LU Professor Brings Unique Ultramarathon into its 20th Year

When the clock strikes midnight on the second Saturday of December each year, there is no sign of bedtime for a group of runners at Camp Bethel in Fincastle. In fact, physical rest will only come approximately 18 hours later. Because the only way these athletes are getting back to where they started is via 66.6 miles of darkness, woods, steep elevation gains, and possibly—depending on the season—extreme winter weather conditions.

But this is the Hellgate 100K—and the race roster is full yet again.

“I think Hellgate is appealing to people because it’s such a difficult race,” said Dr. David Horton, race director. “People are attracted to tough things, to unique things.”

Horton, a professor of health sciences at Liberty University for more than 40 years, has a lot in common with the men and women who come out each year to attempt Hellgate, the race he founded in 2002.

Despite his impressive athletic resume, the 72-year-old didn’t start running until he was an adult, attempting his first ultramarathon (a race longer than a 50K) in 1979, not long after he started teaching at LU. After that accomplishment, he was hooked—it was the first of about 30 marathons and 160 ultramarathons he would log in the coming decades. Horton also ran across the United States twice.

“Volkswagens are suited for mileage but not for drag racing. I’m suited for longer distance runs,” Horton said with a laugh. “I found the further I went, the better I did.”

Alongside this newfound passion, Horton felt called to bring more ultramarathon opportunities to others. He founded the Mountain Masochist Trail Run 50 Miler (Montebello) in 1983, the Holiday Lake 50K (Appomattox) in 1996, and the Promise Land 50K (Bedford) in 2000.

Through the years, he directed these races, and dozens of others, but over time has passed each one on to someone else to lead—all except Promise Land and Hellgate, his two favorites.

Hellgate has had the same course since it was created 20 years ago. While it’s a 100K, the exact distance down the Glenwood Horse Trail ended up, ironically, being 66.6 miles.

According to Horton, Hellgate seems to have the largest and strongest following in the ultrarunning world.

“Runners from 30 or more states come and run it,” he said of the approximately 150 participants who take part each year.

John Anderson, a 47-year-old father and veterinarian in Crozet, will mark his tenth Hellgate experience this December. He is hoping for his ninth top-10 finish.

“Hellgate is like a test at the end of each year—a life test,” said Anderson, who started running marathons once he turned 30. “Not only are you in shape to tackle this race, which is so hard, but also are you in a mental space where you can handle the race?”

Each runner has to train and prepare for 13,000 feet of elevation gain during the Hellgate course; that’s about 2.5 miles of hills. Much of the terrain is covered with leaves and very uneven.

As is typical in the Virginia mountains, the weather is a mixed bag from year to year.

“We have anywhere from nice weather in the 70s to 10 degrees with a foot of snow. But we have never canceled a race,” Horton explained. “Two years ago, it rained for 10 hours during the race. We called that race Watergate, instead of Hellgate.

There was also Snowgate one year.” There is also the dreaded Hellgate Eyes—a condition where your cornea literally freezes, causing blurred vision. About five or six athletes deal with this each year, Horton says.

The 12:01 a.m. start time means the first seven hours of the race are practically pitch black, with handheld flashlights or headlamps helping to guide the way.

Along the trail, Horton and his team set up nine aid stations that are manned by dedicated volunteers. These stations provide help to runners if they need it and also make sure they stay on course, especially during the nighttime hours.

All of the darkness is a prelude to Anderson’s favorite part of the race: “And then, the sun comes up. It’s like a rebirth, but right when things are getting tough,” he said.

In a way, the Hellgate race—with its demand for physical and mental fortitude— mirrors the life of its founder and director, who has been the subject of two movies, Extraordinary and The Runner.

After several knee injuries and surgeries left him unable to pound the pavement (or trail), Horton had to hang up his marathon days about a decade ago. But he didn’t take that as a reason to stop competing and quickly transitioned to distance biking.

This past summer, Horton completed a bike race from Portland, OR, to San Diego and finished it in just over 13 days. He has also biked across the United States twice.

“Did I want to switch to biking? Nope. I wish I were still running,” said Horton. “But you always look for different challenges. And since I teach at LU, I want to be an example to my students.”

Horton holds himself to a very high standard—and is equally as tough on the athletes that choose his races. This is one reason why Anderson keeps coming back year after year.

