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.

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.”

For a lot of people, their dogs are their children and when they leave for work for the day or have a laundry list of errands to run, they want their fur babies to have the best quality of life while they’re away.

That’s where K-9 Cloud 9 comes in.

Theresa Bryan was working in corporate sales and had two dogs that she wanted day care for. When she found nothing available in the city, she decided to take matters into her own hands and open her own facility.

“I was successful in my corporate career and thought I could be successful for myself instead of a corporate company,” she said.

She opened the business in March 2019 in The Plaza Shopping Center on Memorial Avenue. She wanted it to be a place where there would be exceptional customer service, care, and straightforward pricing.

The business provides boarding services, dog day care, nail trims, and WebCam viewing so owners can watch their dogs having fun playing with their furry friends.

Bryan believes there’s no place like home, but should you need to leave your dog overnight, the K-9 Cloud 9 team is trained to pamper your dog so time away from home is as comfortable as possible.

Bryan said she is also working on hiring a groomer in the future.

K-9 Cloud 9 is an indoor center, which Bryan said is great for dogs because it’s safer and cleaner.

“Our format is a little different than most daycares because the dogs do play out most of the day, versus being caged most of the day with short potty breaks,” she said. “That’s what most centers do and our dogs are just out the whole day and they really get the chance to make friends and be very rambunctious and get all their energy out.”

She said it’s ideal for owners who want their dogs to be more social with other dogs and can learn proper manners.

“Dogs have a lot of energy and unless you’re going to take your dog on a 45-minute run every day, you’re never going to exhaust your dog,” she said. “So dogs that have an opportunity to socialize and be in a structure-free environment are generally happier dogs.”

The business also offers early drop off and late pick up for those who are working 12 hour shifts like nurses and doctors, Bryan said.

“Their dogs can have just as much fun and they don’t have to worry about not being able to take their dog anywhere because their shift work doesn’t allow that,” she said.

Jordan Miller, a Lynchburg resident, has been taking his lively lab-mix, Ruby, to K-9’s daycare for four days a week since it opened.
Every morning, he says “You want to go play with friends?” and Ruby’s ears perk up because she knows that she’s about to go play all day with other doggos.

Miller said 5-year-old Ruby has a phenomenal personality and is the best dog he’s ever had, so just like most other owners who have full-time jobs, he wanted to make sure she was in a trusted and safe environment while he’s away from her.

“We wanted a safe, happy, and convenient place that we could take Ruby because you want to make sure they’re going to a very, very nice place,” he said.

“We wanted a safe, happy, and convenient place that we could take Ruby because you want to make sure they’re going to a very, very nice place,” he said.

As soon as Miller walked into K-9 Cloud 9 in 2019, Bryan offered a tour and informed Miller about the company’s practices.

“She made us feel extremely comfortable with leaving Ruby,” he said. “I trust them completely. They have a great team and when I drop off Ruby I know she’s going to be in a good place and I can just have that completely off my mind while I go to work.”

By Friday, Ruby sleeps all day because she’s gotten all of her energy out between Monday and Thursday, Miller said.

“If dogs don’t use up their energy at doggy daycare, they will use it in a disruptive way,” he said.

Miller has been so pleased with the services at the daycare, he has referred multiple people there because it’s been such an ideal place to drop his fur baby off each week.

“It’s been very integral to my family’s lifestyle,” he said.

Just like daycare for children, K-9 Cloud 9 does activities like nose prints for Mother’s Day and photo magnets for Christmas. In August, the dogs will pose for back-to-school photos.

Owning a business has taught Bryan to stay flexible, be willing to make changes, go with the flow, and listen to employees.

“We have such a fabulous team and being the owner of a business is so much easier when I have great employees and I have such a great team working there,” she said. “I’ve been really lucky in the fact that I’ve been able to hire people who have a lot of experience in veterinary and shelter work.”

She said her team loves the dogs like they are their own and she knows she can rely on them to know the best interest and safety of the animals.

“Our team is so dedicated to the dogs coming there, being safe, and having a great time, and I think the owners can really tell that when they pick up their dogs that their dogs love it.”

The Farm Basket Thrives Under New Ownership

Since purchasing The Farm Basket last summer, Alex Wood and her husband, Sackett, have made a few changes to the beloved Langhorne Road gift shop and café—but to the delight of many customers, the pimento cheese remains the same.

