A Candle Shop That Lights Up Community and Connection

By: Emeri Glen | Photos by: Ashlee Glen

Wick and Pour, a new candle bar in downtown Lynchburg, is adorned not by flashy pops of color, or distracting murals on the walls, but by the joy and warmth that grows from conversation around a simple table. The owner, Chantel West-White, well knows the value of intergenerational community and the beauty of forged relationships.

A middle school nurse during the weekdays, West-White began dabbling in candle-making as something to do during the Covid-19 pandemic. As she grew in her hobby, more and more women joined her around her home craft table.

“It just became a place for everyone to talk, to laugh, or to cry,” she said. And thus, was planted the seed for Wick and Pour.

West-White wanted to create a more dedicated space for her newfound passion, but on a larger scale. While the location that she found on Ninth Street in downtown Lynchburg was a tad smaller than what she had originally envisioned, it turned out to be the perfect space for the type of conversations that West-White was seeking to cultivate.

“There are people from all races, all ages, [and] all backgrounds who come together at the table and they make candles. You will see a seventy-year-old woman talking to a twenty-year-old woman, talking about raising a family” she said.

Wick and Pour contains a communal crafting table, similar to the one that she started with. The shop’s lack of separate worktables is meant to encourage community building and story swapping, with the express goal of de-othering neighbors.

Of this, West-White said, “The table is doing exactly what I wanted it to: showing people we are more alike than we are different.”

The shop, which is currently open Fridays through Sundays, utilizes only eco-friendly materials.

The fragrances are diverse—West-White associates colors with these, further adding to the allure of her shop—and she picks up inspiration for them (some of which include “Library” and “Coffee Shop”) on her travels across the country. They are clean-burning, without cancer-causing ingredients, and glitter is an option.

West-White’s business now also boasts a fragrance bar, where patrons can create their own signature perfumes. In addition, the venue hosts special events
for holidays such as “Galentines,” “Friendsgiving”, and Mardis Gras, as well as fun pop culture events like “Taylor Swift sing-a-along.”

West-White found support and community during the uncertainty of the pandemic in the experience and voices of those women who created with her. She continues to find support through the help of her loved ones.

“I know I wouldn’t have been able to do this without my family,” she said.

Ultimately, apart from creating a space that nurtures and tends relational growth, West-White says that, “When they (patrons) walk away, I hope they find a little bit of peace in a world of chaos.”

To book a session at Wick and Pour or to learn more about what the shop offers, visit wickpourcandlebar.com.

New Year’s Resolutions from Local Leaders

As Lynchburg enters a new year, the community stands at a pivotal moment—one shaped by both its rich history and the exciting potential of the future. Local leaders are looking ahead with a clear focus on progress, collaboration, and sustainable growth.
Their resolutions reflect a shared commitment to nurturing the city’s diverse strengths while addressing the challenges that lie ahead.

This collection of resolutions provides a glimpse into the aspirations that will guide Lynchburg through 2025 and beyond. These leaders are resolute in their vision for a thriving, forward-thinking community. Together, they offer a collective roadmap that balances ambition with a dedication to the enduring values that make Lynchburg unique.

The Impact of Lynchburg’s Amplify Music Program

By: Jeremy Angione | Photos By: Ashlee GlenTurning Beats Into Futures

Downtown Lynchburg has become a haven for artists of all types. It’s not just a home for the established artist, but a connecting point to educate and empower future artists as well.

On Jefferson Street, Music Is Forever, a nondescript music production studio, is revolutionizing youth music education with their emerging program, Amplify Your Lives (or Amplify, for short). Amplify is a 10-week program “designed to empower aspiring musicians and producers in Lynchburg, Virginia,” according to Amplify’s syllabus.

The program began to take shape years ago when co-founder and lead instructor Keith Thomas taught a similar course at Pellissippi State Community College.

“What if we distilled that down and made it suitable for young people in the community,” Thomas had ideated.

