From being one of Lynchburg‘s top make up artist and hairstylist to now owning Lynchburg‘s trendiest boutique, SE BOUTIQUE. Being the face of fashion means embodying style, elegance, and trendsetting.
It’s about more than just wearing clothes; it’s about representing SE BOUTIQUES brand image and values. Jenee shares her fashion and creativity through her boutique . Stop by and shop SE BOUTIQUE located in the Boonsboro shopping center or shop online at www.seb03.com.
“Fashion is the explanation of you without words.” –Jenee Davis
SE Boutique 4925 Boonsboro Road, Lynchburg, VA 24503 434-329-9309 www.seb03.com
Pictured: Jenee Davis
The Face of Home Healthcare: Nuclear Workers Alliance Home Healthcare
Discover compassionate, reliable care with NWA Home Healthcare. We specialize in providing affordable or no-cost, quality-driven, patient-specific home healthcare services to nuclear energy workers living with cancer and seniors aging in place. We strive to be a trusted partner in our client’s healthcare journey, offering not only medical expertise and daily living support, but also a genuine personal connection that goes beyond conventional caregiving. Experience the difference our kind of care makes.
Pictured Above: (Left to Right) Leigh Bridges, Melissa Anderson (seated), Madison Anderson
The Face of Real Estate Closing: Acquire Legal Counsel
Acquire Legal Counsel PLLC., was founded in 2020 by Michael Lovell, Esq., to provide quality legal services to central Virginia. The firm focuses on residential and commercial real estate transactions, business planning as well as probate and estate matters. Michael Lovell, Esq., has practiced law in Virginia since 2008 and has been voted one of Lynchburg’s best real estate attorneys numerous times. At Acquire Legal Counsel we understand that legal matters can be overwhelming. As a small law firm, we provide personalized legal solutions to meet your individual needs.
Mason’s Tree Service was started in 2007 by owner Danny Mason. Danny has over 35 years of experience. They specialize in crane removals, weight reduction, tree pruning, and stump grinding. Danny’s daughter Drew runs the office as well as some machinery in the field. Tim Shive has been the company’s arborist for 2 years. Tim is an Iraqi Freedom Veteran with 35+ years of experience in the Horticulture and Arboriculture “Green Industry.” Tim has held many awards in this field.
Mason’s Tree Service Office: 540-583-0817 Danny’s Cell: 434-665-4416 masonztree14@gmail.com masonstreeserviceinc.com
Pictured Above: (Left to Right) Tim Shive, Danny Mason, Drew Mason
Summer Reads
Books by local (and local-ish) authors to enjoy this season
All the Little Hopes By: Leah Weiss All the Little Hopes is a Southern tale of friendship set in North Carolina during World War II. Thirteen-year-old Lucy Brown, eager for adventure, befriends Allie Bert Tucker, a mysterious newcomer. Inspired by her hero, Nancy Drew, Lucy teams up with Allie to solve local mysteries. Their sleepy town, now hosting a Nazi POW camp, is stirred by disappearances and silent townsfolk. As the girls delve deeper into their investigation, they confront the complexities of right and wrong in a world shadowed by war. This coming-of-age story is rich with Southern charm, highlighting the bond between the girls and the blurred lines of morality during tumultuous times.
Chasing Space: An Astronaut’s Story of Grit, Grace, and Second Chances By: Leland Melvin In Chasing Space, former NASA astronaut and NFL wide receiver Leland Melvin shares his inspiring journey from the football field to the cosmos, highlighting the crucial roles of community, perseverance, and grace in achieving success. Despite facing severe setbacks, including a career-threatening injury that left him temporarily deaf, Melvin’s determination and support from his NASA family enabled him to recover and eventually serve on two space missions aboard the shuttle Atlantis. His memoir not only chronicles his unique achievements but also celebrates the many individuals who helped him overcome adversity and achieve his extraordinary destiny.
Operation Dimwit: A Penelope Lemon Novel By: Inman Majors In Operation Dimwit, Penelope Lemon returns for more uproarious mom adventures. With her son away at camp, Penelope dives into phase two of her post-divorce life, starting with a date with the enigmatic Fitzwilliam Darcy. However, her plans for relaxation are disrupted by her boss Missy’s kooky sting operation to catch a suspected thief in their trailer park, a tough new gym trainer, and a skunk infestation requiring the help of a mystic wildlife expert. This hilarious southern comedy by Inman Majors offers a warmhearted look at the chaotic life of a single working mom navigating modern middle-class challenges.
