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.

Southern Charm Painting

Photo by Ashlee Glen

When Brittany Williams started the Huddleston-based Southern Charm Painting in 2017, her main goal was to focus on quality over quantity. Now, four years into owning her own painting business, she feels confident that is exactly what she delivers—not to mention her business won Gold for Best Paint Company in our Best Of Lynchburg Awards. Writer Ellowyn Steele spoke with Williams to learn more about her business and why she chose this industry.

Ellowyn Steele: First off, how did Southern Charm Painting come to be?
Brittany Williams: It took me several weeks to pick that name. It was very much a ground up process. My brother actually bought me my first spray pump as a gift to help me kick off my business. I had a lot of support from friends and family to help get it going, but it was definitely me on my own at first. For the first six months, I would work my property management job Monday through Friday. Then in the nights and evenings, I would paint. On the weekends, I would paint. I literally didn’t take a day off for months to get it going.

ES: Do you have more help now?
BW: I do. I have two to three people that work with me throughout the year.

ES: What specific services does Southern Charm Painting offer?
BW: People laugh when I say this. If it can be painted, we’ll paint it. That’s pretty much my motto. There’s not much I can’t paint or won’t paint if the price is right, and the time is there. We mostly do residential work. I like residential because that’s where our quality shows.

ES: On your website, it says that you do work that your customers are proud of. What measures and methods do you take to ensure that happens?
BW: We go the extra mile to make sure that the customer understands what it is they’re asking for, which is what I think sets us apart from other businesses. We take the extra time to ask questions to make sure that they are getting what they really wanted.

ES: Have you faced any challenges while running your business?
BW: There’s been a lot of hard work. A lot of hours of having to prove myself, especially since the construction industry is a predominantly male field. You have to be able to not wear your emotions on your sleeve and you have to be able to brush shoulders with mostly men in this line of work. You have to have tough, thick skin.

ES: What is your favorite part about what you do?
BW: The end result. I always challenge myself with everything I do to make this one better than the last if at all possible, in some way. Seeing the end result and then seeing the customer happy with what we’ve done makes it worth it.

NEW STORES, GALLERIES POINT TO AN UP-AND-COMING MARKET FOR LOCAL ARTISTS

Anyone on the hunt for a new piece of local, original artwork is no longer limited to attending a festival or stumbling across something they like hanging in a restaurant. New niche fine art galleries are opening and thriving in Central Virginia, showing that the art industry is worth the investment.

Findings Art opened in the Boonsboro Shopping Center in March.

“We had [a full lineup of] artists before we even had a space for them to look at,” said owner Amy Calandra Davis. “So that tells you that people were craving this.”

While Davis says there have been small pockets in the region for artists to display their work, those stores sell other items.

“This is the first time we’ve had an actual retail gallery space solely dedicated to the display and selling of original artwork,” she said, adding that she hopes to offer an even wider variety of artists and artwork as time goes on.

Davis said there is actually a large artist community in Lynchburg, which people may or may not know about.

“We do have a very thriving, active art community,” she said. “And on the flip side, we don’t have enough outlets for artists to routinely display and sell their pieces.”

Artists would normally have to wait until they could get into a show at a gallery such as the Academy Center of the Arts or hang their work somewhere like a local restaurant.

“Being an artist myself, you want to get out there and create, but where are you going to put them once you’re done?” she said.

Findings won’t prevent artists from showing anywhere else; Davis said she wants her gallery to be a place where they can routinely count on having wall space for as long as it’s working for them.

The selections from Findings range from local to national, large to small, with various techniques, styles, mediums, and price points.

“It’s a one-stop shop for all your art needs,” Davis said. “So you don’t have to look online anymore. You don’t have to wait for a show or a festival.”

In Wyndhurst, above Montana Plains Bakery on Tradewynd Drive, Steven Coates has recently reopened his art gallery, Steven Francis Fine Art. He first opened the business in the fall of 2019 but closed it in March 2020 when the pandemic shuttered many businesses.

Coates says his gallery is more of an “art project” that he hopes will naturally evolve into a destination visit from travelers near and far.

He had the chance to hold one show in November 2019 and plans to hold two more this coming fall.

The fine art gallery has 50 percent local artists; the other half is national and international artists, some coming as far as Argentina and California.

Art can be found downstairs in the bakery, which Coates used to own, as well as upstairs in the gallery.

He says it’s new for Lynchburg to have these kinds of fine art stores.

“There was really no niche or specialty galleries, but the market is good for art galleries right now,” he said. “Especially with the pandemic, people want art on their walls. People connect with art and people who have had art for a while, it’s part of the family, it’s how they breathe. Art is like that.”

Coates said he isn’t so much worried about sales but wants to expose the community to art.

