For many newly engaged couples, wedding planning seems like a dream—until you are faced with dozens of choices all at once. From the venue to the dress (and all of those little details in between), it’s hard to know where to start!
We are here to help. Our Best Of Bridal Picks list tells you who recent brides and members of their wedding parties recommend in 27 categories. Read below to see who made the list!
Potter Bosco Bae blends emotion and clay
Imagine having the opportunity to grab ahold of your grief—to shape it, swipe it away, and turn it into something durable and beautiful. Potter Bosco Bae’s most recent series, called Grief Work, is exploring the different forms that grief and healing can take.
“A lot of my work nowadays is trying to capture grief and work through the myriad of emotions involved with love and loss. The work can get pretty dark, but I try to remain true to the idea that there is meaning and beauty within struggle, within hardships, and imperfection,” Bae explained.
While the acceptance and celebration of imperfection is something that Bae, a Ph.D. and professor of Religion at University of Lynchburg, has been exploring artistically for years, the expression of that has shifted since the passing of his brother last year. Bae takes inspiration from the moon jar, which is a Korean form in ceramics and traditionally combines two symmetrical bowls to create one large vessel. While the two bowls individually are perfect, they come together to create an asymmetrical, imperfect union. Traditional moon jars feature a white glaze and a very thin base, which make the vessel look like it’s floating—like a moon. “It’s minimalistic yet sophisticated in its evocation of a calm and serene ideal,” said Bae.
But he takes the form a step further.
“The moon jar, in its traditional form, is romantic, normative, ideal. My work aims to be a bit more descriptive, flawed, messy—to allow suffering to speak and find expression,” he said. “How does a form retain, embody, or convey lament?”
One of the first pieces that Bae created in his Grief Work series began with the moon jar form. Using his hands, Bae tore a hole through one side of the vessel to exemplify a piece of him that is now gone.
“After that part of the vessel was ripped out, I went to the other side and started taking pieces out to patch the hole.
When that patch was mended, of course, another hole emerged on the other side. I then started digging into the bottom and scraping out any clay I could use to patch up the side that was given up to mend the first hole” Bae said. “So, in this particular piece, you’ll see where I’ve scraped from the bottom.”
In another piece from the Grief Work series, Bae began with a moon jar, cut it apart, and reassembled it.
“After deconstructing the piece and breaking it down, there was an active attempt to try and put the pieces back together—to go back and recreate what it was before breaking down—kind of like drawing somebody from memory,” he explained. “But during that process it changed and it was clear that the reconstruction wasn’t going to be the same. The vessel was transformed into something else with only traces, shadows, or memories of what it was before.”
Metaphorically, the piece showed just how different a person can be after grief, trauma, or hardship.
“All the pieces in this series begin with the moon jar form, thrown as a singular piece, as opposed to combining two.
The piece is then altered, stressed, and it endures—sometimes it doesn’t—and accepts the distortions, rips, and unanticipated irregularities that emerge from the process. I think a lot of the uncertainties and unintended consequences from the intentional moves and gestures I put into the piece make it interesting, perhaps, even difficult, or uncomfortable to look at,” Bae said. “Grieving is an uncomfortable process in which bracketed realities can intersect and break into the forefront of our consciousness at any given moment. Grappling with difficult truths is a process of reconciling with a dissonance that jars against tacit presuppositions about ideals and expectations, whether we acknowledge them or not. Sometimes, words are insufficient and talking about it isn’t always the best way to express ourselves. Being intentional through nonverbal forms of expression can be just as, if not more, relevant in the healing process.”
This level of intention—of dissecting an emotion or experience—is what encapsulates Bae as an artist. Whether he is throwing teapots or mugs with perfect, ergonomic form, or exploring just how beautifully imperfect a piece can be, Bae reverently approaches each piece and accepts it exactly the way it is.
Nina Simone once said, “It’s an artist’s duty to reflect the times,” which is a charge that Bae has fervently accepted. While his most recent body of work reflects his current experience of grief and healing, the journey isn’t over and his art will surely evolve again.
One thing is certain, however—it will be beautiful.
To connect with Bosco Bae, find him on Instagram at @potsbosco.
Photos by Ashlee Glenn
Walking into Three Roads Brewing on a Sunday at 3 p.m. is like walking into a family reunion. Everyone is catching up, the beer is flowing, music is playing. You hear, “Market day, baby!” muffled in the background amidst the chatter and clinking of glasses, and you realize that this isn’t a family reunion at all (or is it?). It’s an art market.
Kaleb Gay is the man behind the curtain of this joyous, and sometimes chaotic, scene.
“You want people to stop and wonder what is happening, and then realize that it’s good,” Gay said, almost with a renegade glimmer in his eye.