Wood closed the shop for a couple of months to make way for interior and exterior renovations before reopening last October 1.

The Woods purchased the property from Rie and Eddie Godsey and their dining and catering company, Meriwether Godsey. They are the third owners in the shop’s 57-year history.

Wood was working doing interior design—mainly residential—but said she always wanted to own her own home décor shop with a mix of old and new items.

“The previous owners of the Farm Basket were looking to sell, and they wanted the business to continue running similarly but not exactly the same,” she said. “It’s such a historical landmark in Lynchburg, and I grew up coming here. The owners approached us and asked if we would be interested, and I was so excited before I even really thought it through.”

Wood said owning the shop is a more extensive endeavor than she had originally envisioned.

“I knew there was a café and I had eaten here many times, but the restaurant is much more of a daily demand than I initially realized,” she remarked.

As such, Wood immediately hired a manager for the café and said that was the best thing she could have done.

The previous owners sold pretty much all of the inventory before Wood took over, leaving a mostly empty slate for her to work with.

First, she had to learn quickly about the timing and quantity of ordering inventory.

“I went to market in July, which was critical,” she noted. “We got all the new inventory, but inventory is hard to come by right now and it was late. Usually you place Christmas orders in January and we didn’t do it until July. I didn’t know how silly I was to think that.

I didn’t even have it on my schedule on the calendar.”

She also learned the vast importance of certain inventory. She looked around at what was working in the store and what wasn’t necessarily flying off the shelves.

“I initially thought, ‘Wow, there’s not enough room for baby and dog [items],’ and it turns out those are major gifts and are an important part of the business,” she said. “Those things didn’t seem important to me at first. I had to kind of get in there and figure that out.”

Thankfully, most of the staff stayed on and helped guide Wood in those first few months.

She also hired some new employees who had been working in retail stores that closed due to COVID-19.

“I feel like I nailed the whole hiring part,” she said. “Everybody’s been so good.”

Under Wood’s ownership, three local businesses have found a secondary home at The Farm Basket.

Golf Park Coffee opened another location in the shop, Thistle Ridge Farm will sell vegetables out of the gazebo in the parking lot during the warmer months, and Sackett Wood will bring in some pieces of furniture, bags, and accessories for the front retail space from his employer, leather goods company Moore & Giles.

Plans are in place to repave the parking lot this summer. Once that project is complete, electricity and water will be installed in the gazebo.

New jewelry lines have also been introduced along with a small capsule line of clothing. Wood said the clothing selection will be highly specialized because those sales are pretty narrow in the shop, which has limited space.

The café keeps The Farm Basket steady, which comes as no surprise. Customers continue coming back for not only the pimento cheese, chicken salad, and various sandwiches and soups, but also for the tranquil backdrop of the Blackwater Creek in the shop’s backyard, where picnic tables adorn the lawn.

“It’s always been a great café and there’s nothing like the setting and nothing like sitting by the river on a beautiful day,” noted Wood. “I think our food has gotten even better, though, and we have some of the best sandwiches in Lynchburg.”

She hopes that with the help of a newly launched website, The Farm Basket will reach people from all over the country and will be the place shoppers go for that perfect piece for their home or for their wedding registries.

“I’d like to be more of a destination for people to just come in and look for their own home and a really great gift,” Wood said. “I do think we’ve really carefully curated what we have here and I think our offerings are some of the best. You don’t need to go to Charlottesville to get a great gift.”

She is working on bringing in inventory that can only be found at the shop, such as Supergoop, a skincare and sunscreen line.

“I’m hoping to bring in more lines like that that aren’t found anywhere else in Lynchburg,” she remarked.

At the end of the day, Wood wants the shop to evolve and add fresh inventory while also continuing to offer tried-and-true products.

“I think if people haven’t tried The Farm Basket in a while or they don’t know what’s back there, they should just stop in and just check it out because it’s pretty special,” she said.

By Olivia Carter | Photos by Ashlee Glen

Soup 22 Will Serve Lynchburg Community One Bowl at a Time

There’s something about a steaming bowl of soup that makes one feel all warm inside, literally and figuratively. This summer, Michelle Ayers is bringing that feeling to downtown Lynchburg with her new soup shop, Soup 22.