“David has been there for several 100-mile races that I have done, and when things are tough, and he knows they are tough, he doesn’t coddle you, or give you false bravado—he will say a comment or two that makes you realize that this is your race and what you choose to do with it is your decision,” said Anderson.

Last year, the fastest Hellgate runner completed the race in just over 10 hours. The average time is around 16 hours. There is an 18-hour time cap.

Horton is proud to say that 90 percent of the people who start the Hellgate race finish it within that time frame.

“It’s not about who wins, it’s about challenging yourself to do something you aren’t sure you can do,” he said.

As for his personal finish line, Horton has no plans of slowing down anytime soon. Retirement isn’t on the table just yet, and the Hellgate and Promise Land races will continue “indefinitely,” much to the delight of ultramarathon runners like Anderson.

“Virginia arguably has the best ultrarunning community on the East Coast, and I would argue, the nation. It’s a tight knit group, and this is OUR race,” Anderson said. “Everyone respects Hellgate and takes some pride in it.”

Legacy Keeper Artist Hannah Burnside Is Keeping a 700-Year-Old History Alive

In August, tattoo artist Hannah Burnside woke up in Jerusalem. After long layovers, even longer flights, and hassles through airport security, she walked through the streets of the Christian Quarter and found herself in front of a solid metal door. On the door, no other markings were clear besides a phone number written in permanent marker.

“I called the number and this dude just rolled up in an old Harley,” Burnside, a Savannah native who has been living in Lynchburg since college, recounted. “His leather jacket had ‘Holy Land Bikers’’ on the back, which is a Christian biker club in Jerusalem.”

Stepping off of the bike was Wassim Razzouk, a 27th generation tattoo artist and the current owner of
Razzouk Tattoo.

For the week following that phone call from the crowded streets of the Holy City, Burnside worked alongside the Razzouk family, learning their tattoo styles and, more importantly, the legacy that they represent.

“The Razzouk family immigrated from Egypt 700 years ago and followed a similar path to Jerusalem that folks take on pilgrimages to the Holy Land,” Burnside explained. “To commemorate their pilgrimage, people would get a tattoo of a particular saint or something that represented the pilgrimage. If they returned, say a year later, they would get the date tattooed underneath the original tattoo. So, some people would have dates stretching down their arm that marked their annual pilgrimages.”

Wooden carved stamps were used as stencils for the tattoos—stamps that are still used some 700 years later at Razzouk Tattoo.

“There are some stamps at the shop that they believe are older than that,” Burnside said. “But they just can’t date them back that far.”

During her apprenticeship at Razzouk Tattoo, Burnside immersed herself into the culture and worked tirelessly alongside the Razzouk family as they helped people memorialize a significant journey.

“One day, we had a group of 20 or 30 Armenian pilgrims come by the shop and ask for cross tattoos to mark their journey,” she said. “It was really cool seeing all of these groups who have different takes on religion, but whether they were Christian, Jewish, or any other religion, Jerusalem marks the Holy Land for all of them. Knowing that they all didn’t believe the exact same thing, but still gathered for the same goal, was really beautiful.”

Despite the language barriers—folks travel from all over the world to get tattooed at Razzouk—Burnside noted that she still found such deep bonds with the people she was able to tattoo.

“They have full trust in you even though you can’t understand each other,” she explained. “That’s a really powerful thing and a really amazing experience to have.”

That level of trust is something that Burnside has worked to cultivate since she began tattooing in 2020. A tattoo apprentice at Caspian Tattoo in Lynchburg, Burnside puts a big emphasis behind comfort and trust with the people she tattoos.

“I understand that a lot of people come into the shop with body image issues, or not loving a certain part of themselves and I just want our time together to be a time of complete ease and confidence,” she said.

After returning home from her Razzouk Tattoo apprenticeship, Burnside is now an official Razzouk ambassador, which means she is in possession of some of the antique tattoo stamps and has expressed approval to tattoo those designs in Lynchburg. As one of only nine current ambassadors—all of whom are situated around the globe—this is an incredible privilege and honor.

“I even had the opportunity to design my own stamp before I left,” Burnside explained. “So now my stamp sits in the shop at Razzouk and they will tattoo my stamp for folks all over the world. And I can tattoo it here in Lynchburg, as well.”