And stop and wonder is what people do. The LoveLYH Flea Market is Lynchburg’s very own punk rock flea market. From Seattle to Philadelphia punk rock flea markets have been popping up in cities across the country for years, so it was only a matter of time before one came to Lynchburg as well.
While Gay is the current maestro of the weekly market—home to artists, makers, crafters, musicians, and folks hoping to make some cash from their unwanted clothes and housewares in true flea market fashion—Katy Wetzel is the one who brought the concept of a punk rock flea market to Lynchburg.
“I’m originally from just outside of Philadelphia, and I came to Lynchburg to attend Randolph [College]. I had the opportunity to go to a punk rock flea market in Philly, which is a twice-annual thing,” Wetzel explained. “There are punk rock flea markets all over the country and it’s an opportunity for people to just sell stuff if they’re cleaning out their garage, but it’s also a space for makers and artists.”
After Wetzel moved to Lynchburg and got connected with her own network of artists and makers, she knew that Lynchburg had the type of creative community to support a flea market of its own. Dave Ellis, owner of Dish in downtown Lynchburg, offered up the patio and parking lot of Rendezvous, his former restaurant on Main Street across from Dish, as a free spot to host the market.
“Dave is someone who is supportive of all sorts of different cultural happenings in Lynchburg,” Wetzel said. “He’s always all about supporting folks. I wouldn’t have initiated the flea market if I didn’t have the space, and Dave was able to provide that.”
With the venue nailed down, Wetzel knew she needed a partner to help organize and promote the flea market.
“Kaleb was the first person who came to my mind. He’s a maker at heart and an artist,” Wetzel said. “I couldn’t imagine a better person to talk to about starting something like this.”
So, in 2019, the first Lynchburg punk rock flea market was born. Vendors set up tables and tents in an empty parking lot, selling handmade zines, artwork, and clothes. Fast forward three years, and the flea market has grown by leaps and bounds.
Now the flea market has found its home at Three Roads Brewing, where Gay is also a bartender. Having a larger indoor/outdoor space has allowed the flea market to open itself up even further to makers, artists, and musicians.
“It was another opportunity from another wonderful friend,” Gay explained, speaking of former Three Roads manager Molly Fusco, who offered up the Three Roads space in August of 2020.
It’s that sort of mentality—folks stepping up and helping out—that truly encapsulates what makes the LoveLYH Flea Market so special. Wetzel’s and Gay’s vision for the market has always been to keep it as accessible as possible, which is why there are zero fees or costs to have a table or booth space on Sundays. Artists don’t need to sign up or commit to coming long term, they simply need to have something that they want to sell and show up.
“I want people to understand that it’s a free place to set up. You don’t have to be an established arts and crafts person. I’ll probably take a Sunday soon and sell my excess garden tomatoes,” Wetzel said of the free-flowing structure of the market. “It’s a space for all, and it’s so cool that there is no charge for a table or anyone cutting into people’s sales for anything.”
“I see people coming here sometimes who are out of work right now, or struggling financially, and they have an opportunity to sell their stuff and make some income,” Gay furthered. “There’s something to someone showing up and seeing that, ‘You know what, someone just liked my stuff enough to buy it.’ and then they keep doing it and coming back each week.”
That feeling of pride—and of bravery to show up and put yourself out there in the first place—is palpable every Sunday at the market. Rain or shine, folks are able to display their work and make life-changing connections with others.
“The market has been a miracle for me,” said Kat Newcomb, who makes and sells jewelry made with precious and semiprecious stones. “I moved to Lynchburg right before everything shut down [for COVID], so I didn’t know anybody and I hadn’t been anywhere. Kaleb kept telling me that he had started this market, and that I needed to come for a visit, so I showed up, and it quickly became something that I looked forward to every week… . This was my haven every Sunday. I started to meet people. I’ve met so many people who are now my support system. I credit Kaleb and I credit the market for that.”
Newcomb also brings her 8-year-old son with her to the market on Sundays, which has done wonders for his confidence as well.
“He has started doing the singer/songwriter showcase on Sundays,” she said. “Everyone has been so encouraging of him. The round of applause that he received the first time he performed just encouraged him to keep going. He’s getting into music because he has gotten so much encouragement from folks at the market. He’s been so brave, and it’s been a journey for him as well.”
When you experience the LoveLYH Flea Market, you get a sense that maybe it’s not about the art at all—it’s about the connections that you can make. The flea market is an opportunity to meet folks from all walks of life, and share a conversation and a beer with them. The art just happens to be the icebreaker to those conversations.
“We’re a social gathering exploring the limits of community,” Gay said. “It’s a bit more corybantic than your standard or structured market. It leaves a nice amount of wiggle room for expression—and that’s what we all could use a bit more of.”
Folks looking to sell their wares, or simply shop at the LoveLYH Flea Market, can visit Three Roads Brewing on Court Street every Sunday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Follow @lyhpunkrockfleamarket on Instagram for updates.