The significance of Soup 22’s name goes beyond the year it’s being opened. Twenty-two is a very special number in Ayers’ life: it’s her birthday and the opening day of Soup 22, June 22. Throughout her life, the number has been a sign that she is on the right track.

“Twenty-two has kind of been a confirmation between God and me,” Ayers said. “Any time I’m struggling or overwhelmed, God kind of shows me confirmation in twenty-twos. It’s just always been a positive thing for me to know to keep moving forward and keep pursuing my dreams.”

One of her longstanding dreams has been to open a soup shop.

“I’ve just always wanted to have a soup shop,” she noted. “Out of everything I’ve done, this is probably the thing I’ve been wanting to do for the longest time.”

Ayers is no stranger to the food business; it has been a part of her life for the past 20 years. She has owned a couple restaurants and continues to run Purple Door Gourmet Kitchen and Catering here in Lynchburg.

Faithful customers of Ayers will notice some similarities between Purple Door and Soup 22: sandwiches, salads, mini charcuterie boxes, and desserts will be offered to accompany the soups.

“There will be a feel of Purple Door, an extension of Purple Door,” she said. “I think when people come in and taste the food and recognize the style, they’re definitely going to think of Purple Door.”

Twenty types of soups will be available year-round, from chicken noodle to Brunswick stew. Some fundamental soups will be on the menu regularly, along with soups that will be switched out depending on the season. During the summer, chilled soup options will be available.

No matter what they order, customers will be able to get their food fast with Soup 22’s grab-and-go setup. Additionally, customers will be able to place orders online and pick them up at the shop.

“Everything is going to be made fresh every morning, but in a grab-and-go style,” noted Ayers. “That’s going to take up a good part of the floor space. I want us to be able to serve a lot of customers and serve them quickly.”

After having lived downtown for eight years, the area holds a special place in Ayers’ heart.

“It lends itself to good street traffic and walking traffic, which I think will be really good for the residents downtown,” she said. “People who work downtown will be able to stop and get soup on their way back to their offices.”

Another reason Ayers chose the downtown location was its proximity to Lynchburg Daily Bread. Soup 22 will be providing more than just soup: one dollar from every soup sale will be donated to the nonprofit, which serves free lunch to those in need seven days a week. Ayers has seen the positive effects that have come from Daily Bread.

“They serve a lot of different purposes,” she noted. “There are a lot of things that go into running an organization like that. I think that raising money for them—and not just giving them food—will be very helpful.”

Ayers hopes to see Soup 22 have a positive impact on the Lynchburg community. She is looking forward to seeing customers warm up with a cup of soup on chilly fall and winter days in the future.

“Soup is a comfort food,” she said. “It literally warms the soul.”

By Ellowyn Steele | Photos by Ashlee Glen

Lakrisha Scott, Director of Human Resources, Lynchburg City Schools is the Recipient of 2021 Level Up Award from Young Professionals of Central Virginia

Lynchburg Living Editor Shelley Basinger:
Why did you choose to start a career in Human Resources?
Lakrisha Scott: I chose to focus on Human Resources because I believe that people are the most critical asset for every business.

HR is a fascinating field with many disciplines. Over the course of my career, I have come to enjoy focusing on benefits and recruiting. Human Resources plays a pivotal role in attracting, hiring, and maintaining talented employees, which is essential for companies to be successful.

SB: You were recently promoted at Lynchburg City Schools. How has your new job as Director of HR been going so far?
LS: This new role keeps me active for sure! I appreciate the confidence that LCS has shown in me as I have taken on these additional responsibilities. I am fortunate to have a team that really supports one another, and I enjoy every day here in the office working with them as we support the staff and students of LCS. Since the majority of my effort is focused on recruiting and hiring top candidates, I’m looking forward to having an influential role that can truly make a positive difference for students and families in our community.

SB: What goals do you have in your new position for the future?
LS: Ultimately, my goal here at LCS, like my colleagues, is to support our mission of “Every Child, By Name and By Need, to Graduation.” In Human Resources, we may not have direct contact with our students on a daily basis, but that doesn’t mean we don’t contribute to their success. It’s imperative that we build an extensive talent pipeline with diverse professionals who contribute to the success of all students and are committed to promoting educational excellence. Another important goal I have is to promote professional career growth so that we can always grow and get better as educators. Additionally, I want to remain engaged with staff and maintain connections so that we can remain knowledgeable about staff needs and concerns. I aim to reduce employee turnover by remaining engaged, communicative, and offering competitive salaries for all positions.

