition to our team. I would also love for a magical “grant fairy” to join our ranks, but my daughter has informed me that fairies are restricted to collecting children’s teeth and leaving coins under pillows.

MW: What is one thing you wish people knew about CVRR that they may not know today?
LL: CVRR has no facility and virtually no overhead costs. Donations go almost exclusively to the pets in our care. Our animal intake isn’t based solely on what is cute and coveted by the public. We help the animals that most need our help, and we help as many of them as we can responsibly and financially support. That means everyone is spayed, neutered, vaccinated, heartworm-tested (and treated when positive). Since we were founded, we have rescued nearly 2000 animals and we are eager to make a difference in the next 2000 lives.

You don’t have to sacrifice every bit of your time to make a difference with us. You don’t have to foster animals to save lives. Every part of this mechanism is important and valued, from the volunteers who bake and deliver cookies monthly to our partnering businesses to the person who comes weekly to our storage shed to organize. We have volunteers who write thank you notes and answer emails, individuals who focus their time assisting with transport for animals, and an awesome tech team to keep things running smoothly. Whatever your skill set, we can use it to help us grow and flourish. And we appreciate every single one! Being totally volunteer-based with not a single paid employee, we cannot succeed on the strength of the few.

MW: How can people get involved with CVRR?
LL: Message us on Facebook, email, call…We will even accept a smoke signal or morse code. I’m joking about that last one. I don’t know morse code.

Dog-Friendly Restaurants and Breweries In and Around Lynchburg

It’s that time of year again, when the sun is warm, the rosé is cold, and the temperature is simply satisfying…that’s right, patio season is upon us. Lynchburg residents are lucky to have seen an increase in outdoor hanging and dining spaces in the last few years from downtown to several surrounding counties. An added bonus to some of these tasty spots? You get to bring your leashed, four-legged, furry friend so you never have to worry about dining (or drinking) alone.

My Dog Duke’s Diner
My Dog Duke’s Diner often fills up quickly inside but the covered patio is a cozy spot rain or shine to hang with your best friend. They close after lunch so go early to enjoy their Strawberry French Toast or Chicken and Waffles with a boozy adult milkshake or maybe a mimosa flight. Your pup may get lucky and snag a stray piece of bacon, but if not he will still enjoy the sights and smells of this delightful downtown spot.

El Jefe
Stretch your and Fido’s legs with a walk up the Bluffwalk to El Jefe, where your pet will be welcomed to hang on the patio of this fun and funky tequila and taco spot. Take in the stunning views, enjoy the excellent service, and kick back with a gourmet taco or some of their delicious nachos. The Spicy Cucumber Margarita pairs well with a nice cold cup of H2O on the rocks for your pet.

Bootleggers
Down a few steps, also on the Bluffwalk, is the patio at Bootleggers. Take your pooch for a Southern Belle Burger and parmesan truffle fries and live with no regrets. Enjoy a beer or bourbon with river views and people watching as an added bonus. Elevated bar food with excellent attention to detail and dogs? We’re in.

Three Roads Brewing
Bring your thirst to this spot as they serve up only icy cold brews and no food, but they do often have a food truck (such as local favorite Ferguson Family Provisions). Follow @3roadsbrewingco_burg on Instagram to catch them on a night where they have live, local music. Added bonus: your pet can come inside or hang outside, so rain or shine, this is your spot.

The Water Dog
What’s better on a balmy Sunday afternoon than heading down to The Water Dog on Jefferson Street to grab a dozen oysters and one of their 36 craft beers? Only the fact that not only can you bring your dog to relax with you at the large outdoor bar and seating area, owner Dave Henderson highly encourages it. As a lifelong dog owner and lover, Dave appreciates that his Labradors don’t know the difference between work and play and he wanted to build a place for people and pets to gather that embodied that spirit. Dave wants everyone, including your furry friends, to feel welcome and at home here. Don’t mind if we do.