Two years ago, Thomas returned to Lynchburg to experience what he described as a “string of shootings and untimely deaths with young people,”
in his hometown.

“You just heard community members saying, ‘We have to do something. We have got to create more opportunities,’” Thomas said.

Despite the bleak catalyst that started the mission of Amplify, Thomas and his Music Is Forever partner and founder, Jordan Preston, started the program relatively quickly.

Thomas returned to Lynchburg in 2022, and with the help of IRON Lives, an established youth outreach nonprofit with the resources and expertise that Thomas and Preston needed, Amplify’s pilot program was launched just a year later in November 2023.

“I understand these days the importance of collaboration as well as the necessity of building community,” Preston said.

Thanks to pivotal partnerships with the Academy Center of the Arts, IRON Lives, and local churches, Amplify received much of the technology and financial support that would help get the program into motion.

“The community has rallied in support in a major way behind Amplify. We’ve received support in attendance, financial, and positive feedback that positively encourages and pushes us,” Preston added.

A brief look at the Amplify syllabus would clue you in to its collegiate roots. While the program is comprehensive, Amplify’s staff ensure that each lesson is fun and applicable to students’ everyday lives.

“As a musician who struggled with this lack of understanding or support from my communities growing up, I can’t express how life changing this experience and these resources—even just the simple exposure to the studio—could be for a young person who genuinely needs creative expression and music in their life to thrive,” instructor Shana Munson said.

Now in its third cohort, Amplify guides its 10 students through an introduction to several production programs and technologies, music theory, vocal production, and recording, culminating in a student-produced album release party.

Thomas recalls that for the first class of every cohort, students are mostly unengaged and distracted by their phones. But he claims that without fail, students are much more engaged in the second class as they learn to actually produce a musical piece.

“At the end of the class they all have a song, or something that is musical. They’re all hyped. Immediately, we’ve got ’em, from that point on,” Thomas said.

For many of the in-risk, at-risk, and underserved students, Amplify and its lessons become a lifeline to many out of reach resources such as technology, the arts, financial literacy, and even a hot meal.

“Amplify provides a space where they can explore their potential, develop new skills, and gain confidence in their abilities. The program has strengthened community ties by showing these youth that their voices and talents matter,” instructor Phinees Robert said.

The creative outlet for students cannot be understated. All of Amplify’s instructors agree that the transformation of their students’ abilities and confidence from week one to week 10 is nothing short of remarkable.

“What becomes interesting is when the young people’s real lives begin to manifest in the space. When their real challenges become exposed and they might want to write about it. Things can get heavy,” Thomas said.

Thomas and the entire Amplify team trained IRON Lives staff to learn how to better serve the emotional and mental needs that may be troubling some of their students. Despite the students’ level of musical knowledge, or the challenges they face in life, the Amplify team makes use of it all to shepherd them to tangible, creative results.

As Thomas searched for the right words to convey how Amplify teaches students intuitively, he rushed over to a piano across the room and sat on the bench. He began pressing keys to convey what most of us would understand as the cues for tension, joy, sadness, and other emotions.

“We use the language of feeling, as opposed to the traditional music theory. You’re actually teaching the application of passion,” Thomas said. “It’s a step-by-step process, where we are teaching the fundamentals of programs, the technology, the artistry of making a song, and the performance of it. All the while we’re interjecting how this applies to real life.”

According to both Thomas and Preston one of the main challenges that Amplify faces is its relative obscurity in the community.
“I don’t know if people realize what’s actually happening in this space. I think if more people knew what was happening, then we could get more community support,” Thomas said.

At the end of the 10-week cohort students hold an album release party where they perform their self-produced music live for friends and family.

Aside from the technical skills they learn, Amplify offers its graduating class financial compensation for the music they’ve produced. Their music can be found on Spotify by searching “Amplify Cohort #1” or “Amplify Cohort #2”.

Currently, Amplify is building out its partnerships in order to implement an apprenticeship program for students to find placements for their newly acquired skills.