SB: What kinds of challenges have HR departments faced over the past couple of years during the pandemic and how have you all weathered those challenges?
LS: The HR department has faced challenges over the past couple of years: managing a flexible workforce, remote onboarding, shortage of staff being able to work due to COVID-19, and achieving diversity with inclusion. We have weathered these challenges by utilizing remote onboarding via Zoom, creating a teleworking program, and increasing our substitute candidate pool.

SB: What is life like for you outside of work?
LS: When not working, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends and volunteering in the community. I am an active member of Cross Road Baptist Church, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the YWCA board, the Junior League of Lynchburg, and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).

Outtasight Window Tinting and VEHICLE Wraps celebrates 20 years with a unique, large-scale project

Greg Harrison didn’t follow the traditional route to successfully owning his own business. He might not have a college degree hanging on his office wall, but what he does have is a passion for what he does and a team of hardworking employees working alongside him.

Over the last 20 years, Harrison’s passion and work ethic have allowed him to see his business—Outtasight Window Tinting and Vehicle Wraps—grow from a small mobile tinting business with a handful of customers to a window tint and vehicle wrap servicer that is trusted by individuals and corporations throughout Virginia.

Born and raised in Lynchburg, Harrison first learned window tinting when he was a senior in high school through a work program that allowed him to get outside the classroom and gain valuable hands-on experience.

In 2002, shortly after graduation, Harrison started his own tinting business from scratch.

“Basically what I did was a mobile tinting business out of the trunk of my car,” Harrison said. “Because that’s all I had—a couple boxes of window film, a car and all the tools I needed to do it with.”

In March 2004, Harrison began leasing the building on Graves Mill Road that became the first home for Outtasight, which also allowed him to hire a few employees and expand his customer pool. Harrison and his team continued doing automotive, residential and commercial tinting in the Graves Mill Road location for the next eight years, before purchasing land on Cottontown Road in 2012 and building a new facility for the thriving business.

“We built this building with options to grow,” Harrison said. “We knew that it was going to grow, we just didn’t know which direction we were going to go yet.”

Two years after opening the new facility on Cottontown Road, Outtasight began offering a new service—vehicle wraps.
Since that time, wraps have become a lucrative and rewarding component of Outtasight’s business model. According to Harrison, his business is split equally into three main services—automotive tinting, residential/commercial tinting and vehicle/commercial wraps.

One of Outtasight’s biggest vehicle wrap customers is Wooldridge Heating and Air. Since Outtasight initially wrapped three vans for the company, Wooldridge has grown to the point that Harrison has wrapped their entire fleet of more than 50 vehicles.

“Since we’ve started doing wraps, Outtasight has been able to help transform companies,” Harrison said. “We just sit back and watch them grow!”

Another project Harrison is especially proud of is the work Outtasight has done for Liberty University’s School of Aeronautics. In their building, Outtasight helped design a wall wrap the size of a tractor trailer that shows a timeline of aeronautics, among numerous other projects.

“…we’ve transformed this entire place,” Harrison said. “With floor wraps, wall wraps, tinting glass…we wrapped the flight simulators…that’s probably the most fun job I’ve had.”

It was also among the most complicated.

“When you walk in, the floor is a runway—to scale,” Harrison said.

“I actually took the amount of feet that a runway is and then did the math on it and got it all back to scale down to the size it should be for that room.”

Harrison said that a wrap project has three phases: design, production (printing) and installation. His 10 trained employees oversee all three phases.

“Outtasight wouldn’t be the success that it is without our team and our work ethic,” Harrison said.

Harrison is also grateful for every individual and business they have partnered with over the years.

“We value and appreciate each customer that comes into our door,” Harrison said. “All Outtasight employees treat customers the way we would want to be treated as customers, and we want them to keep coming back.”

With a wide variety of projects varying in complexity, Harrison admits that his line of work is not easy, but to him, nothing is more satisfying than a job well done.