Burnside shared a Ram Dass quote that she felt was particularly poignant in commemorating her journey to Jerusalem—her own pilgrimage in a way. “The quote is, ‘We are all walking each other home.’ I can’t think of a better way to describe what this experience has been like, or what these tattoos mean, than that.”

Be Kind Gallery 101 Cultivates a Caring and Inclusive Community for Creatives

Viewed from different lenses, a single work of art can tell innumerable stories.

Art possesses a singular ability to speak to different people in different ways, and that is part of its power. That being said, there is also great power in an artist’s intent, in the often deeply personal message they seek to share. At Be Kind Gallery 101, both interpretation and intent are given space, thus creating an atmosphere where creativity, conversations, and connections thrive.

Be Kind Gallery 101 was founded by Stability X, an artist and veteran who sustained traumatic brain injuries after jumping out of airplanes during her service in the 82nd Airborne Division in North Carolina. When she decided to leave the military so she could better care for her daughter, X was met with little support.

“I sustained multiple traumatic brain injuries doing those jumps and decided, as a single mother, that I needed to stop so that I could have some cognitive abilities to take care of my daughter,” X said.

“She is, overall, top mission. I needed to do what was best at that time for my health and for my daughter’s safety. I did not get a positive reaction from my leadership when I made that decision. I could no longer perform human resources work, which had been my job for nine years, to the best of my abilities because traumatic brain injuries affect your executive functioning skills. I ended up getting disability compensation, but it wasn’t enough to take care of my daughter and me.”

X started a stationery notebook company to bring in some more income but discovered that the burnout resulting from being an entrepreneur with brain trauma made the situation untenable.

In addition to dealing with financial struggles due to lack of support, X was also dealing with isolation.

“When you’re in the military, you’re part of a team of soldiers,” she remarked.

“You are rarely isolated. When you’re a veteran out in the community, if you’re not with a company that has six or seven other employees in your immediate vicinity, you can feel immediately isolated… What I want people to understand about veterans, especially those recovering from injuries, is that it’s important
to reach out. Talk to them, ask them about their journeys, and see how you can help introduce them to different resources and organizations.”

These experiences, paired with X’s long-standing love of and talent for art, led her to open Be Kind Gallery 101 in March. She currently invests her disability compensation into the gallery, and her ultimate goal is to attain 501(c)(3) status.

“I wanted people to know that I was trying,” she said of her decision to open the gallery. “I wanted to say, ‘This is how I’m trying. Come in and ask me questions, and let’s talk about it.

See how I’m still working.’ Veterans who are injured don’t get enough compensation nine times out of ten, and they still have to work. This is how I choose to work.”

X and her partner, John Rose, are both artists with unique styles. Rose likes to incorporate found objects that are often perceived as trash, such as empty beer cans, into his art, thus giving them new life. “I feel like I’m still discovering myself as an artist, and I feel like you always need to be open to evolving as an artist,” he noted. “It’s an ongoing process.”

X is a mixed-media artist. “Including pictures that are already made can give more of a story to a piece and inspire more conversation about a piece,” she said. “I enjoy doing the ‘unordinary’ when it comes to art. Often when you go into galleries—to this day—you’re just seeing paintings. I want the mixed-media niche to expand.”

In addition to showcasing a wide array of styles and mediums, Be Kind Gallery 101 invites artists of all skill levels to share and sell their work as space allows. “I want to bring awareness that this is a space that’s not going to say, ‘We’ll consider your work when we do another exhibition,’” X noted. “Bring in your work, and as long as we have the wall space, we will hang it up.”

Providing a safe and welcoming space for artists to share their stories through their work and for visitors to browse, talk, and shop is the gallery’s primary mission. Rose says that he “would like to help people find confidence in who they are as artists and as people,” and X hopes that coming to the gallery will provide people with a sense of refuge.

“Coming into this space is a break from what’s going on out there,” she remarked. “There is so much consumption and consumerism. You don’t have to buy anything when you come in here. You can just look and explore. I think we need more spaces like this where you don’t feel pressured. Giving that refuge is so rewarding to me, as is having people ask questions about the art.”

X can personally attest to the triple-fold power of creating, sharing, and talking to others about one’s own art. One of her pieces took 18 hours to create. “Every hour that I spent making it, I knew that it was helping me to get it all out and not keep it bottled up,” she said. “I want my art to get me in good trouble.”
With its intentional and inclusive approach, Be Kind Gallery 101 is undoubtedly fostering invaluable connection and bringing much-needed awareness to talented local artists.