Grey’s on Fifth
The ever-changing menu at Grey’s on Fifth and the inventive, delicious dishes are the reason most people constantly return to (and crave, and dream about…) this celebrated 5th Street spot. But when spring rolls around their lush, garden-like patio is a lovely spot to hang with your animal. With zero pretension, just fantastic, fresh food and some of the best staff around, you and your bestie are going to make this place a weekly tradition.

Beale’s Brewery
Don’t sleep on Bedford, y’all. If you haven’t cruised West to enjoy Beale’s Brewery yet, consider this your sign. While this quirky spot can be enjoyed all year long, it’s an exceptional place to hang with your entire family outside. Yes, it’s a brewery but they have a great spot for kids and a kids’ menu. Pro tip: Get the soft pretzel with beer cheese and the Brunch Stout, just don’t let your pup dig for the Beale’s Gold buried treasure that gave the brewery its namesake.

Apocalypse Ale Works
A local brewery with heating and air conditioning, an outdoor beer garden, plus a stage for live music? Let’s go! These Forest folks always welcome supervised children and leashed dogs so pack up the car and bring the whole family to this spot that has become a regular hangout for the young and young at heart. Rotating food trucks such as Carbon Catering Co, Hill City Smokehouse, Upper Crust Pizza, and Hill City Eats can regularly be found serving up delights to go with your craft beer that’s made on the premises.

Burg Burritos
One of the newer patios around town, Burg Burritos does one thing and they do it exceptionally well: Burritos. And what could possibly be better than a burrito? Sitting outside on a gorgeous day eating a burrito with your dog while sipping a soft serve margarita. Is this heaven? Wait, there’s more. These guys will actually MAKE A Grrr-ito for your pooch! Fido just needs to decide if he would prefer beef and cheese or chicken and cheese. Mind blown.

Yellow Submarine
Come for trivia night and the delicious subs, stay for the warm service and super dog-friendly accommodations. These people are pet lovers and invite you to bring your pet to dine outside on the patio or on the screened in porch. Parched pooch? Not to worry, the folks at Yellow Submarine already have dog bowls outside.

We love our dogs, and our dogs love us, which is why it’s so important to feed them nutritious food. While kibble may be one of the most widely used sources of dog nutrition, veterinary science tells us that dogs also benefit from foods that come out of your fridge. In fact, there are lots of “people foods” that are also healthy for your pup’s continuing wellness, including digestion, skin and coat health, mouth health, and eye health.

Every dog breed, size, and age requires different nutrients and different amounts of them, and some dogs cannot have certain foods. As with anything wellness-related for your furry family member, please talk to your vet before deciding which human foods to regularly feed them.

FOR HEALTHY SKIN AND A HEALTHY COAT:
Keeping your dog’s skin and fur healthy is essential to his or her well-being. High-quality sources of protein and carbs can help with this, such as:

Chicken and fish: Plain, cooked, low-fat, unseasoned chicken and fish (i.e. salmon and tuna) are both fantastic sources of protein for your dog. They contain vital vitamins and nutrients that promote coat health (and digestive health, too!).

Eggs: You’ve probably heard that eggs are good for your dog’s coat health. Like the previous protein sources mentioned, eggs go beyond that to help aid your dog’s digestive health and promote healthy joints and muscles.

Oats: These simple carbs are great for dogs in small quantities. Oats are not highly processed and contain low amounts of gluten. In fact, oats are often found as a primary ingredient in high quality dog kibble. Giving your dog plain, unseasoned, and unsweetened oatmeal will help keep his or her skin and fur healthy and fluffy.

FOR AN UPSET STOMACH:
Upset stomachs are no fun for humans or dogs. Fortunately, there are a few simple foods that you can slide into your doggo’s food bowl to help ease his or her tummy. These foods can also be helpful if your dog seems to have lost his or her appetite.