“I look for things that I like that I’m passionate about,” he said. “It’s a combination and so then the people come in here and they get excited about it too. I’m just trying to encourage people to get more involved with it.”

ElectricCoArt opened in Bedford this year and has a fine art gallery and bistro alongside a large store that features locally handcrafted items, such as pottery, metal sculptures and furniture. They have confirmed one artist, Felta of Floyd, Va., and are in talks with several more that they plan to announce in the coming months.

“The responses [from the artists] have been overwhelmingly positive,” said co-owner Wendy Witt. “Artists are happy to see us create this, so it is a win for both the artists and the art collectors.”

Witt believes the pandemic, with all of its challenges, really paved the way for a surge in the art market.

“Art is a release for emotions, regardless of what directions those emotions may be traveling in. The quarantining that has been happening for the last year and a half has elevated a lot of emotions—anger, confusion,” said Witt. “However, some people really enjoyed it! So, there needs to be an outlet to let those feelings go, whether you’re making [the art] or enjoying and interpreting the art for your needs.”

Announces New Generation of Popular Disinfecting Cabinet

Alittle over a year after releasing its revolutionary UV-C Disinfecting Cabinet, the Bedford County–based LiteSheet Solutions has come out with a second version that is even more powerful and effective.

LiteSheet is an LED lighting technology company with notable projects completed in New York City’s Woolworth Building and Virginia’s Monitor-Merrimac Tunnel,
among others.

As the COVID-19 pandemic gripped our world last spring, a door opened for LiteSheet to enhance its AC-Direct LED lighting products to include UV-C LED disinfection.

“At the outset of the pandemic, the federal government and Commonwealth of Virginia were making calls to all manufacturers saying, ‘How can you help?’ For the most part, they were looking for fabric manufacturers to produce masks, but I turned to our engineering and manufacturing departments and we developed the UV-C Disinfecting Cabinet,” said Roger Whyte, company president and CEO.

The UV-C Disinfecting Cabinets are manufactured at the company’s Forest facility, which is registered with the Environmental Protection Agency. They are also in full compliance with the Food and Drug Administration as well.

The cabinet uses UV-C LEDs to kill pathogens—including viruses, bacteria, mold and spores—specifically targeting viruses and bacteria that are commonly found in schools, offices and healthcare settings. UV-C wavelengths differ from UV-A and UV-B rays in that they are blocked by the ozone layer so they must be created here on Earth.

However, all three damage cells in a similar way.

“Pathogens are susceptible to UV-C wavelengths,” Whyte explains. “When UV-C strikes a pathogen, it actually permeates the cell of the pathogen, damages its strand of DNA or RNA and kills it.”

Using UV-C as a disinfecting tool has been around for a while and is well researched, Whyte says. But it had traditionally been generated with mercury-vapor lamps, which don’t last long and aren’t easily transported. There are also some environmental concerns if they aren’t disposed of properly.

LiteSheet’s UV-C Disinfecting Cabinet is a much safer option that works similar to a microwave: open up the door, place items inside, shut the door, press start and wait 60 seconds. When the cycle is complete, the items inside have been surface disinfected of common pathogens. There also are safety features on the cabinet, including a digital timer and lock, that ensure the modules will not power on unless the door is securely closed.

In the fall of 2020, LiteSheet’s Gen-1 cabinet was tested by Virginia Tech’s Class 3 Virology lab. Researchers tested the capacity of the SARS-Cov-2 virus to infect cells after spending 15 minutes in the cabinet versus outside the cabinet.

“We found that the level of infectious SARS-Cov-2 on a surface was reduced by 99.97% after 15 minutes in the cabinet,” says Dr. Nisha Duggal, assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology.

“The validation from an independent lab is essential,” Whyte adds. “It’s an extra step we took to ensure the cabinet works.”

Now, over a year later, LiteSheet is unveiling the second generation of the UV-C Disinfecting Cabinet that is higher powered and more efficient to kill surface pathogens in under 60 seconds. Shorter cycle times can help facilities disinfect items or equipment even more quickly than before.

“We kill 95 percent of common pathogens in less than a minute now,” Whyte says.

According to Whyte, the cabinets can play a role in overall patient outcomes in hospitals by mitigating the transmission of healthcare-acquired illnesses. They can also be used by schools to disinfect shared items such as tablets and books.

The cabinet is also finding use in other fields as well, such as broadcasting agencies and departments of transportation, he says.

LiteSheet Solutions is now looking at other ways they can expand this technology in the future.

“We’ve been asked to look at quite a few applications, such as air purification; we’re also looking at conveyor system scenarios where items are continuously fed, like at an airport, for example,” he says. “We think the product line will definitely be expanding.”