“I want people to know more artists the way that we know Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, and Justin Bieber,” said X. “We need to know painters and sculptors. Our experiences need to be shared and spoken about.”

Whether you choose to enter the gallery as a storyteller or an interpreter, you will likely empower others to share their stories. Together, our stories paint a beautiful picture—or perhaps, more accurately, create a dynamic and powerful mixed-media piece.

A Cold War Relic

Photos Courtesy of The Maier Museum of Art

Many Lynchburg residents are unaware of the Cold War relic humbly nestled on the campus of Randolph College. As one of Lynchburg’s staple art locations, the Maier Museum of Art’s history is as rich as its unique collection of original paintings and photographs.

In wake of the Nazi escalation of power, which pinnacled in 1938, Adolf Hitler confiscated thousands of European artworks, paving the way for a new kind of art—one that emphasized the Volksgemeinschaft (the racial community).

This menacing operation, titled Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg, confiscated more than 20 percent of Europe’s art collections, making it the most detrimental heist of art in the world.

It robbed its own citizens and countless galleries and museums throughout Europe.

While some of these stolen treasures were eventually recovered following World War II, thousands were either lost or destroyed. Many items included works from Van Gogh, Michelangelo, and other celebrated, world-renowned artists.

But the conclusion of WWII ushered in another period of foreboding conflict—the Cold War, which stretched from 1947-1991. Fearful of the disastrous art robbery from the previous decade, the United States government knew it needed a backup plan for the nation’s art collection should the Cold War escalate and eventually manifest on U.S. soil.

The National Art Gallery in Washington D.C. devised a strategy to transport its valuable collection of art 150 miles Southwest, to Lynchburg, onto the campus of Randolph-Macon Woman’s College (R-MWC).

The college, founded in 1891, had built a strong reputation of art appreciation. Louise Jordan Smith, one of the first five resident professors at R-MWC, wanted students to be submerged in art, regardless of degree program. She taught Art and French and was the pioneer in building the college’s art program, even launching one of the first American Art History survey courses in 1913. Randolph’s annual exhibition of contemporary art, approaching its 111th uninterrupted show, was also Smith’s brainchild.

“She thought it was really important for all students to be surrounded by high-quality original artwork everywhere,” said Martha Johnson, who has served in various roles at the Maier Museum of Art since 2002. She now serves as director. “Where they ate, where they studied, where they socialized. It had to be a part of every aspect of their lives.”

The National Gallery board of trustees took notice—among other reasons—of the college’s powerful emphasis on the visual arts and authorized an emergency project to guarantee safety of its art collection should the Cold War turn dark. The National Gallery would transport its valuable collection of American art to R-MWC.

The confidential feat was dubbed “Project XYZ” (the “Y” referring to the college).

In 1951, the U.S. government funded a storage building between 6,000 and 7,000 square feet, with roughly 25,000 square feet of vertical space for sliding screens.

The fireproof structure, costing just under a quarter million dollars, was finished in the spring of 1952. Steel-reinforced concrete made up the building’s roof and floor; all aspects of the project were constructed in accordance with industry-standard codes for museum creation.

“There was a sense of urgency in getting this structure built quickly,” Johnson said.

Additional features included more than 60 rows of steel and aluminum sliding screens, a loading dock, and ample space for security.

The agreement would last for 25 years, and it was specified that R-MWC would have complete agency over the building unless the National Art Gallery needed it for its intended purpose. Given the confidential details surrounding the building, the college advertised it as space to house an outstanding collection of campus and American art.

A test evacuation drill occurred in 1962 to sample the abilities of the truck drivers and to ensure the trucks fit into the new building’s loading dock.

In March of 1976, the agreement was renewed for an additional 25 years.

The renewal included a $12,500 grant from the National Endowment of the Arts to fund renovations, which included additional gallery spaces, fresh paint, and other miscellaneous upkeep expenses.

Thankfully, America’s prized art collection never made its way to the college. Instead, the building now houses Randolph College’s astounding collection of paintings, photography, and more.

The museum welcomes thousands of guests every year. Prior to COVID-19 regulations, the museum brought in around 7,000 annual guests. The galleries are open to both students and members of the public.