Yogurt: Just as it is for humans, yogurt is a fantastic treat to give to dogs. Not only is it delicious, it’s also high in essential nutrients like calcium, which will help your dog’s entire body stay healthy and strong. If you buy yogurt for your dog, make sure it contains live, active bacterial cultures, and is plain with no added sweeteners.

Rice: This carb source is a good one to feed your dog, as it has little to no fat, cholesterol, or sodium. Some dogs can even eat rice on a daily basis. Because it helps regulate digestion, it’s a good food to give your dog to prevent or treat sickness. For some dogs, if they are having appetite issues, a chicken and rice mixture may help them get their desire to eat back (though if appetite issues continue, please consult your vet).

Pumpkin: Pureed pumpkin is a wonderful treat for your pooch, as it also promotes healthy digestion. Furthermore, pumpkin helps keep your dog’s urinary tract healthy. It can even help your dog shed some pounds if needed, as it delivers nutrients to his or her body without added carbs or fats.

FOR HEALTHY TEETH:
The smell of a dog’s breath is usually a result of their overall mouth health, which can be improved by keeping their teeth in good shape.

Carrots: These veggies are an ideal food to give your doggo as a health-promoting treat. Chewing them will help loosen up and get rid of plaque on your pooch’s chompers, making them great “toothbrushes.” And while the carrots are being used to help your dog’s teeth stay healthy, the nutrients in this veggie will also help their eyes stay healthy.

Apples: This fruity staple is also a great source of fiber that does a great job of scrubbing away at your dog’s teeth. If you’re going to give your furry friend apples as a snack, though, it may be a good idea to peel off the skin, as apple skin can get stuck in their teeth just as easily as it can in ours. Apples are also high in fiber, which means they will add nutritional value to your pup’s digestive system.

JUST BECAUSE:
Our dogs love to give us puppy eyes, and we love to give them treats. If you’d like to give your dog a treat outside of their usual biscuits or bones, here are a couple of “just because” human foods that have a wide range of doggy dietary benefits.

Peanut butter: Dogs love peanut butter, and, fortunately, it’s a great treat and source of healthy protein for their diet, though it need only be given to them in small amounts and as an occasional treat. Make sure to buy natural peanut butter with no added sugars or flavorings (especially Xylitol, which is toxic to dogs).

Fruits and veggies: Lots of fruits and veggies, such as berries, watermelon, and green beans, are great little snacks to give your dog, as they provide a healthy sweet treat and are high in tummy-friendly fiber. Just make sure that whatever fiber-rich treats you give them contain no added sugars or spices and have the seeds and other hard parts removed.

As you may be starting to figure out, there are a lot of foods that are good for us that are also good for your pup. If you’re interested in learning more, start talking with your vet about which sources of protein are best for your dog as a supplemental food source. Then watch as your furry companion begins to thrive and live his or her best life, which, of course, will also help you live your best life!

Hunter Thomas discovered disc golf the summer after he graduated high school. He was bored and looking for something to do, so his brother took him out on a disc golf course. Thomas never looked back.

Thomas now runs Foundation Disc Golf, a store for both beginner and expert disc golfers.

Founded in 2019, Foundation Disc Golf began as an online store and a place for disc golfers to buy discs, apparel, and accessories, and they quickly expanded to brick-and-mortar retail store located in Forest. A large part of the store’s growth was due to Foundation Disc Golf’s online content.

“Our focus was to create content to drive traffic at the online store to help people learn about disc golf or learn different ways to get better. The content side took off in a way we never expected it to, to where the business got a lot bigger than expected,” Thomas said.

Foundation Disc Golf has five podcasts and regularly posts videos on their two YouTube channels. Disc golfers of any skill level can learn from the videos and podcast episodes. The content ranges from discussing pro disc golfers to the Foundation Disc Golf team out on the course trying out discs.

There is more to Foundation Disc Golf than podcasts and selling discs. They want to see the disc golf community flourish through engagement with residents and clubs in the area.

“There are local clubs in Lynchburg and Bedford, and Liberty University has a club team. We’re involved in all three in different ways. We just try to help support what they’re doing locally as much as we can,” Thomas said.