Jennifer Woofter opened the door of her circa 1907 Rivermont Avenue home in Lynchburg wearing red lipstick and a wisteria-colored linen dress she sewed herself, looking every bit the chic urban homesteader she appears to be on Instagram (@weboughtamanor).
“I am living my best ‘Lady of the Manor’ life!” she said with a laugh, as she ushered us inside the impressively proportioned property she shares with her husband of 13 years, Bill Bohn, and their three children. The grand dame of the home, with its red brick and soaring white columns, cleverly conceals a large swatch of land out back that is host to a lush garden and a gaggle of pets, all living happily in the center of the city. It’s a place that invites life at every turn, and the story of how the family landed at such an address is just as surprising as the way they have chosen to live in it.
“The Manor House”
“We were living in Northern Virginia, and we had just adopted two of our kids and were suddenly going from a two-person household to a four-person household and paying outrageous fees for daycare and it was just really expensive and a fast pace of life,” Jennifer said as she began the story of their big life change in 2013.
One day Bill found the stately Georgian-style home on a website for old houses and sent it to Jennifer with a text jokingly saying, “We should buy this house.” But things quickly got serious at Christmastime when the family visited Bill’s parent’s home in Charlottesville and decided to drive down for a look.
“We left the kids with their grandparents, and came down to Lynchburg and spent the night. And we toured the house and we were like, ‘This is really cool, we should buy it’—so we did!” Jennifer exclaimed.
Within 60 days, the family had uprooted their old lives, sold their home in NoVA, and moved into their new-old home in Lynchburg.
“We didn’t know a single person, we had no connection to the community, but I think what we quickly found is that Lynchburg is a place where you can make a home and find your community. That was 8 years ago and we have been here ever since,” Jennifer recalled.
One of the aspects that attracted Bill and Jennifer to the home is its rich history. The 115-year-old property has had many chapters, beginning as a single family residence before transforming in the 1960s into part of a private girls school known as the Seven Hills School. Later, it became rooms and dormitories for the Virginia School of the Arts, then had a stint as a commercial office space before finally being converted back into a single family home.
“I think a lot about honoring the history of this house,” Jennifer said. “I think a lot about what was happening in this house when women got the right to vote. Who was living here and what did that feel like? What happened on Pearl Harbor? Throughout all of these momentous points in history, people were living here, living through it.”
The Kitchen
In a home this large and this old, there will always be projects. But Jennifer and Bill decided right after moving in that the only major renovation they wanted to undertake was the kitchen. What used to be two rooms—“a tiny little breakfast room and then a quite small kitchen”—soon joined to make space for an expansive kitchen the family could comfortably enjoy for years to come.
“We’ve got three kids and Bill loves to cook and while [the former kitchen] was beautifully done, it just wasn’t functional for the way that we live,” she said.
It took 11 months, but the result is a kitchen that remains aesthetically true to the home. Among the many thoughtful changes to the footprint is an expanded door frame with custom pocket doors made to match the originals that opens to the area they now use for dining. They also married in multiple modern amenities, including a few splurges. For Jennifer, that included two dishwashers and two sinks—one for cooking prep and one for washing produce.
“Bill is the cook of the family, so he definitely had a perspective of the kind of stove he wanted and the functionality of the ovens, and I just wanted it to be pretty,” she said.
Throughout the kitchen are reminders of the vibrant life happening just out the window, from leafy greens soaking in a sink and canning preserves in glass-front cabinets, to chicken and duck eggs resting on a custom egg holder made by Jennifer’s dad. A little bit country, a little bit glamour, the kitchen at the heart of the home now represents exactly the kind of life the family has worked to build there.
The Animals
To visit the manor is to run straight into animals of all varieties. Greeting you at the door is Lucy, the black rescue dog. Four black cats also flit throughout the home because “we are an only black pet household,” Jennifer said unapologetically.
Out back in an expansive gated area next to the even more impressive garden space are even more critters—three goats and about 14 chickens and ducks to be precise.
“Hello friends,” Jennifer greeted the goats, Jezebel, Charlemagne, and Scheherazade, as she walked past a teal chicken coop while the yardbirds scrambled around underfoot.
The coop’s bright color was at one point a topic of much debate, Jennifer said, but she loved it and won that round. Where she often concedes is the “how” of what Bill prefers when it comes to structures.
“Because Bill’s profession [as an engineer] is dealing with natural disasters, everything he builds is apocalypse-ready. Everything is sunk into concrete. If there’s a hurricane, we are coming out to the chicken coop,” she said.
With this many living creatures in one place, funny stories are never far behind. A memorable one took place right after the family first got the goats.
“When we first brought home the goats six years ago, they escaped and got on the roof of the house. People were calling us, like ‘There are goats on your roof!’ And I said, ‘Yeah, I know… I will get to that later!’” she laughed.