The museum features five distinct galleries, each presented in chronological order. Upon entering, a portrait of Louis Jordan Smith greets visitors. Walking through the galleries, spectators can enjoy art pieces from the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. While two galleries are devoted to changing exhibitions, three remain relatively consistent, featuring the best from the permanent collection, such as pieces by Edward Hopper, Georgia O’Keeffe, Thomas Hart Benton, and a multitude of other artists throughout the centuries. The museum even shows a piece by Gilbert Stuart, who painted George Washington’s official portrait.

Randolph College’s Maier Museum of Art carries a rich collection of art and a fascinating history, even floor markings from the original sliders, but it also serves the Lynchburg community by boasting one of the greatest stories of art preservation.

“You have people who come in here and don’t care about art at all, but they love this story,” Johnson said. “There is a lot of history to try to live up to. We do our best to honor that. It’s a proud history to be a part of.”

The Maier Museum of Art is open Wednesday through Sunday 1-5 p.m. Admission is free. For additional information or to browse the current exhibitions online, visit maiermuseum.org, or call (434) 947-8136.

5 Yorktown Weekend Getaways to Satisfy Many Types of Visitors This Season

From foodie excursions and girls’ weekends to art aficionados and history buffs, imagine a destination a short distance away that caters to all sorts of travelers. 

If you haven’t made a trip to explore Yorktown lately, fall is the perfect time to explore. You’ll find world-class amenities and attractions nestled in a place that maintains plenty of small-town charm and hospitality. 

A day spent in Yorktown is always worthwhile, but to truly experience all it has to offer, set aside more time in your schedule to explore. We’ve curated a few trip agendas with suggestions on places to stay, play and eat that will make ideal autumn escapes for all. 

ART AFICIONADOS 

Event: Yorktown Art Stroll, Sept. 25 

Stay: The former residence and gallery of well-known contemporary folk artist Nancy Thomas now serve as private cottages available to rent. Art lovers will appreciate looking for the many tributes to Thomas’ career featured throughout both cozy and eclectic accommodations. 

Play: Hop on the Yorktown Trolley and head up the hill to Main Street to discover treasures at On the Hill Gallery and Gallery at York Hall, featuring the works of more than 300 Yorktown-area artists—paintings, pottery, jewelry, quilts, photographs, holiday ornaments, stained glass and more. 

Eat: Dine al fresco next to the York River at Water Street Grille. Take your time and share seasonal craft cocktails and appetizers of local oysters, crab cakes and scallops casino, particularly on a Thursday night while listening to the sounds of the Rhythms on the Riverwalk Concert Series.

GIRLS’ WEEKEND 

Event: Yorktown Wine Festival, Oct. 1 

Stay: There is plenty of space to laugh, talk and reconnect over breakfast or in the lovely outdoor spaces at Marl Inn Bed & Breakfast. A variety of guest rooms and suites can host several friends. 

Play: Stroll the mile-long pedestrian waterfront walkway and then linger as long as you’d like in Riverwalk Landing shops like Gangsta Dog, Viccellio Goldsmith or Auntie M’s American Cottage. 

Eat: Relax and chat at the casual and welcoming Yorktown Pub. Large plates are perfect for sharing with friends, including the 1/2-pound burger and the steamed seafood sampler. Walk to Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream in Riverwalk Landing for a sweet reward to end your evening. 

FOOD ENTHUSIASTS 

Events: Yorktown Market Days, September and October Saturdays (excluding Oct. 1); Yorktoberfest, Oct. 23 

Stay: Enjoy a breakfast feast served by innkeeper Bill Cole at the York River Inn Bed & Breakfast. He prepares decadent dishes like glazed sausage cakes, spinach and artichoke pie and corn pudding. 

Play: Work off your meals by renting bikes, kayaks or paddleboards from Patriot Tours & Provisions. Rentals are launched from the private beach at the Watermen’s Museum. 

Eat: Journey beyond the Yorktown waterfront to The Edge District for innovative cuisine and gourmet tacos at Casa Pearl, locally roasted coffee flights at Column 15 or a double IPA at The Virginia Beer Co. 

ROMANTIC GETAWAY 

Event: Rhythms on the Riverwalk Concert Series, Thursdays in September and Oct. 6 and 13 

Stay: Relax on your beachfront balcony at Yorktown Beach Hotel with a cup of coffee or glass of wine and enjoy the view as you toast the opportunity for a couple’s escape. 

Play: Romance and sunsets go hand-in-hand, and being on the water aboard a Schooner Alliance sail enhances the allure. 