In 2019, Foundation Disc Golf started a tournament in Bedford with the help of the local club and Bedford Parks and Recreation. It has become one of the biggest disc golf tournaments in Virginia. The tournament and the great courses in the area have caught the eye of many.

“Bedford Parks and Rec saw how much disc golf had taken off. They built one of the best courses in the country and several of the best courses in the state, which have also become a big tourist attraction for disc golfers all over the country,” Thomas explained.

The popularity of disc golf in the Lynchburg/Bedford region soared during COVID. With lockdowns in place, many people turned to parks and outdoor activities. As Thomas put it,
“What ended up happening was so many people were looking
for something to do to get out of the house. So many people found disc golf during that time and that happened here as well.”

Disc golf has maintained that momentum because of its accessibility and affordability. Like golf, the goal of disc golf is to get the disc from the tee pad to the basket in as few throws as possible. Unlike golf, disc golf does not require a lot of equipment or money. All that’s needed to start is one disc that costs around $10 and a park with a course.

Thomas suggests that people looking to get into disc golf go to Peaks View Park in Lynchburg. Most of the holes are under 200 feet, so it is an ideal beginner course. Starting out on the wrong course or using the wrong disc can make the sport more challenging than it should be.

“The best way to get started would be to come to Foundation Disc Golf, where we have a used section of discs. You can get a disc for as cheap as $5. We have staff that make sure you won’t buy a disc that is going to make the sport frustrating,” Thomas said.

Along with its accessibility and affordability, disc golf is a very inclusive sport. There is no age limit or specific physical requirements.

“If you can walk and you can move your arm, you can play disc golf essentially. Pretty much anyone can play. I’ve taken out people in their upper 60s and I’ve taken out 5-year-olds. And everyone has fun,” Thomas said.

Hiking or walking is a great activity, but disc golf takes it to a whole new level.

“It gives you something to focus on, and you don’t realize how much you just walked. It’s a good thing for cardio and just the benefits of being outside. For me personally, it’s been a huge stress relief.”

Through disc golf, Thomas has met some of his best friends. He’s met people from all different walks of life, but they all share one thing in common, the love of disc golf.

“People are just super excited to meet, talk with you, and teach you the game. It’s something that we all love, so we just want other people to love it too.”

Little Town Players Continues to Shine a Spotlight on Bedford with Topnotch Productions

Beloved community theatre nonprofit Little Town Players has been making a big impact in Bedford—and beyond—for nearly 50 years, and it will undoubtedly continue to do so in the future. With its rich and decorated history, generous and talented volunteers, and commitment to presenting dynamic and high-quality productions, LTP is a triumphant testament to the power of close-knit communities.

“Bedford is thought of as a tight-knit community, and Little Town Players is very much a tight-knit community as well,” says LTP Board President Lisa Butler.

Little Town Players’ story began in 1975 with a group of enthusiastic thespians, many of whom were members of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Bedford.

“At that time, there had not been any local theatre in Bedford for at least two decades,” Butler notes. “Roy and Karen Thorpe led a production of Our Town at St. John’s. Karen directed the play, and the majority of the cast was comprised of the church congregation. The show was a great success, so LTP officially began in 1976 with its first season of shows.”

Shortly thereafter, Little Town Players gained 501(c)(3) status and brought on its first Board of Directors. The Board originally had seven members, and now it has nine. The organization also found its permanent home at a former movie house.

“Somebody at the church found out that there was an old movie house that was not being utilized on the campus of the Elks National Home,” Butler recalls. “LTP has had a home in that space, which is called the Fred Harper Theatre, ever since. We have a great working relationship with The Elks: A Noble Senior Living Community.”

In 1983, a historic honor solidified Little Town Players’ status as a top-tier theatre organization: then-President Ronald Reagan awarded LTP a Volunteer Action Award for the Arts and Humanities. The Volunteer Action Awards were designed to honor outstanding volunteer achievements. In 1982, more than 2,000 groups were nominated nationally for 20 awards in 10 categories.