The Garden
“I don’t think I ever saw myself as a farmer,” Jennifer conceded as she walked under the kiwi-vined arched trellis into the family’s massive garden project.
The family has taken full advantage of their 1.7 acre lot, which now boasts 1800 square feet of garden area with 52 raised beds and a full drip irrigation system. An area is cleared for a future greenhouse build. The space is verdant with growth, and each season brings something new to do.
“Our process is, Bill grows and plants and I harvest and process in whatever format that looks like,” Jennifer said.
The backyard didn’t always look like this. It once held three tennis courts and, by the time Jennifer’s family moved in, the two remaining tennis courts were in bad shape. So they saved up and removed them and built the raised beds in their place.
Jennifer relayed that many lessons have been learned as she and Bill have dialed in what they wanted in the garden and how they wanted it to function for their daily life. Some of those lessons came down to marital compromise.
“Bill has the patience of a saint,” Jennifer said. “I decided I wanted all those raised beds painted white instead of natural wood, and heavens if he didn’t spend all summer painting those, along with the kids.”
How Does Your Garden Grow?
In any one calendar year, about 75 different herbs, vegetables, and fruits grow in the family’s garden, including:
Peas, Lettuce, Bok Choy, Garlic, Shallots, Scallions, Asparagus, Soybeans, Strawberries, Blackberries, Kiwi, Peach, Pear & Apple Trees, Rhubarb, Jerusalem Artichoke, Potatoes, Tomatoes, Broccoli, Chives, Fennel, Oregano, Sage, Rosemary, Curry, Thyme & more!
The Mission
Perhaps the most rewarding part about the work of their hands is that the family is able to benefit others from it as well. With so much shareable produce growing, they set up a self-serve stand on the porch for people to come year-round, with the goal of one day building a full farm stand. They also donate a lot of their bounty to the Lynchburg Daily Bread. The rest sustains them throughout the year.
While the historic home and its grounds have certainly been a major undertaking, the benefits of the lifestyle they created have also helped them to put down intentional roots in their adopted city.
“One of the most rewarding parts of having the animals and the garden is it has really connected us to our neighbors, people who stop by and say hi all the time, the neighbor kids come by. Moms walking their kids around in the afternoon stop by and feed the goats,” Jennifer said. “It’s just been fun.”
Simple Chive Blossom Vinegar Recipe
Jennifer discovered that the chive blossoms from her garden “make a beautiful pink vinaigrette.” Using the guidance of The Spruce Eats website, she places the chive blossoms in a clean jar and pours white wine vinegar over them until they are completely covered. “Let it steep for a few days and voilà, so easy!” she said.
Lynchburg Living Editor Megan Williams:
Tell me about your entry into the rescue world.
Laura Linn: As most children of the 80s, I rambled through my days, running amuck and exploring. In particular, I had an early and undivided enthusiasm towards animals—luring in lost animals (that probably knew precisely where they were and how to return home), rescuing and rehabilitating wildlife that my cat was determined to toy with and then bequeath to me. When I was 17, I acquired my first position at a local veterinarian as a kennel attendant and was introduced to rescue in the periphery. My first interlude into the world of rescue was as much an endeavor to keep my perspective on the bigger picture as it was to help animals. My husband and I struggled for years with infertility/IVF and applying my time and dedication to a worthy cause felt preferable to concentrating on disappointments. I volunteered with another rescue for around ten years before we founded Central Virginia Regional Rescue in winter of 2016.
MW: What does a typical work day look like for you?
LL: Completely unpredictable! One day, our animals are all well, the amazing team of volunteers proficiently juggles the day-to-day tasks, and we skip along in the business of rescue without challenge or conflict. Then the next day, everything can disassemble all at once. We get a call about a dog locked in a shed in labor with 21 puppies, we spend the morning coaxing a handful of feral cats locked in a shed into traps for neuter, seven kittens in our care break out with an upper respiratory infection, an inexperienced foster family requires guidance with a new dog, and someone reaches out to return a dog they adopted six years prior. There are heart-wrenching owner surrenders where you have to sit in your car for five minutes afterwards waiting for the stinging in your eyes to pass. And then there is the privilege of watching an eight-year-old boy meet the middle aged hound dog that no one wants and adopting him without ever noticing his imperfections. It is the very highest and lowest that life has to offer.
MW: That certainly does sound unpredictable! What types of challenges does CVRR face both working with animals?
LL: There is a vast amount of emotion and unpredictability in rescue. When we pull an animal from a shelter or take in a pet, to some extent it’s akin to eating one of those jelly beans from Harry Potter where you aren’t entirely sure if it will be a nice butter toffee flavor or a really gross flavor. We try to make a sound judgment call on the foster home best matched to an animal’s individual needs, but there are often surprises. We think they are house-trained and they aren’t, or they seem calm and submissive only to arrive at their foster home as a catapulting ball of sunshine. Flexibility and a sense of humor is an absolute requirement to being a foster family.