“My hope for Amplify is that it continues to expand and eventually becomes a year-round after-school program in Lynchburg City Schools. I would love to see the program reach even more young people in the community and offer advanced opportunities, such as paid internships or partnerships with local businesses, to give them real-world experience,” Robert said.

New Bar & Music Hall

By: Christian Shields | Photos by: Ashlee Glen

Less than a year after opening Trading Post by Traber Ranch in downtown Lynchburg, the Traber family has expanded the business through several new additions.

Located at 1222 Main St., the Trading Post provides locals with a selection of coffees, convenience store items, and specialty meats. This past summer, the Trabers opened the Trading Post Speakeasy below the Trading Post.

This 6,000-square-foot space includes a full bar and offers a variety of shareable plates and appetizers.

It also features five large screen televisions for sporting events as well as multiple pool tables and darts lanes.

Melanie Traber, who owns the business along with her husband Peter, noted that the location’s open space sets it apart from other bars in the area and provides customers with much more space for activities outside of solely grabbing a drink and a bite to eat. In addition, the speakeasy offers a much more casual feel than is typically found at restaurants.

“There isn’t a lot to do downtown as far as activities, so it’s nice to have a place where you can come and hang out with your friends, play pool or play a game of darts, and not just go to a restaurant,” Melanie said. “If you go to a restaurant, you sit down, and the bills come and they’re pushing you out. So, it’s a good place to hang out and relax.”

In an effort to cater to college students and other patrons who may not drink alcohol, the site offers a wide selection of “mocktails,” kombucha, mushroom-based elixirs and teas, and Olipop sodas.

“We really want our space to be a laid-back, enjoyable place for everyone, so we want to make sure that we encourage kids and adults who don’t want to drink alcohol to have plenty of options too,” Melanie Traber said.

This past October, Traber Ranch Music Hall also opened with an additional 6,000-square-foot space behind the Trading Post for live music and private events. This area boasts an extensive dinner menu, live music on a state-of-the-art stage with a tour-grade audio and lighting system, and weekly events such as karaoke and line dancing.

During the day, this space will be available for students to study, with Wi-Fi and charging outlets onsite to help them complete their assignments. As an added incentive to draw in the college crowd, the Traber family is currently running a promotion where for every $5 a student spends onsite, that student will be entered into a raffle, with three students receiving $500 scholarships at the end of the semester.

Because the Trading Post, Speakeasy, and Music Hall share one building and serve as complements to each other, guests are welcome to move freely throughout each spot. This allows customers to enjoy the best offerings of each without feeling confined to a specific space.

In addition to the main Trading Post entrance on Main St., customers can access the Speakeasy at 113 13th St. and the upstairs Music Hall through the patio entrance at 1222 Main Street.

GhostStop & Lynchburg Ghost Tours Search for the Paranormal

By: Jeremy Angione  |  Photos By: Ashlee Glen

Lynchburg, as you might expect of a city founded in the late eighteenth century, has its share of rich and unique history. While the Lynchburg Museum and other historical preservation societies tend to focus on stories related to its founding, one business in particular is more interested in the weird and macabre history of the Hill City.

Originally founded in 2006, in Florida, by Shawn Porter, GhostStop specializes in manufacturing and selling ghost hunting equipment to paranormal enthusiasts. Although Porter claims he could have never seen himself opening a store like GhostStop, many of his life experiences prepared him for it.

“My background is theme park marketing,” Porter said. 

After working as the marketing director for Universal Studios Orlando for 14 years, Porter joined The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS), made famous by their Travel Channel television show, Ghost Hunters (now streamable on Netflix). Porter says that possible paranormal experiences as a child spurred on his curiosity for the paranormal.

Porter always had an interest in technology. He’d built websites “before they were even called websites,” and worked a few positions at Universal Studios Orlando that required and enhanced his technical knowledge. His technical prowess made him an asset for the TAPS team and other paranormal teams that needed equipment to capture ghostly phenomena. 

“There was really no equipment for ghost hunting,” Porter said.