“In addition to having fantastic volunteers, I think that LTP was chosen for the award because of our ability to make the most of our fairly limited resources,” Butler says. “For instance, if we needed a stove for a production, we would get a cardboard box that a stove came in from a local electric company and paint it to look like the real thing. We’ve certainly come a long way!”

The Fred Harper Theatre specifically has come a long way thanks to many improvements over the years.

“We took the booth area from the former movie house and turned it into a booth for our sound and light controls,” notes Butler. “We’re working on getting all of our lights switched over to LED lighting, we’ve recovered our seats, and we’ve added lights above the stage. We’ve also built dressing rooms, installed heating and air conditioning, added bathrooms downstairs for the cast, and enclosed the lobby. We are able to use the space rent-free, so we do whatever we can to help the Elks continue to remain vibrant. It’s an ideal partnership.”

Since it was founded, Little Town Players has presented a wide variety of productions including Driving Miss Daisy, The Sound of Music, Fiddler on the Roof, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, A Christmas Story: The Musical, Steel Magnolias, A Streetcar Named Desire, My Fair Lady, The Secret Garden: A Musical, and many more. Butler’s personal favorites are The Wizard of Oz, in which she portrayed Dorothy, and Always… Patsy Cline, in which she portrayed the titular character. See the sidebar for LTP’s upcoming lineup of productions.

Although LTP presents shows with apparent ease, a great deal of behind-the-scenes work goes into each production.

“We have a play-reading committee that consists of six to 10 people,” Butler says. “Each person brings suggestions of productions within three different categories: musicals, comedies, and dramas. We typically start out with 60 to 70 possibilities. The committee starts discussing pros and cons of each of the shows: the feasibility of building certain sets, whether or not patrons are likely to enjoy the production, how difficult the production would be to cast, etc. Once the committee limits the choices and votes on a slate, they present it to the Board for approval. The whole process generally takes five to six months.”

The members of that committee, Board members, actors, and a myriad of others involved in each production are volunteers. Directors, music directors, and choreographers receive small stipends.

“Without volunteers, LTP simply would not exist,” Butler remarks. “We are very lucky to have so many wonderful volunteers. Anyone can get involved by checking out our website and filling out our volunteer form. We can always use stage managers, light and sound workers, costumers, set designers, builders, painters, ushers, box office assistants, play-reading committee members, and more.”

According to Butler, LTP has a dual primary mission.

“Our mission is to both entertain and educate our audiences through theatre,” she says. “You may not think you’ll be entertained by a production that is laden with facts or educated by a comedy, but we aim to make those things happen. My mission as Board President is to ensure that all that is done within our theatre is done to uphold and support LTP’s mission and to ensure that LTP is around for generations to come.”

Little Town Players offers an annual scholarship to encourage involvement among young people in its and other organizations’ theatre programs.

“For over 20 years, we’ve offered a $1,000 scholarship each year to a Bedford County graduating high school senior,” notes Butler. “Preference is given to graduating seniors who have been involved with Little Town Players, but it is not a requirement. The student needs to be very involved with theatre, but they do not need to be pursuing a theatre degree.”

There is no doubt that community is the cornerstone of Little Town Players. Butler, who met her husband through the organization and was involved in LTP’s production of Little Women: The Musical with her husband and two of her children, believes that anyone who gets involved with LTP will find a home away from home.

“Little Town Players is truly like a family,” she says.

“For us, community theatre is all about getting together and having fun while making beautiful art that is representative of our community.”

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UPCOMING LITTLE TOWN PLAYERS SEASON
Shows are presented on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:00 p.m.

The Mousetrap
Sept. 9-18, 2022

Blithe Spirit
Nov. 4-13, 2022

12 Angry Men
Feb. 24-March 5, 2023

Little Shop of Horrors
May 12-21, 2023