“That is what gets me up in the morning,” Harrison said. “It’s knowing that what we do today—if we deliver—we have given someone immediate joy and satisfaction. We immediately please them the minute they see the product—and that is what it’s all about.”

On Feb. 2, Harrison celebrated the 20th anniversary of Outtasight. He has enjoyed the journey so far, but there is still more to be done.

“This is a very interesting and a very challenging business, but it is extremely rewarding,” Harrison said. “It is not easy to do this but once you get in and you learn it, it’s so much fun.”

Behind-the-scenes at three local business makeovers

When it comes to interior design and style, there is often a lot of focus on our homes and personal spaces. But timely renovations and updates are just as important in the business world too. These improvements—whether they are large or small—can substantially improve the overall ambiance for employees and customers, leading to less turnover and, hopefully, an improved bottom line.

Here, we spotlight three recent business overhauls that show a dramatic transformation from start to finish.

Milano’s Enoteca & Italian Ristorante
Renovations Started: Late Spring 2021 | Renovations Completed: Aug. 2021

Local favorite Milano’s Enoteca & Italian Ristorante in Boonsboro is almost unrecognizable after a major renovation last year.

“The life cycle of a restaurant’s décor should change about every 10 years. For some it might be a few coats of paint and for others it goes a lot further, like we did,” says Chef Jason Arbusto.

Before the updates, the style inside the restaurant was dated—brown wood furniture, red carpet and yellow walls.

Arbusto and owner David Abdshah hired Sarah Girten of Sarah Girten Interior Design to oversee the renovations. They all sat down and sketched out their ideas, agreeing that a clean, modern look would carry the restaurant into the future.

“Our new aesthetic was aimed to be appealing to all ages. It is bold, but in a sophisticated and fun way. We also wanted it to be able to stand the test of time,” said Girten.

The red carpet was replaced with an eye-catching wood-grain laminate design. The front wall turned into a stunning focal point; it is now a vibrant blue and is used as a display for wine bottles.

Black metal partition screens, made locally, provide some privacy for patrons without feeling bulky. Murals and various patterns of wallpaper are scattered through the space.

“We really loved the idea of the décor being an experience. Each section has its own unique décor, which we did intentionally, so there is a different vibe depending on where you sit,” said Girten.

But probably the biggest change at Milano’s during this makeover was the addition of a new patio.

“Outdoor seating is huge for us; it’s the most popular when the weather permits,” said Arbusto.

When joining the restaurant in early 2021, Arbusto had updated the restaurant’s menu, keeping classic favorites while adding some new homemade dishes. After those changes, he says they “wanted an ambiance or vibe that matched the food we were serving.”

Now, he is confident that the two go hand in hand.

Lynchburg’s Finest Real Estate
Renovations Started: Feb. 2021. Renovations Completed: May 2021

Lynchburg’s Finest Real Estate has been located in Wyndhurst since 2015. While they love their location, the two-story building on Goldenrod Place was due for some updates.

“The layout felt uninviting, which is not at all who we are. We were definitely stuck in the late ’90s, early 2000s with the design,” said Betsy Ferguson, principal broker and owner. “By changing the entire floor plan of the main level we are able to physically show a warm welcome to each person that comes through our doors.”
Ferguson oversaw the project with general contractor Joel Olenik. She also designed the floor plan by hand and chose all interior elements and furnishings.

The first order of business was to remove the large, bull pen–style front desk that used to be located right inside the front door. In its place now is a wooden conference table surrounded by white, cloth-covered chairs. A large beaded chandelier overhead gives the space a warm glow.

Glass-enclosed offices line the back of the room, giving staff privacy while also keeping visitors in sight and allowing more natural light. The black partitions pop against light wood furniture, including bar stools and a counter work station. Matching cognac chairs offer more seating downstairs for agents.

“To keep our package affordable for our agents we chose not to use the traditional desk fee,” she explained. “What we quickly found out is that without assigned office spaces we eliminated the ability for someone to close a door and talk behind. It truly has set an open tone for the entire culture of our office and agent atmosphere.”

The makeover also included the downstairs powder room as well as the second floor, where they removed a wall. Now, Ferguson can host weekly training sessions for agents with ease.

“Our agents and clients love the bright, light and warm atmosphere. With no assigned offices there is a seat for everyone at the table, to grow, collaborate and belong,” she said.