After his inventions gained traction in the niche field, Porter decided to open up his store. Although the store makes for an interesting spectacle for passersby, much of GhostStop’s operations are dedicated to the in-house manufacture of nearly all ghost hunting equipment.

“We actually make all the equipment that you see on those shows,” Porter said.

In 2023, Porter, along with most of his staff, decided to move the business to Lynchburg for lower cost of living and doing business, appealing scenery, and to be closer to family. Despite the niche nature of ghost hunting, GhostStop has had enough success over the years for Porter to purchase all of 918 Commerce Street where the business now resides, each floor serving a different function.

Porter says that he believes he may have experienced paranormal phenomena in the building on a few of his late-night work sessions.

“I’m a big skeptic myself. I’ve never had an experience that I considered evil or scary. For me it’s just more of a curiosity,” Porter said. 

Although he and the GhostStop staff all employ a healthy level of skepticism when it comes to their work, they revel in the fun of all the different possibilities that might cause phenomena in a particular location.

The shop space itself comprises mostly ghost hunting equipment for the avid paranormal investigator, and fun ghostly merchandise for more casual fans of all things spooky. Porter’s theme park marketing experience is on full display at GhostStop, as the shop looks as if it were a gift shop at any amusement park.

The store acts as the first stop on the Ghost Tours, which commenced last Halloween.

Operations Manager Megan Paxton handles much of the logistics of arranging the Ghost Tours. Despite the name, Paxton and Porter try to differentiate the experience they bring to their tours from other similar services.

“It’s definitely more history driven. Our goal is not necessarily to scare, it’s more to intrigue,” Paxton said.

Currently, the walking tours are about one mile in length and explore the history of popular locales on Commerce Street.

“I want to look at the history in a very in depth and respectable manner. Then intertwine some of the stories we get here and try to see how they connect to the weird history of this town,” Porter said.

One locale that illustrates the weird history that Porter mentions is the old C.B. Fleet building across from GhostStop. Although there have not yet been any confirmed sightings of Fleet’s ghost, the tour guides often share that his claim to fame was his invention of ChapStick and the enema.

Both Porter and Paxton agree that the shop has become a beacon for so many people—local, national, and even international—to come in and share their interests in the paranormal.
Porter says that many locals come into the shop to share stories of paranormal experiences they’ve had at specific locales.

Paxton says that GhostStop uses those stories to cross reference with the established history of those locales to uncover more unique stories for the tours.

In that way, Porter says that no two tours are the same and that many of the stories shared are essentially “crowdsourced.”

“The overall history remains the same. It’s just the stories that are told might be different,” Paxton said.

According to Paxton the tours have been popular and typically see a wide range of demographics, from out of state visitors, to friend groups looking for a unique evening activity.

“It’s very family friendly too,” Porter said.

Currently, the tours take place roughly twice a month, a number Porter hopes to increase if the demand is there. Tickets for a tour are $25. Although the tour is a fairly short walk, a major priority for GhostStop was to make the tours as accessible as possible,

“We make sure everything is ADA accessible. That’s very important for us,” Porter said.

The GhostStop team is in the process of building out new routes for more variety in the tours. There is even a plan to start conducting paranormal investigations at certain locations that community members can assist with.

To book or find more information on the Lynchburg Ghost Tours you can visit lynchburgghosttours.com. Information on GhostStop can be found at ghoststop.com.

Salem Hicks and Audra Rygh Transform Local Retail for Moms

By: Izzi Diaz Young  |  Photos By: Ashlee Glen

Mothers have many reasons to be exasperated or exhausted. Whether it’s an overtired baby or an adventurous toddler—there are upwards of ten thousand things any mother is thinking about at any given moment. One of those, however, should never have to be where they are buying their children’s clothing. Co-owners Salem Hicks and Audra Rygh were part of that community of mothers as well, until they opened downtown Lynchburg’s newest tot-spot, Hunny B’s. 