Eat: Share a beautiful plate of fresh sashimi at Umi Sushi and then indulge in dessert at Carrot Tree Kitchens. Homemade cakes and pastries are impossible to pass up—and you shouldn’t.

 HISTORY BUFFS 

Event: Yorktown Day, Oct. 19; York County Vintage Market, Nov. 5 

Stay: History aficionados will appreciate the story of The Hornsby House Inn. The colonial-style home was built in 1933 by John William “JW” Hornsby and has remained in the family for three generations. 

Play: Immerse yourself in Yorktown’s world-class museums. Experience 18th-century living history at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown through a Revolution-era farm and Continental Army encampment. Of course, history lovers can’t miss the Colonial National Historical Park, where they can ask questions during a tour of Yorktown Battlefield and watch a film about the Siege of Yorktown at the Visitor Center. 

Eat: Mobjack Coffee Roasters and Petite Café offers coffees, espressos, sandwiches, sweets, beer and wine in the circa 1726 Cole Digges House on Main Street. The eatery also partners with Colonial National Historical Park on Stroll with a Historian history tours. 

For more information about Yorktown weekends and to check out the complete events calendar, check out VisitYorktown.org.

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.”

I love rice. It does not matter if it is brown or white, short grain or long grain, boiled or fried—or puffed! I love the versatility, the taste, and how quick and easy it is to make. I eat rice several times a week and always keep multiple varieties on hand.

And it appears I am not alone. According to data from UNICEF, rice is the most important food crop with regard to human nutrition and caloric intake, providing more than 20% of the calories consumed worldwide by humans.

Rice is the seed from a grass plant, related to other grasses such as wheat, oats, and barley. It completes its entire life cycle within six months, from planting to harvesting. The rice grain is made of three main layers: the hull (or husk), the bran and germ, and the inside kernel (or endosperm).

Once the protective husk is removed, the rice grain becomes what we call brown rice. Because it still contains the rice germ and outer bran layers, brown rice contains more fiber and vitamins than white rice.

Gentle processing removes the germ and bran layers from the grain to expose a white starch center. The polished white starch center is what we know as white rice.

It was hard to pick my favorite rice recipes since rice plays a part in so many wonderful dishes, but these two are very different and great in their own ways. Enjoy!

Scandinavian Rice Pudding with Cinnamon Sugar

This rice pudding makes for a great breakfast and is traditionally served in a bowl with milk and sprinkled with cinnamon sugar. It’s easy, fairly quick, and filling enough to be a meal!
Servings: 4-6

Ingredients
2/3 cup of short-grained rice, such as Arborio
1 tsp. kosher salt (I like Diamond Crystal brand)
4 cups whole milk
3 Tbsp. unsalted butter
1 Tbsp. sugar
1 Tbsp. cinnamon sugar (2/3 sugar and
1/3 cinnamon) for sprinkling on top

Instructions
In a thick-bottomed saucepan, stir together the rice, salt, and milk and bring to a boil over medium heat. Be careful because milk has a tendency to bubble over once it starts boiling. Reduce heat to low and simmer until all milk has been absorbed, about 20 minutes. Stir often to ensure it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pot. If the rice is not soft and creamy, add a bit more milk. Remove from heat. Add the butter and sugar and stir until the butter has melted and the sugar is incorporated. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar and serve warm in a bowl with more milk!

Fried Rice with Chicken, Eggs, and Vegetables

Fried rice is best when made with day-old rice. If your rice is coming from the refrigerator, bring it to room temperature before stir-frying it. If you are making the rice the same day, spread it out on a baking sheet to cool for a couple of hours. This recipe works best with a wok.
Stir-frying happens quickly, so be sure to have all ingredients measured out and lined up before you begin.
Servings: 4

Ingredients
3 large eggs
1 1/2 tsp. kosher salt, divided
2 Tbsp. olive oil, divided
1 carrot, peeled and cut into
1/4-inch pieces
4 oz. dark meat chicken, cooked and cut into roughly, 1/2-inch pieces
4 scallions, sliced
4 cups cooked jasmine rice
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/2 cup frozen peas

Instructions
Turn your burner to medium-high and heat the wok. In a bowl, whisk eggs lightly with a fork. Add 2 tsp. of the oil to your hot wok. When the oil is rippling, add the eggs and cook, stirring frequently, until most of the egg is non-liquid, about 30 seconds. Transfer to a plate.