MW: What goals do you have for CVRR in the next few years?
LL: It’s my greatest desire that, in whatever direction we sail, we continue to invest in, educate, and empathize with the people of this community. I would love to see our foster family numbers grow, not only in quantity but in the diversity of their skill sets and interests. Finding and maintaining a volunteer who is enthusiastic about fundraising would make an amazing addition to our team. I would also love for a magical “grant fairy” to join our ranks, but my daughter has informed me that fairies are restricted to collecting children’s teeth and leaving coins under pillows.
MW: What is one thing you wish people knew about CVRR that they may not know today?
LL: CVRR has no facility and virtually no overhead costs. Donations go almost exclusively to the pets in our care. Our animal intake isn’t based solely on what is cute and coveted by the public. We help the animals that most need our help, and we help as many of them as we can responsibly and financially support. That means everyone is spayed, neutered, vaccinated, heartworm-tested (and treated when positive). Since we were founded, we have rescued nearly 2000 animals and we are eager to make a difference in the next 2000 lives.
You don’t have to sacrifice every bit of your time to make a difference with us. You don’t have to foster animals to save lives. Every part of this mechanism is important and valued, from the volunteers who bake and deliver cookies monthly to our partnering businesses to the person who comes weekly to our storage shed to organize. We have volunteers who write thank you notes and answer emails, individuals who focus their time assisting with transport for animals, and an awesome tech team to keep things running smoothly. Whatever your skill set, we can use it to help us grow and flourish. And we appreciate every single one! Being totally volunteer-based with not a single paid employee, we cannot succeed on the strength of the few.
MW: How can people get involved with CVRR?
LL: Message us on Facebook, email, call…We will even accept a smoke signal or morse code. I’m joking about that last one. I don’t know morse code.
It’s that time of year again, when the sun is warm, the rosé is cold, and the temperature is simply satisfying…that’s right, patio season is upon us. Lynchburg residents are lucky to have seen an increase in outdoor hanging and dining spaces in the last few years from downtown to several surrounding counties. An added bonus to some of these tasty spots? You get to bring your leashed, four-legged, furry friend so you never have to worry about dining (or drinking) alone.
My Dog Duke’s Diner
My Dog Duke’s Diner often fills up quickly inside but the covered patio is a cozy spot rain or shine to hang with your best friend. They close after lunch so go early to enjoy their Strawberry French Toast or Chicken and Waffles with a boozy adult milkshake or maybe a mimosa flight. Your pup may get lucky and snag a stray piece of bacon, but if not he will still enjoy the sights and smells of this delightful downtown spot.
El Jefe
Stretch your and Fido’s legs with a walk up the Bluffwalk to El Jefe, where your pet will be welcomed to hang on the patio of this fun and funky tequila and taco spot. Take in the stunning views, enjoy the excellent service, and kick back with a gourmet taco or some of their delicious nachos. The Spicy Cucumber Margarita pairs well with a nice cold cup of H2O on the rocks for your pet.
Bootleggers
Down a few steps, also on the Bluffwalk, is the patio at Bootleggers. Take your pooch for a Southern Belle Burger and parmesan truffle fries and live with no regrets. Enjoy a beer or bourbon with river views and people watching as an added bonus. Elevated bar food with excellent attention to detail and dogs? We’re in.
Three Roads Brewing
Bring your thirst to this spot as they serve up only icy cold brews and no food, but they do often have a food truck (such as local favorite Ferguson Family Provisions). Follow @3roadsbrewingco_burg on Instagram to catch them on a night where they have live, local music. Added bonus: your pet can come inside or hang outside, so rain or shine, this is your spot.
The Water Dog
What’s better on a balmy Sunday afternoon than heading down to The Water Dog on Jefferson Street to grab a dozen oysters and one of their 36 craft beers? Only the fact that not only can you bring your dog to relax with you at the large outdoor bar and seating area, owner Dave Henderson highly encourages it. As a lifelong dog owner and lover, Dave appreciates that his Labradors don’t know the difference between work and play and he wanted to build a place for people and pets to gather that embodied that spirit. Dave wants everyone, including your furry friends, to feel welcome and at home here. Don’t mind if we do.
Grey’s on Fifth
The ever-changing menu at Grey’s on Fifth and the inventive, delicious dishes are the reason most people constantly return to (and crave, and dream about…) this celebrated 5th Street spot. But when spring rolls around their lush, garden-like patio is a lovely spot to hang with your animal. With zero pretension, just fantastic, fresh food and some of the best staff around, you and your bestie are going to make this place a weekly tradition.