As owner and stylist at local hair salon, Bloom Studio, Hicks had been selling baby clothes in the salon since 2019, unaware that someday she would have her own little one to buy clothes for. After becoming a mother in June 2023, Hicks was disappointed that all her son’s clothes had to be purchased online due to limited retail options in the city.

As she and her hair clients gabbed in between washes, they kept coming back to the realization that within the Lynchburg community, there was a huge gap for children’s clothes.

Around the same time, the beloved Baby B’s shop on Main Street had just closed its doors after more than two decades spent providing children’s clothing for local mothers. 

When Bloom Studio relocated to Main Street, their new location didn’t have the space to continue selling baby clothes within the salon.

Then, Hicks realized something. “We saw that five doors down was the former location of Baby B’s, and it was available for rent!” she said.

Like it was fate, the stars aligned for Hicks and her business partner, Audra Rygh. Within a week of discovering the storefront, the two had secured the location on Main Street. Then, as if it couldn’t have been more meant to be, Hicks discovered a program called Launch LYH, an initiative designed to truly launch businesses in Downtown Lynchburg, providing them with cash grants to expand or start their own businesses. She signed up for it the day after she and Rygh signed their lease.

“Going through that program was so beneficial,” Hicks stated. “Downtown Lynchburg businesses really look out for one another, and I believe they realize that if we are all successful, it’s a win for everyone. When we found out we won, it only encouraged us that we were on the right path, and that God has much in store for Hunny B’s.” 

As Hicks and Rygh begin their future as co-owners of Hunny B’s, they haven’t forgotten what the location used to represent. Hicks noted that many of the retail shelves inside their store, as well as the checkout desk, were courtesy of the former children’s emporium, Baby B’s. 

“They left quite a legacy with their store, and we always hope to honor that and the work they put into it.” 

While the new owners have brought more modern items into the shop, they also hope to curate a few pieces that are more traditional, just like the original store.

Not only is Hunny B’s run by two mothers, but the store itself was truly created for mothers. Hicks explained that in addition to children’s clothing, customers can find a play area for their little ones to be entertained while the mothers themselves shop. They can also find stroller parking inside, as well as a place to grab a to-go cup of coffee. Hick’s and Rygh’s intentions shine through each nook of their business, as their high-quality goods are meant to provide mothers in the Lynchburg area and beyond with better options than some department stores can supply. 

Hicks also explained that they created aisles wide enough for strollers to peruse the inventory, and even an area with notes of encouragement, designed for any mother feeling down. They take it one step further, their passion for supporting mothers showing with each turn, especially in the “Mommy Corner,” a designated place where mothers can come to feel uplifted. Here, they can find a selection of brochures, cards, businesses, and mom groups that they can browse through. 

“We even found all of the numbers for the maternity resources at Centra and at the hospital so that they don’t have to wait on hold to get to the right location,” Hicks said.

Hicks said that Hunny B’s would soon like to give ten percent of its profit to a small business loan program that exists in Haiti, where she lived for four years before returning to Lynchburg. There, she co-founded a center for women and a residential housing program for women who were being exploited. 

“It’s not just about making money, it’s about supporting the dreams of other women,” she said. “It’s about giving back to more than just our community, but to other areas that need us.”

Hicks said that Hunny B’s will always stand for a culture of inclusivity and kindness, and a judgment-free zone. 

“We are here to support mamas on their journey,” remarked Hicks, “If you ask any mama, they will tell you that there are one million opinions on how we should raise our children, but we aren’t here to share in that guilt, shame and ‘should do it this way’ cycle. We are here to encourage and support.”

Hunny B’s is located at 821 Main St. and serves as a safe place for all mothers to come home to. Whether they need to shop for their children, need a friend, or simply just need someone to talk to, Hunny B’s and their hive of moms will be waiting for them with open arms.  

Pink Flamingo Café is a haven for parents and kids

By: Emeri Glen  |  Photos by: Ashlee Glen

Conveniently situated in the middle of Forest Square Shopping Mall in Forest, Virginia, The Pink Flamingo Café welcomes parents, caregivers, and children to relax from the tedium of everyday worries.