River Ridge
Renovations Started: July 2019. Renovations Completed: Ongoing Through 2022

Lynchburg’s River Ridge Mall has been a regional shopping destination since it opened in 1980—but in the years leading up to the first wave of renovations in 2019, the mall had seen better days.

“The national landscape for malls has been ‘cloudy’ over the last decade. River Ridge, like many malls built in the ’70s and ’80s, was due for a facelift,” said Lauren Spencer, marketing manager for JLL, the mall’s management company.

River Ridge is owned by Liberty University; the multi-million dollar renovation project is a collective effort by LU’s executive leadership and their architects/contractors.

Just look up to find one of the most transformational elements of the mall’s interior redesign. Raised ceilings with both natural light and light sculptures give shoppers what Spencer describes as an “uplifted and invigorating shopping experience.”

The center court area was another spot that immediately saw major improvements, including a large format fireplace, amphitheater and restaurant-style dining at Iron & Ale Bistro. More recently, the Food Hall was remodeled with a contemporary design aesthetic and the addition of new eateries. Outside, “fresh-faced, large and inviting main entrances” were also updated.

“The rebranding of River Ridge invokes a modern-yet-timeless feel that provides first-to-market retailers with the urban-esque design they are accustomed to in larger cities,” said Spencer.

An indoor-outdoor shopping experience has been at the center of the overhaul at River Ridge. The East End redevelopment, featuring national retailers such as Dick’s Sporting Goods, was completed in late 2020. Currently, the West End is in its final phase of redevelopment and will offer the first restaurant—Papa Gallo—with indoor and outdoor accessibility as well as green spaces for family and community events.

As updates continue in 2022, Spencer says they are already seeing the hard work pay off: “Our retailers have seen a significant increase in their foot traffic, especially during the 2021 holiday season, where many retailers saw some of their highest numbers in sales compared to the past few years.”

NEW CITY CAMPAIGN FOCUSES ON TELLING THE STORIES OF LYNCHBURG’S DIVERSE BUSINESSES

Lynchburg is open for business and is here for you.

This is the message of a new brand campaign that the Office of Economic Development & Tourism (OEDT) is hoping will reach residents, visitors and those looking to relocate.

The new “LYH Loves You” website focuses on living, visiting and working in Lynchburg. It connects to content on the city’s tourism site and economic development site, integrating the two under one brand, look and feel, said Anna Bentson, assistant director for the OEDT.

The campaign is designed to create awareness about the city and all it offers, instill pride and help people feel like they belong, all while leveraging the state’s iconic “Virginia is for Lovers” messaging.

“The concept behind LYH Loves You revolves around the citizens, businesses and organizations of Lynchburg—and their stories,” she said. “From print to social media to organic promotion, the campaign will be a central rallying cry, one platform with spokes that reach residents, talent, businesses and visitors alike.”

During the pandemic, Bentson’s department looked to stakeholders to find out what were the most important things the business community needed. The key takeaways from those conversations were that the business wanted better communication from the city.

Over the past year, the OEDT worked with a steering committee, held workshops and focus groups, sent out stakeholder surveys and chose the brand campaign, which has been in development since last summer.

While the four key audiences of the campaign are residents, businesses, talent and visitors, Bentson said they hope to especially target transplants as well as those who grew up in the area, moved away and are looking to return to the city after seeing all of its positive changes and growth.

Another priority is using the campaign to shift some perceptions about a lack of attractive jobs in the city. Area businesses have wanted help in selling the city to new talent as well as to retain their workers, Bentson said.

Brand ambassadors for LYH Loves You will help with this sales pitch.

“The campaign will showcase Lynchburg’s brightest, kindest and most creative and hardworking communities through ambassadors—featuring the business owners and citizens who are doing this work every day, revealing the character of the city, the inclusive nature of our people and our outsized ambitions,” Bentson said.

Family-operated and local downtown business The Water Dog is a brand ambassador for the campaign.

“Those of us that live and work in Lynchburg know how wonderful we are as a city but I think the message has had a hard time getting out to other parts of Virginia,” owner Dave Henderson said. “And I think the way that this campaign has been strategically organized, it does a really great job of shining a light on the fact that Lynchburg is open for business and Lynchburg loves you.”

Lynchburg holds a very diverse community of people, he said, and the city celebrates
that diversity.