The End House By: Michael Robertson, Jr. Declan Scheider, a struggling writer, wakes up alone in an abandoned farmhouse hidden in the mountains, grappling with fragmented memories that feel both familiar and foreign. As he navigates the eerie house, he experiences unsettling visions and sounds, feeling constantly watched. His discovery of an ancient, gruesome book blurs the line between reality and hallucination, consuming his mind with its horrific tales and leading him to question his identity and surroundings. Amidst the creeping dread and confusion, Declan struggles to hold onto his sanity and uncover the truth about himself and The End House.
Doomsday: A Remy Jones Adventure By: Heather Elizabeth King In a world where magicians are exiled and a wall separates Bal’Mor from traditionalist cities, peace under Triune’s watch is threatened by a vengeful magician. Investigator Remington Jones, living undercover in the Underground, must navigate a complex case involving magic, zombies, and Triune’s questionable involvement. Teaming up with Vincent Hall and his genetically enhanced team, Remy delves into a web of intrigue to uncover the truth behind the rising unrest and the dark secrets at the heart of Triune’s operations.
The Face of Pharmacy Team: Johnson Health Center
Johnson Health Center offers pharmaceutical services to ensure the community has access to affordable prescriptions. With the recent expansion of Amherst Community Health Center, a division of Johnson Health Center, a drive-thru pharmacy is now available! Johnson Health Center’s Lynchburg and Bedford offices also house pharmacies. Prescriptions can be filled by anyone, including those who are not patients of JHC. Another added benefit, prescriptions can be sent directly to your home through the mail delivery program.
JOHNSON HEALTH CENTER www.jhcvirginia.org Pharmacy Hours: Monday-Thursday: 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Friday: 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday: 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Pictured Above: (Left to Right) Jakia Harvey, Pharmacy Tech; James Alex Lenhart, Pharmacist; Tyler Harlow, Pharmacist
The Face of Local Transit: Greater Lynchburg Transit Company
The Greater Lynchburg Transit Company is committed to providing safe affordable transportation to Lynchburg residents. In 2024, bus operator Nathan Harris was awarded top operator in a statewide skills competition sponsored by the Department of Rail & Public Transportation. Mr. Harris displays a commitment to safety, practices outstanding customer service skills while expertly navigating through challenging traffic conditions ensuring passengers reach their destinations. Whether you’re commuting to work, heading to school, or exploring the city, our transit service is here to get you there.
Greater Lynchburg Transit Company O&M Facility: 419 Bradley Drive, Lynchburg, VA 24501 434-455-5080 gltconline.com
Pictured: Nathan Harris, Bus Operator
Uncovering the Charm of Greenville, South Carolina
Written and Photographed by: Abby Price
Greenville, a small city in the northwestern part of South Carolina, has been rising in popularity over the last few years. Its adorable downtown area is filled with shops, restaurants, bars, and breweries. Greenville’s abundant charm and nature-filled downtown is only enriched by its outstanding performing arts center, beautiful parks, and proximity to the Blue Ridge Mountains.
After hearing so much about Greenville and seeing amazing photos, I decided to visit the city myself. I was pleasantly surprised to find that Greenville not only met but exceeded my expectations. The city is overflowing with southern hospitality, scenic views, and plenty of activities to enjoy, making it the perfect getaway not too far from the state of Virginia.
Traveling To Greenville, South Carolina
You have a few options for reaching Greenville, South Carolina. The city has a decently sized airport, Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, which makes flying in and out convenient. The airport is just a 15-minute drive from downtown, which is very convenient for those wanting to avoid being in a car for long stints of time.
If you prefer a road trip, like I did, the drive is very pleasant. From Lynchburg, you can take I-29 towards Greensboro, then switch to I-85 past Charlotte and head towards Spartanburg, which leads to Greenville. The drive takes about 5 hours exactly and is well worth it for the charming city and all it offers.
Where To Stay
I chose a hotel in downtown Greenville because the area is so walkable! Staying downtown means you can easily explore the vibrant dining and shopping scene without driving. Plus, you avoid the hassle of finding parking, which can be tricky near popular restaurants, stores, and venues.