Co-founder Rachel Queen fills the café with her welcoming presence and has made an impressive
effort to create an environment that caters to the needs and special circumstances of caregivers.
Upon walking in, customers are met with explosions of pink and green and several child-sized playhouses set in the back of the café. These include one-stop shops like Sutton’s Supermarket—of which Queen’s daughter is the namesake—a play hospital, and a sheriff’s office.

Equally as noticeable as these lifelike installations is the café’s mascot, a bird that holds a great deal of significance for Queen and Cheri Distefano, her business partner and mother.

Above the gentle noise of her daughter’s and son’s (Jet) play, Queen explained, “So, there’s this thing with flamingos… when they become parents, they actually turn white for like two to three years… because they’re giving so much of their nutrients to their chicks… I think a lot of moms and parents can relate to that, that in those early child-rearing years you give so much of yourself to your kids.”

A Liberty University graduate, Queen was a teacher for three years before deciding to stay home and take care of her children. The experience of personal struggle and sacrifice inspired Queen to create the Pink Flamingo Café as a response to the isolation and fatigue that many mothers and caregivers feel as a result of pouring out their love, time, and devotion for their children.

“I want customers to walk away feeling refreshed and equipped to tackle the day,” she explained.

Queen is supported by a beautiful family and her mom, who commutes regularly from her home in Maryland to help things run smoothly at the Pink Flamingo.

Apart from being bright, welcoming, and filled with swathes of pink, the café was thoughtfully geared toward imaginative playmaking. The play area features a slide, a plethora of themed toys, and ample opportunity for kids to use their imagination. The only prominent technology in the building consists of screens for menus and ordering purposes.

The Café partners with downtown Lynchburg business Father’s Bakery to bring customers delicious pastries (including gluten-free options) and also provides an assortment of snacks and specialty coffees.

As for the future, Queen would like to eventually franchise her business, and quipped that her father (a seasoned entrepreneur) liked the idea of her one day trying her luck on the reality TV series, Shark Tank. She also does content creation and has been toying with the idea of opening more locations if she continues to garner more exposure and success with her venture.  

If you’re a parent or caregiver looking for a child-appropriate environment paired with delicious pastries and good coffee, look no further. More information can be found on the Pink Flamingo website at pinkflamingoplaycafe.com.

Earning a Best of Lynchburg award should be celebrated, and earning this recognition year after year earns a business a spot in the Hall of Fame. 

To place in our Best of Lynchburg Hall of Fame, a business, person, or place needs to have won a gold level award in a particular category for the majority of the last eight years—since VistaGraphics first launched the contest. 

Flip through to see who is the best of the best in the region! 

(Voting for the 2025 Best Of Lynchburg Awards begins July 26. Look for those winners in the January/February issue of Lynchburg Living!)

A mother of two runs Amherst-based Alcock Threads

By: Izzi Diaz Young  |  Photos By: Ashlee Glen

When the owner of Alcock Threads, Renita Kuepfer, was gifted a sewing machine by her parents for her twelfth birthday, she had no idea the impact it would have on her life. What began with creating miniature clothes for her dolls and small quilts for herself eventually grew into Alcock Threads, a custom linen clothing shop based out of Amherst, Virginia. 

Uprooting from her home in northern Michigan about eight years ago, Kuepfer settled in the town of Amherst after she and her husband got married. Now, she is a mother to two little boys; when she is not parenting, she can be found with a needle and thread, hand sewing custom creations for customers across the globe. 

Her love of sewing and creating was inspired when she was only a child, but was amplified around eight years ago, as Kuepfer realized what might be lying within the details of her beloved materials. Her medium of choice was validated once she began discovering hidden chemicals lying within household objects and many synthetic fabrics. 

“When I got married in 2016, I became very aware of all the toxins and chemicals that come with so many cleaners and fabrics, and I really wanted to cut down on that for my own home,” Kuepfer said. 