“That’s one of the aspects of this campaign that I really like,” he said. “It’s not just particularly aimed at one sector or one type of business but it’s aimed at a myriad of businesses and business owners as well as women, people of color, LGBTQ+, all of these different communities of people.”

Another brand ambassador is Amy Corbett, owner of All Belong Co., an Airbnb design, consultant and management company. She said locals ask her if people really come to visit Lynchburg very often.

“And I smile because I know what a gem of a place we have,” she said. “As we welcome guests from all over the world to Lynchburg year-round, we have the privilege of showing off the very best our city has to offer in lodging, dining, and activities.”

She said she is excited to partner with the city in spreading a message of inclusivity and belonging as that is already at the core of her family’s small business.

“LYH Loves You feels like a natural extension to what we already do and who we already are,” she said. “Hopefully this campaign will help Lynchburg be known for the things, people, and places that truly make it great.”

For more information visit www.opportunitylynchburg.com/lyh-loves-you/

PROFESSIONALS MENTOR YOUNG ADULTS IN FOSTER CARE

As a part of their Leadership Lynchburg class, Foster Fuels Vice President of Marketing Chelsea Harrison and her team members were assigned a very wide-ranging topic for their group project: youth.

“It was broad,” Harrison said. “But we wanted to design something that had a sustainable impact on
the community.”

The group decided to partner with Impact Living Services to help the organization lead its monthly training sessions for young adults enrolled in the organization’s independent living program. This program helps foster children ages 17 to 21 achieve educational, vocational, and financial goals. Together, the nonprofit and Harrison’s Leadership Lynchburg group created Impact Circles, a mentorship program that partners people in the community with young adults in Impact’s programs.

Young adults who enrolled in the Impact Living Services’ independent living program are required to attend monthly trainings, but Harrison and her group wanted to bring in Lynchburg professionals and experts to focus on specific topics such as real estate, fire and internet safety, and budgeting to help these individuals grow their skills. In some cases, it can be a first-time introduction to certain subjects.

“We had professionals commit to one hour a year,” Harrison explained. “It was awesome to connect with multiple community leaders who wanted to be involved. We have sessions scheduled through [2022].”

Impact Living Services’ Mission Advancement Officer Maria Rolf said seeing the community reach out to partner with them was “a blessing.”

“We had been working as an organization to start a program like this,” Rolf said. “But the fact that they came to us was an unexpected gift.”

According to Rolf, many of the young adults in their program have never had anyone come alongside them and introduce them to certain life skills.

“It’s providing new opportunities that they’ve never had before,” she said. “We had someone come and speak from Centra’s marketing department and for some of our kids who are creative, they realized that they don’t have to be a starving artist. They can apply those skills to something like marketing.”

Rolf and Harrison said the response from those in the program has been positive. The young adults are also sharing stories of how they are applying in their own lives what they have learned.

“Beacon Credit Union had a really nice training,” said 18-year-old Shanna Coleman. “They taught us what credit is, how to use it, and what the different types of bank accounts are.”

As a current student at Central Virginia Community College, Coleman said her first priority is college, but Impact’s training classes have helped take the pressure off.

“Adulting can be overwhelming,” she said. “It’s touching to know that there are people who care about you and care about your progression.”

Coleman is also part of Impact Circles. Mentors meet a few times a month with their mentees to talk about life, school, or any other issues they’d like to address.

“I’ve been meeting with my mentor for a few weeks now and there’s a lot we have in common,” Coleman said. “I’m not used to having a mentor to this extent. It’s a lot more personal and hands-on.”

Harrison said hearing testimonies like this only strengthens their mission as a group.

“Many of these kids are in relational poverty,” Harrison said. “I know if I was going through a hard time, I know I have friends or family members who can help me. But they don’t have that. They need someone to come around them and have a positive impact.”

Rolf said that Coleman’s story shows that anyone can overcome their circumstances and succeed with the right community.

It’s also proof that volunteers from the community truly can change lives.

“We’re looking for people who want to come around these [young adults] to help them grow relationally,” she said. “While they have case workers who are paid to be their support, we want people who volunteer their time and stick with them beyond what’s required.”

WANT TO VOLUNTEER?
Email Maria Rolf at maria.rolf@impactlivingservices.org.