Beale’s Brewery
Don’t sleep on Bedford, y’all. If you haven’t cruised West to enjoy Beale’s Brewery yet, consider this your sign. While this quirky spot can be enjoyed all year long, it’s an exceptional place to hang with your entire family outside. Yes, it’s a brewery but they have a great spot for kids and a kids’ menu. Pro tip: Get the soft pretzel with beer cheese and the Brunch Stout, just don’t let your pup dig for the Beale’s Gold buried treasure that gave the brewery its namesake.
Apocalypse Ale Works
A local brewery with heating and air conditioning, an outdoor beer garden, plus a stage for live music? Let’s go! These Forest folks always welcome supervised children and leashed dogs so pack up the car and bring the whole family to this spot that has become a regular hangout for the young and young at heart. Rotating food trucks such as Carbon Catering Co, Hill City Smokehouse, Upper Crust Pizza, and Hill City Eats can regularly be found serving up delights to go with your craft beer that’s made on the premises.
Burg Burritos
One of the newer patios around town, Burg Burritos does one thing and they do it exceptionally well: Burritos. And what could possibly be better than a burrito? Sitting outside on a gorgeous day eating a burrito with your dog while sipping a soft serve margarita. Is this heaven? Wait, there’s more. These guys will actually MAKE A Grrr-ito for your pooch! Fido just needs to decide if he would prefer beef and cheese or chicken and cheese. Mind blown.
Yellow Submarine
Come for trivia night and the delicious subs, stay for the warm service and super dog-friendly accommodations. These people are pet lovers and invite you to bring your pet to dine outside on the patio or on the screened in porch. Parched pooch? Not to worry, the folks at Yellow Submarine already have dog bowls outside.
Hunter Thomas discovered disc golf the summer after he graduated high school. He was bored and looking for something to do, so his brother took him out on a disc golf course. Thomas never looked back.
Thomas now runs Foundation Disc Golf, a store for both beginner and expert disc golfers.
Founded in 2019, Foundation Disc Golf began as an online store and a place for disc golfers to buy discs, apparel, and accessories, and they quickly expanded to brick-and-mortar retail store located in Forest. A large part of the store’s growth was due to Foundation Disc Golf’s online content.
“Our focus was to create content to drive traffic at the online store to help people learn about disc golf or learn different ways to get better. The content side took off in a way we never expected it to, to where the business got a lot bigger than expected,” Thomas said.
Foundation Disc Golf has five podcasts and regularly posts videos on their two YouTube channels. Disc golfers of any skill level can learn from the videos and podcast episodes. The content ranges from discussing pro disc golfers to the Foundation Disc Golf team out on the course trying out discs.
There is more to Foundation Disc Golf than podcasts and selling discs. They want to see the disc golf community flourish through engagement with residents and clubs in the area.
“There are local clubs in Lynchburg and Bedford, and Liberty University has a club team. We’re involved in all three in different ways. We just try to help support what they’re doing locally as much as we can,” Thomas said.
In 2019, Foundation Disc Golf started a tournament in Bedford with the help of the local club and Bedford Parks and Recreation. It has become one of the biggest disc golf tournaments in Virginia. The tournament and the great courses in the area have caught the eye of many.
“Bedford Parks and Rec saw how much disc golf had taken off. They built one of the best courses in the country and several of the best courses in the state, which have also become a big tourist attraction for disc golfers all over the country,” Thomas explained.
The popularity of disc golf in the Lynchburg/Bedford region soared during COVID. With lockdowns in place, many people turned to parks and outdoor activities. As Thomas put it,
“What ended up happening was so many people were looking
for something to do to get out of the house. So many people found disc golf during that time and that happened here as well.”
Disc golf has maintained that momentum because of its accessibility and affordability. Like golf, the goal of disc golf is to get the disc from the tee pad to the basket in as few throws as possible. Unlike golf, disc golf does not require a lot of equipment or money. All that’s needed to start is one disc that costs around $10 and a park with a course.
Thomas suggests that people looking to get into disc golf go to Peaks View Park in Lynchburg. Most of the holes are under 200 feet, so it is an ideal beginner course. Starting out on the wrong course or using the wrong disc can make the sport more challenging than it should be.
“The best way to get started would be to come to Foundation Disc Golf, where we have a used section of discs. You can get a disc for as cheap as $5. We have staff that make sure you won’t buy a disc that is going to make the sport frustrating,” Thomas said.
Along with its accessibility and affordability, disc golf is a very inclusive sport. There is no age limit or specific physical requirements.
“If you can walk and you can move your arm, you can play disc golf essentially. Pretty much anyone can play. I’ve taken out people in their upper 60s and I’ve taken out 5-year-olds. And everyone has fun,” Thomas said.
Hiking or walking is a great activity, but disc golf takes it to a whole new level.