With that, an idea formed. 

“That’s when I found linen and fell in love with how sustainable and versatile it is for all your home linens, and, it is so incredibly comfy yet classy while wearing it!” she said.

After having her first son and experimenting with sewing linen, Kuepfer found her niche.

“I really had a hard time finding clothes that actually fit my preferences and body type, and so I resorted back to my initial ability to sew my own clothes,” she explained. “Then I fell in love with the art of being able to take a piece of fabric and some measurements and making something that I wanted to wear and felt beautiful in.” 

While she began crafting her vision and designing her stunning products in 2016, it wasn’t until the COVID-19 pandemic struck that the store, Alcock Threads, was brought to life. 

“I was in the crunches of being a first-time mama and needing to stay home and quarantined. I badly needed something to do as a creative outlet,” Kuepfer noted. “So, out of desperation, I started an Instagram account to document my sewing. Within a few months, I started getting messages about sewing custom orders and I eventually started up an Etsy shop to take orders.” 

Alcock Threads shoppers can browse tank tops, dresses, aprons, and anything in between, and purchase hand-created, stunning garments by Kuepfer that are all custom, made to order, and designed specifically for the customer. Browsers will see that all the listed designs have unique names to fit their personal style, such as a linen buttoned bodice dress named Charity, or linen maxi skirt by the name of Evelyn. One might even notice the linen tee the shop offers with a familiar name of Reni, short for Renita. 

Kuepfer stated that much of her clothing and style inspiration is drawn from her love of minimalism, and how linen is often associated with “simple yet elegant designs.” 

She noted, “Often I find this inspiration from Pinterest…but I also do have four wonderful sisters that I bounce ideas off of!”

Alcock Threads features an array of apparel that is perfect for everyday attire, but can also be adorned for more formal events, succeeding in being versatile to fit all phases and stages of life. Her designs can be woven to fit all body types and styles, becoming the perfect addition to anyone’s closet. 

“I’m a hands-on person,” she explained. “So I hand-draw my patterns with a grading process, inspiration photos, and use either USA letter sizes or your specific measurements.” 

When asked what her favorite thing about being a business owner is, Kuepfer said, “I love being able to work with people I have never met, creating a design I know will put a smile on their face whenever they wear it.” 

She certainly makes her customers happy, having received an average rating of five stars for her listed items. One customer commented, “Renita has a gift, and she is excellent at it! I have bought two dresses and they are both some of my favorite pieces I own.” 

Another remarked, “Reni works really hard to make sure you are satisfied with her garments and willing to make changes until you are happy.”

Kuepfer had a goal, a plan to execute her vision, and much help along the way. Kuepfer now operates as a mother and small business owner—two full-time jobs that aren’t for the faint of heart. With much dedication, an immense passion for what she does, and the support of a happy clientele behind her, Kuepfer’s dreams have come to life. 

Her community of consumers and encouragers is growing daily and spans the country.

“I’ve met some lovely local friends through sewing orders, but the majority of my business has come from the nationwide online community,” Kuepfer stated. 

Kuepfer’s advice for folks interested in starting their own small business? “Just do it,” she said. “Find your niche and stay consistent. It’s hard work but being creative is worth it! Most importantly, have fun with it!” 

Experience history, wildlife, and conservation efforts with guided river tours

By: Jeremy Angione  |  Photos By: Ashlee Glen

Lynchburg residents have a unique opportunity this summer to learn about the unique history and wildlife flowing through the James River. 

Steeped in the history of Native Americans and early American colonists, the James River served as an instrumental source of hunting, commerce, and drinking water. For Virginia’s modern denizens, the James River is more often associated with fun and relaxation. Considering the James runs through several major Virginia cities, including Lynchburg, Richmond, and Williamsburg, the river acts as a boon for local ecology and everyday life.