I recommend staying at the Hyatt Place Greenville Downtown. The rooms are spacious, and it’s conveniently located near many restaurants. Plus, it’s close to Falls Park on the Reedy, a 32-acre park in Greenville’s Historic West End, where the Reedy River flows through. It’s perfect for strolling, admiring the waterfall, and enjoying nature in a downtown setting.
Experiences Worth Having
A visit to Greenville isn’t complete without stopping by Falls Park on the Reedy. This massive park is perfect for walking around, appreciating the water features, and enjoying its lovely suspension bridge. It’s an excellent spot for outdoor activities and taking memorable photos of your time in the city.
I loved that the park has plenty of seating, including picnic tables, porch swings, and chairs for visitors to enjoy. My husband and I spent a few hours strolling around the park, and it was nice to sit in different areas and take in the soothing sound of the cascading waterfall.
For live entertainment, I recommend heading to Bon Secours Wellness Arena. They host concerts, wrestling matches, and Greenville Swamp Rabbits hockey games. My husband and I attended a wrestling event there and enjoyed the lively atmosphere, excellent facilities, and convenient location. Since we stayed downtown, we could walk to the arena, which made the experience even better!
Another worthwhile experience, especially for animal enthusiasts or those traveling with children or grandchildren, is visiting the Greenville Zoo. It has a variety of animals, such as giraffes, red pandas, alligators, and more, making it an enjoyable and educational experience for everyone. I appreciated its downtown location, making it another fantastic place to walk to if you stay downtown.
Outdoor Activities You Shouldn’t Miss
Greenville boasts 39 parks spread across 500 acres of its land, offering plenty of green spaces to explore. Each park has its unique charm, making choosing just one to visit hard. Although Falls Park on the Reedy stands out as my favorite due to its proximity to downtown and our hotel, the city’s array of parks makes it effortless to step outside and spend time in nature.
Fluor Field offers another fantastic outdoor experience with minor league baseball games featuring the Greenville Drive team. It’s a perfect spot to spend a summer day soaking up the sun while enjoying the game.
If you’re looking for a bit more adventure, consider venturing just outside of Greenville to Chimney Rock State Park, located approximately 55 miles north. It’s an ideal spot for hiking, offering many different trails suitable for all skill levels. Try the nearly 2-mile Hickory Nut Falls Trail for an easy yet stunning hike leading to a majestic 400-foot waterfall. This trail is perfect for beginners or those searching for a leisurely stroll with beautiful scenery.
Check out the Exclamation Point and Skyline Trail to Hickory Nut Falls for a more challenging workout. Although this route is less than 3 miles, it includes numerous steep stairs. However, the breathtaking views from the summit, overlooking the mountains, water, and towns below, make the effort well worth it.
Expert Recommendations
My favorite thing to do in Greenville is stroll through downtown and explore the diverse range of restaurants, breweries, cafes, and shops. For a unique place to dine, I highly recommend Trappe Door, a Belgian restaurant known for its delicious Belgian beer, short ribs, steak frites, and other tasty specialties that are sure to impress.
Another great tip I have for you is to explore the city’s coffee scene. Greenville is packed with coffee shops offering amazing variations, and if you enjoy specialty coffees, it’s a must-try. I recommend visiting Coffee Underground. They have a quirky atmosphere and serve scrumptious coffee and food. And don’t miss trying a slice of their strawberry cake with your coffee. It’s an unexpected but delightful combo that you’ll love.
My last tip is to consider scheduling your trip for spring, summer, or fall. I recommend avoiding winter since Greenville’s charm lies in its scenic beauty, views, and outdoor parks. Opt for a time when the weather is warm and ideal for outdoor activities. This way, you can fully appreciate Greenville’s unique appeal, including its mountains and abundant green spaces.
TransformingYour Yard
Conservation Landscaping Best Practices
By: Lindsey Cline-Shrader
Conservation landscaping blends aesthetic appeal and ecological responsibility. It creates spaces that are not only visually stunning but also conserve resources and create havens for wildlife. The key to enchanting, low-maintenance gardens are also conservation landscaping best practices, such as dense planting, no-till gardening, and plug planting.
Dense Planting
The benefits of dense planting are manifold. Dense planting minimizes the space available for weeds to grow, a needed “win” in Virginia summers. A dense network of root systems enhances the soil’s ability to absorb water, reducing erosion and runoff, improving soil structure, and promoting deep infiltration.