Next, add 1 tsp. oil to the now-empty wok and reduce heat to medium. Add carrot and 1/2 tsp. salt and cook, stirring frequently, until just beginning to brown, 2 to 4 minutes. Add chicken and cook, stirring frequently, until the chicken is warmed through, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to the plate with eggs.

Add half of the sliced scallion and remaining 1 Tbsp. oil to the wok. Cook, stirring constantly, for about 30 seconds. Add the rice and stir until combined. Sprinkle pepper and remaining 1 tsp. salt evenly over rice. Continue to cook, stirring frequently while also breaking up clumps, 2 to 5 minutes. Add peas, egg mixture, and remaining scallion, and cook about 2 minutes. Serve and enjoy!

For These Top Local Ice Cream Shops

You know you want it. Everyone does. Especially on a hot, sunny summer day. Sweet, creamy, smooth, velvety, cold, crunchy, fruity, chocolatey—however you enjoy your ice cream, Lynchburg has plenty of outrageous options.

As a self-professed foodie who is always checking out new additions to the local restaurant scene (and who also happens to have a sweet tooth), I was asked by Lynchburg Living to pick my top five ice cream spots in town and highlight their top treats.

Check out my recommendations on the following pages—and be sure to visit these spots this summer!

The Crazy Mason Milkshake Bar (pictured above)
Graves Mill Shopping Center, 18013 Forest Rd., Forest

The Scoop: This newest addition to the Lynchburg sweets scene is the store’s fifth location and is just as described—crazy! Touted as an “ultimate dessert destination,” their milkshake-filled mason jars are topped with indulgences such as Pop-Tarts, cake, fruit, doughnuts, maybe even a waffle—the choices are endless! But they don’t stop there. The menu hosts other artistic desserts, ice cream sandwiches, unique monthly specials, and even funnel cakes.

Creams of the Crop: Exclusive to the Lynchburg store, I recommend you try the Heart of Virginia Shake. This delectable delight begins with strawberry and cake batter ice cream with a red marshmallow swirl that was custom-designed for Lynchburg, Virginia. It boasts a vanilla frosted rim rolled in red candy hearts and then topped with a Virginia-shaped sugar cookie, crushed blue rock candy pieces, fresh strawberry, an apple slice and whipped topping. (Perfect for IG!)

MayLynn’s Creamery
4925 Boonsboro Rd., Lynchburg;
1016 Jefferson St., Ste. B, Lynchburg
maylynnscreamery.com

The Scoop: MayLynn’s serves out sweets from a food truck at its founding location in the Boonsboro Shopping Center, where you will usually find a long line of folks ready to beat the heat with a few cold ones. If you prefer to head downtown, grab a shake and enjoy a stroll on the Bluffwalk. Also important to note: both locations serve up non-dairy options so there is nothing holding you back from enjoying some MayLynn’s.

Creams of the Crop: I personally love their Frozen Banana (a frozen banana dipped in chocolate and then rolled in either sprinkles or nuts) because I can get away with thinking it’s healthy-ish! My family also thinks the Peanut Butter Bliss is pretty decadent and delicious—and it’s one of the most popular items on the MayLynn’s menu! It’s what these guys call a “stacker”— chocolate ice cream, Reese’s Cups, peanut butter, and hot fudge are stacked into one tasty treat. The stackers come in all sorts of varieties and combinations, and you can even customize your own. (Don’t mind if I do!)

Outside the Cone
1305 Enterprise Dr., Lynchburg
outsidethecone.com

The Scoop: If you have not been to this super special spot in Wyndhurst yet, what are you waiting for? The owners say their goal is to make the best ice cream in Virginia—and they do it by using only the freshest and finest ingredients and making many of their “mix-ins” in-house. You’ll also notice some very innovative flavors and flavor combinations. For example, the Bee My Honeycomb contains honeycomb they make in-house with a precise recipe they have developed. Bee My Honeycomb was named best new flavor of 2020 in a national contest sponsored by the North American Ice Cream Association.

Creams of the Crop: While flavors often sell out and change frequently, I love when we can catch “It’s All Greek to Me” on the Outside the Cone menu. They start with homemade baklava with layers of phyllo dough, chopped nuts, and honey from local Dry Branch Apiaries. Chunks of baklava and a sea salt Greek caramel swirl are then wrapped into their vanilla ice cream. (Drooling!)