For the James River Association—a nonprofit organization that advocates for the entirety of the James from Botetourt County to the Chesapeake Bay—the goal is to cultivate a lasting appreciation for the river and all that it does and represents. The Lynchburg branch of the association is James River Adventures. Just as their name suggests, the best way to help Virginians appreciate the river is by showing them the adventures to be had on and around it.

“Once you have something that you love, it’s something that you want to protect. That’s truly our organization’s goal—to protect the James, now and into the future,” James River Association’s Upper James Regional Manager Robert Campbell said.

Campbell has become JRA’s self-proclaimed “Jack of all trades” since he began his work there in 2013. One of Campbell’s major duties is tour guide of James River Adventures’ seasonal Paddle Downtown Experience, which runs from June to September.

More than just aimless paddling in the river, the JRA tours have different themes depending on the date that should appeal to a wide variety of novice and experienced outdoor enthusiasts. The tour themes include local history, birding, fishing, and “threats to the river.”

Depending on the experience level or size of the groups, paddlers can float on the tour using a canoe, a kayak, or even one of JRA’s historically fashioned batteaux.

“We’re very much geared at people who don’t have experience. In general, we like to have folks who have zero experience. We want to cultivate a love for the James in everybody,” Campbell said.

Campbell’s passion for protecting the James started with the love that his father helped cultivate. Growing up in northern Amherst County, Campbell routinely went on the river to fish with his dad. But, according to Campbell, seeing the James River Batteau Festival hooked him on river life. Campbell believes he can replicate that experience with paddlers who learn to love the river.

“The ones who are the most rewarding are the students and people who have grown up right next to the river, but never had any experience with the water,” he said.

Although to many paddlers the river tours are just a unique day of fun on the water, to Campbell and JRA, the hope is that their values of advocacy, education, and restoration are imparted to paddlers.

Though much of the advocacy work is done at the Richmond branch, Campbell says that the JRA is “constantly working with lawmakers to get good legislation for the James River.”

“Anything related to water; we’re there to advocate not only for the James, but for the community surrounding the James,” he said.

Campbell and the JRA provide a unique, hands-on education for paddlers with their near-encyclopedic knowledge of the river and its history.

Last year, Campbell said that the James River Association was able to get about 18,000 students out on the river for trips, with about 3,500 students coming through the Lynchburg branch.

“Our restoration work is one of our largest growing programs. Over the last five years, we have put in close to 100,000 trees on the side of the James River,” Campbell said.

After a short tour of the James River with Campbell acting as batteau captain, it is clear to see why a float on the James River is a worthwhile venture. Campbell managed to recite dozens of facts about the James all while pressing roughly against the riverbed with a poplar sapling that had been fashioned into a pole-type oar to guide the batteau around the river’s currents.

The light breeze, gentle sun rays, and local wildlife make for a remarkable trip that many Lynchburg residents unfortunately forget is just in their backyards.

The batteau, which is essentially a large canoe, was previously used to deliver thousands of pounds of goods (such as tobacco) across the James River. Charlie Coleman, husband of Sarah Coleman, another member of the JRA team, built the historically accurate watercraft for JRA.

“It took me about 6 months to build. The JRA batteau is built and patterned off an original canal-era batteau that was unearthed in the 1980s,” Coleman said.

As a Lynchburg native, Coleman cites the James River as a personal landmark in his life that hosted countless adventures for him, including his proposal to his wife Sarah, and his young daughter catching her first fish. Coleman’s love for the river underpins his support of it and JRA, just as it does with Campbell.

“I love that they bring people to the river who may not know what it has to offer. If you are open to it, you can find adventure and beauty in so many different spots on the James,” Coleman said.

According to Campbell, Batteau trips are also available with private bookings for up to six people, and guests can even bring along food and drinks.

While the guided tour season runs through September, Campbell says that JRA may extend its season into Autumn for guided tours to observe the changing of the leaves.  

Anyone interested in booking a guided tour can find details on JRA’s website jamesriveradventures.org, where you can find price information and the various dates of and themes of each tour.