“It gives you something to focus on, and you don’t realize how much you just walked. It’s a good thing for cardio and just the benefits of being outside. For me personally, it’s been a huge stress relief.”
Through disc golf, Thomas has met some of his best friends. He’s met people from all different walks of life, but they all share one thing in common, the love of disc golf.
“People are just super excited to meet, talk with you, and teach you the game. It’s something that we all love, so we just want other people to love it too.”
Beloved community theatre nonprofit Little Town Players has been making a big impact in Bedford—and beyond—for nearly 50 years, and it will undoubtedly continue to do so in the future. With its rich and decorated history, generous and talented volunteers, and commitment to presenting dynamic and high-quality productions, LTP is a triumphant testament to the power of close-knit communities.
“Bedford is thought of as a tight-knit community, and Little Town Players is very much a tight-knit community as well,” says LTP Board President Lisa Butler.
Little Town Players’ story began in 1975 with a group of enthusiastic thespians, many of whom were members of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Bedford.
“At that time, there had not been any local theatre in Bedford for at least two decades,” Butler notes. “Roy and Karen Thorpe led a production of Our Town at St. John’s. Karen directed the play, and the majority of the cast was comprised of the church congregation. The show was a great success, so LTP officially began in 1976 with its first season of shows.”
Shortly thereafter, Little Town Players gained 501(c)(3) status and brought on its first Board of Directors. The Board originally had seven members, and now it has nine. The organization also found its permanent home at a former movie house.
“Somebody at the church found out that there was an old movie house that was not being utilized on the campus of the Elks National Home,” Butler recalls. “LTP has had a home in that space, which is called the Fred Harper Theatre, ever since. We have a great working relationship with The Elks: A Noble Senior Living Community.”
In 1983, a historic honor solidified Little Town Players’ status as a top-tier theatre organization: then-President Ronald Reagan awarded LTP a Volunteer Action Award for the Arts and Humanities. The Volunteer Action Awards were designed to honor outstanding volunteer achievements. In 1982, more than 2,000 groups were nominated nationally for 20 awards in 10 categories.
“In addition to having fantastic volunteers, I think that LTP was chosen for the award because of our ability to make the most of our fairly limited resources,” Butler says. “For instance, if we needed a stove for a production, we would get a cardboard box that a stove came in from a local electric company and paint it to look like the real thing. We’ve certainly come a long way!”
The Fred Harper Theatre specifically has come a long way thanks to many improvements over the years.
“We took the booth area from the former movie house and turned it into a booth for our sound and light controls,” notes Butler. “We’re working on getting all of our lights switched over to LED lighting, we’ve recovered our seats, and we’ve added lights above the stage. We’ve also built dressing rooms, installed heating and air conditioning, added bathrooms downstairs for the cast, and enclosed the lobby. We are able to use the space rent-free, so we do whatever we can to help the Elks continue to remain vibrant. It’s an ideal partnership.”
Since it was founded, Little Town Players has presented a wide variety of productions including Driving Miss Daisy, The Sound of Music, Fiddler on the Roof, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, A Christmas Story: The Musical, Steel Magnolias, A Streetcar Named Desire, My Fair Lady, The Secret Garden: A Musical, and many more. Butler’s personal favorites are The Wizard of Oz, in which she portrayed Dorothy, and Always… Patsy Cline, in which she portrayed the titular character. See the sidebar for LTP’s upcoming lineup of productions.
Although LTP presents shows with apparent ease, a great deal of behind-the-scenes work goes into each production.
“We have a play-reading committee that consists of six to 10 people,” Butler says. “Each person brings suggestions of productions within three different categories: musicals, comedies, and dramas. We typically start out with 60 to 70 possibilities. The committee starts discussing pros and cons of each of the shows: the feasibility of building certain sets, whether or not patrons are likely to enjoy the production, how difficult the production would be to cast, etc. Once the committee limits the choices and votes on a slate, they present it to the Board for approval. The whole process generally takes five to six months.”
The members of that committee, Board members, actors, and a myriad of others involved in each production are volunteers. Directors, music directors, and choreographers receive small stipends.
“Without volunteers, LTP simply would not exist,” Butler remarks. “We are very lucky to have so many wonderful volunteers. Anyone can get involved by checking out our website and filling out our volunteer form. We can always use stage managers, light and sound workers, costumers, set designers, builders, painters, ushers, box office assistants, play-reading committee members, and more.”
According to Butler, LTP has a dual primary mission.
“Our mission is to both entertain and educate our audiences through theatre,” she says. “You may not think you’ll be entertained by a production that is laden with facts or educated by a comedy, but we aim to make those things happen. My mission as Board President is to ensure that all that is done within our theatre is done to uphold and support LTP’s mission and to ensure that LTP is around for generations to come.”