Mister Goodies
21556 Timberlake Rd., Lynchburg
Find on Facebook

The Scoop: At Mister Goodies, you get all the nostalgia of a carnival ice cream stand, without the price of admission. From the street, you can’t miss the huge ice cream cone on top of the building with bright lights showcasing ice cream, soda floats, cookie sandwiches, apple dumplings, banana splits, and much more. In addition, they offer lower-sugar and lower-calorie options. This year, Mister Goodies added homemade hard serve to the menu, something that was not available in the past.

Creams of the Crop: The aficionados behind Mister Goodies are so passionate about what they do—and Lynchburg Living readers definitely notice. Mister Goodies is a consistent winner in the Best Of Awards, even winning Gold for Best Frozen Dessert last year. With so many tasty menu items, it was hard to narrow down a favorite, but I just love the Strawberry Dole Whip. And believe it or not—it’s dairy- and gluten-free and vegan. The Dole Whip also comes in several other flavors such as mango, pineapple, and watermelon. (If you know, you know.)

Rookie’s
174 Norfolk Ave., Lynchburg;
16129 Forest Rd., Forest

The Scoop: The great folks at Rookie’s started out in Forest and now have a second Lynchburg location off of Rivermont Avenue (conveniently located next to Rivermont Pizza—a match made in heaven, if I may say). With a selection of delicious handmade ice cream sandwiches in classic combinations such as chocolate chip cookie with vanilla ice cream or sugar cookie with strawberry ice cream (my personal favorite), you really can’t go wrong. They also serve vegan and gluten-free options and tasty coffee if you’re in the mood for something warm.

Creams of the Crop: Not really feeling a sweet sandwich? You can always just enjoy Rookie’s traditional cookies paired with ice-cold milk. Or for something different, we like the Affogato al caffe from Rookie’s. I choose the Nutella ice cream as my base; it is then drowned in hot espresso, resulting in a magical amalgamation of sweet and bitter, cold and hot. (Trust me.)

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.

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By Olivia Carter | Photos by Ashlee Glen

At age 19, Lynchburg native Seth Westgate realized his passion for food service thanks to the infectious joy of local pizza truck proprietor Al “Vito” Vassallo.

“When we got busy on the food truck, Vito would get excited,” Westgate recalled. “He’d start dancing around and just being silly, messing around. That instilled a passion for [food service] in me. I love to be busy, and I love serving people food that I know is quality.”

Six years after he started working for Vito’s Pizza, Westgate is now the owner and operator of 5th Street Vito’s, downtown Lynchburg’s newest pizza shop. Along with his two brothers, Myles and Ethan, he is laying the foundation of a family-run business he hopes to continue for years to come.

After working alongside Vassallo in his food trucks, Westgate got the initial opportunity to try his hand at running his own business when Vassallo decided to retire.

“I worked with Vito for a couple of years, and then he retired,” he noted. “He told me to build a truck and that I could have all his spots. That’s where it started with the food truck.”

Westgate had success and enjoyed the food truck business, often traveling to businesses around Lynchburg to serve company lunches and setting up at community events.

Everything changed in March 2020.

“I did [the food truck] full-time for a few years,” said Westgate. “Then, when COVID-19 hit, I really didn’t have a choice but to do something different.”

He knew his best move was to try to find a brick-and-mortar location for his business.

One place stood out to Westgate in particular: the building on Fifth Street that formerly housed Daughters and Sons Pizza. The building sat empty for over a year and was not put up for lease, but in April 2021, the Westgate family’s fate changed.

“One day, my dad was driving by and saw it was up for lease,” Westgate recalled. “I called and signed the lease two days later.”

Westgate, his two brothers, and their parents spent the next five months tearing down, reconstructing, and redecorating much of the inside of the building.
Finally, on December 10, 2021, 5th Street Vito’s opened its doors to the public.

Westgate said that while there has been a learning curve for him, running the restaurant has been a blessing.

The three Westgate brothers make all their products in-house—everything from wing sauces to dry rubs to blue cheese dressing—and are consistently honing their craft to make the best pizza, sandwiches, salads, and wings for their customers.

“I am going for the best pizza in Lynchburg this year,” Westgate said.

“I want to get that award.”

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Photos Courtesy of Downtown Lynchburg Association