Dense plantings can increase the number and variety of plants, supporting a range of pollinators and beneficial insects and reducing the distance they must fly for nectar. Furthermore, dense planting provides shade and reduces temperature fluctuations in the soil. It also allows plants to signal to one another about threats from insects or diseases, creating a stable environment for growth and more successful plants.
Dense planting may bring English cottage gardens to mind, but it can be adapted to various styles. Try a single ground cover grass species between forbs (herbaceous flowering plants) in modern gardens, or a mix of plant textures for added interest in shade gardens, or overlapping plant blocks for simplicity and artistry in Arts and Crafts style gardens.
No-Till Gardening
Another conservation landscaping practice, no-till gardening, preserves soil structure and the life within it. Traditional tilling disrupts soil microorganisms, depletes organic matter, and leads to erosion. No-till gardening maintains the natural soil structure, allowing deeper water infiltration and root growth. Undisturbed soil holds more water over time, helping plants withstand drought.
No-till also protects the habitat of beneficial soil organisms, such as earthworms and mycorrhizal fungi, which recycle soil nutrients.
When creating new beds, use sheet mulching or cover crops. Sheet mulching involves layering organic materials (like compost, topsoil, or mulch) to suppress weeds and build fertility. The “lasagna” method uses cardboard to smother turfgrass, followed by topdressing with organic materials. Studies show cardboard slightly reduces carbon and oxygen in the soil, but those levels rebound in less than a year.
My favorite method for creating new garden beds is to mow the grass as low as possible and then compost in place by layering grass clippings and leaves in two-inch-thick layers. This builds soil and smothers most turfgrasses within several weeks.
I recommend steering clear of solarization with plastic and landscape fabric. Solarization with plastic tarps generates microplastics and pollutes soil. Landscape fabric hampers the exchange of air and water in the soil, reducing soil health and decreasing plant vitality. Most weed seeds are wind-dispersed, allowing them to germinate on top of fabric, rendering it useless. Fabric can strangle trees and shrubs and typically becomes trash after several years.
Plug Planting
Plug planting establishes gardens efficiently, particularly perennials and native plant species. Plugs are small, young plants typically grown in deep but narrow containers—allowing strong root growth with minimal height. Plugs require smaller planting holes, minimizing soil disruption and root damage.
Young plants adapt quickly to their environment, establishing roots more rapidly than larger, more mature plants. Plug planting allows for precise placement, enabling the intricate patterns recommended for dense plantings. Plugs often cost less than larger plants, allowing you to cover larger areas with less investment.
Plugs are planted directly into the ground like larger plants, though a narrow spade creates less disturbance and awakens fewer weed seeds, encouraging a smoother first-year garden.
Additional Conservation Efforts
Efficient water management is essential in conservation landscaping. Although our area has an abundant water table, capturing water during rainy spells can protect our water supply during summer droughts.
Adding rain barrels to downspouts not only provides extra water in hot, dry summers but may reduce overflow into city storm water drains. Rain gardens, beautiful spaces in their own right, reduce erosion and pollution by capturing and filtering water runoff. These gardens slowly absorb rainwater, promote groundwater recharge, and create unique micro-habitats in damp to wet soil.
One final touch in conservation landscaping are accessories that provide food, water, and shelter to turn your garden into a habitat haven. Bird feeders, birdbaths, nesting boxes, berry-producing shrubs, and small water features support wildlife. Brush piles, logs, and dead trees provide shelter, breeding sites for reptiles and amphibians, and food sources for birds like woodpeckers.
By implementing these practices in our own landscapes, we can support biodiversity, conserve resources, and enhance beauty. We have a role in nature, and our collective efforts can make a significant difference.
Top 5 Native Plants for Rain Gardens
1. Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) attracts monarchs and other pollinators with clusters of pink to mauve flowers.
• Full sun to partial shade and wet to moderate soils
2. Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum) attracts pollinators and adapts to clay soils with large cluster or pink to purplish flowers.
• Full sun to partial shade and moist to wet soils
3. The Lobelias: Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis) & Great Blue Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica) attract hummingbirds and butterflies to their vibrant red and blue tubular flowers on tall spikes.
• Full sun to partial shade and consistently moist soils
4. New York Ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis) provides height to borders and late-season nectar for bees and butterflies with vibrant fuchsia flowers.
• Full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soils
5. Blue Flag Iris (Iris versicolor) provides showy blue-purple iris flowers among sword-like leaves.
• Full sun to partial shade and wet, boggy soils
Taste the Love
JD’s Cafe Serves Comfort Food and Community
By: Megan Williams | Photos by: Ashlee Glen
I’m finally in a setting that people enjoy and can come and enjoy the meal,” Julian (J.D.) Davis said sitting at a bistro table outside of his new brick and mortar restaurant, JD’s Cafe.
While the restaurant opened in March, Davis has been cooking for the community for years.
“I’ve been cooking all my life,” he said. “But I’ve been cooking in the industry since I was 15. I started at Charley’s at the mall in ‘87 or ‘88.”
After Davis got his start at Charley’s, he moved on to Shakers where he held his first management job at just 17 years old. From there, he held positions at country clubs, franchises, and local eateries such as Market at Main where, after working there for a number of years, he left to pursue his own business: JD’s Mobile Cafe and Catering.
Operating out of a concession trailer, Davis served crowd favorites like Philly cheesesteaks and po’boys at private catering events or at the outdoor food court, The BackYard, in Forest. Over the years, Davis amassed quite the following and reputation, but the nomadic nature of his business kept him from maintaining a roster of regulars.
So when the opportunity presented itself to fill a vacant space in Boonsboro Shopping Center, Davis jumped and never looked back.
“I feel like I’ve gotten to the right location,” he said. “I feel like it’s a blessing simply because of the people that I’m seeing—people who I haven’t seen in decades. Everything I have done up to this point has been building my name up so that this could happen.”
JD’s Cafe opened its doors on March 18, 2024 and has kept a steady stream of customers since. On any given day, the intimate interior and attached front patio is full of folks picking up to-go orders or settling in for an indulgent lunch.
“My menu hasn’t changed much [since JD’s Mobile Cafe] other than a few additions,” Davis recounted, highlighting a menu offering of large, filling sandwiches such as the catfish po’boy or the Carolina BBQ sandwich as well as hearty comfort entrees like their homemade meatloaf and baby back ribs. “It’s homemade dishes and added sides.”
Davis said he intentionally created a smaller menu to mirror the smaller size of the restaurant and to highlight the foods he knows JD’s Cafe does well.
“I didn’t try to have everything on the menu,” he said. “But people say they can taste the love in my food.”
Whether it’s love or exceptional cooking skills or maybe a little of both, the food at JD’s Cafe is mouthwatering. The pulled pork—slightly smokey and melt-in-your-mouth tender—is leveled up even more with their signature BBQ sauce, a unique blend of sweet and tangy notes. The catfish po’boy is unbelievably delicate and beautifully absorbs the house-made remoulade sauce. And the meatloaf—packed with ground beef, onions, and peppers—is the embodiment of comfort when sliced and served between two pieces of white bread and served alongside country green beans.
“It’s nap food!” Davis joked. “If I were to tell someone what to order, I’d tell them to order the meatloaf or salmon cakes. But our pride and joy are the Philly cheesesteak and catfish po’boy. They’re the most ordered items on the menu.”
Davis said the new brick and mortar has been well-received by the community, specifically noting that all of his past owners and managers from his previous restaurant jobs have dined there since opening in March.
“My passion and gift for feeding people is expressed through those great reviews,” he said. “I’m always about the customer and making them happy—I worry about myself later. It’s what separates me from other places.”
That sentiment is evident to anyone occupying a table for even a short moment at JD’s Cafe. Davis is behind the counter preparing a sandwich one moment, hand delivering an order to an outside table the next or taking the time to know exactly how to pronounce a customer’s name so it’s correct when he announces their to-go order is ready. Amidst caring for his customers, he’s constantly checking in on his team.
“I’m so proud of the opportunity to provide jobs,” he said. “This is a small business and a family atmosphere. The opportunity to provide great food and great service to the community on top of a great atmosphere is something I’m really proud of.”
Davis is content building his base of regulars and serving a steady stream of delicious food to customers and doesn’t foresee moving or expanding in the near future.
“Contentment is my thing,” he said. “The only reason I would grow is if there is a need to grow if I can’t make a customer happy. The second I’m not making a customer happy is when I’ll make a change.”
JD’s Cafe can be found at 4925 Boonsboro Road in Lynchburg. They are currently open for lunch and dinner. Their menu can be found at jdscafelynchburgva.com.