Little Town Players offers an annual scholarship to encourage involvement among young people in its and other organizations’ theatre programs.
“For over 20 years, we’ve offered a $1,000 scholarship each year to a Bedford County graduating high school senior,” notes Butler. “Preference is given to graduating seniors who have been involved with Little Town Players, but it is not a requirement. The student needs to be very involved with theatre, but they do not need to be pursuing a theatre degree.”
There is no doubt that community is the cornerstone of Little Town Players. Butler, who met her husband through the organization and was involved in LTP’s production of Little Women: The Musical with her husband and two of her children, believes that anyone who gets involved with LTP will find a home away from home.
“Little Town Players is truly like a family,” she says.
“For us, community theatre is all about getting together and having fun while making beautiful art that is representative of our community.”
UPCOMING LITTLE TOWN PLAYERS SEASON
Shows are presented on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:00 p.m.
The Mousetrap
Sept. 9-18, 2022
Blithe Spirit
Nov. 4-13, 2022
12 Angry Men
Feb. 24-March 5, 2023
Little Shop of Horrors
May 12-21, 2023
Joyce Bailey wandered into the world of pet therapy quite by accident close to 20 years ago, when she took her young Bichon Frise, Amie, to a trainer.
“The trainer said, ‘You know, she would make a good therapy dog’ and told me the tester was coming into town in the next couple of weeks,” Joyce recalls. “Well, she passed with flying colors!”
Before long, Amie was a familiar face (or should we say, snout) in hospital rooms, nursing homes, and classrooms in the Lynchburg area. Bailey later added another Bichon Frise, Cece, to the family about seven years later, who quickly followed in the footsteps of her big sister.
Bailey rotated her therapy visits between the two dogs until Amy passed away four years ago. Now, Cece remains as one of the “old school” therapy dogs you’ll find roaming the halls of Centra Health’s two hospitals.
“It just pleases me so much to bring Cece in and see somebody smile and have a nurse say, ‘That’s the first time we’ve seen a smile from that patient.’ That warms my heart,” Bailey said.
According to Therapy Dogs International, therapy dogs are simply defined as dogs with outstanding temperaments. They tolerate other animals well, love children, and enjoy meeting new people.
Therapy dogs can often be confused with service dogs or emotional support animals, but therapy dogs do not provide a specific service for people with special emotional or physical needs. As further explained by the American Kennel Club, the purpose of therapy dogs is to lend comfort and affection to people in a facility or setting such as a hospital.
“There are sensory benefits. When you touch a dog, it’s warm and soft. Also, I think there is something about a dog’s eyes. When they look you in the face with those eyes and they are so accepting,” said Bailey.
While you may be thinking “my sweet pooch could be a therapy dog,” many organizations, such as Centra, require that therapy dogs be certified by a reputable organization such as Therapy Dogs International, which is who Bailey used to gain her dogs’ certifications.
“It’s not so much about being a trick dog but they have to walk on a leash without pulling, they have to sit when you tell them to sit, and stay when you tell them to stay,” she explained. “What I thought would be the hardest for my dogs was to leave them with someone they don’t know then leave the room for three minutes and not have them panic.”
Sylvia Beamer, director of volunteer services at Centra, explained that proof of certification is just the first step in the vetting process for their therapy dog program, which was officially formed in 2015. Dogs also have to go through Canine Good Citizen training from the American Kennel Club.
“We interview the handler as well as the pet to make sure both are a good fit for the organization and patient population. We onboard them just like any other volunteer and have an orientation. Then we will shadow the pet and make sure the pet is doing well and truly fits the therapy mode that we need,” Beamer explained. “After they are shadowed by another experienced handler, they are able to go out on their own.”
Unfortunately, there hasn’t been much paperwork to sift through or shadowing to oversee recently. According to Beamer, there are only two or three therapy dogs on Centra’s list right now. Ideally, they would have 20 to work with in both hospitals.
“During COVID we had pets that aged out of the program or handlers who were in bad health,” she said, adding that the pandemic likely affected certification testing schedules. “Now we are truly looking for more therapy animals and are trying to build our program back up.”
It’s worth the effort because the benefits for patients are clear. Beamer notes that in a hospital setting, oftentimes patients have a furry friend at home that they miss.
“Or it could be someone who doesn’t have any visitors because their family lives elsewhere. Or simply just someone that the nurses have identified is going through some depression. The nurses are great about making sure the therapy dogs are offered to the right rooms,” she said.
In one case, Bailey and Cece weren’t exactly welcome—at least not at first.
“I stopped by an open door and this patient said, ‘oh no, don’t bring that dog in here.’ I stood at the door and said that’s fine, I hope you feel better. I walked on and pretty soon the patient yelled out to me…. ‘you can come in with the dog.’ So I came in,” Bailey recalls. “A little bit later she said to me, ‘I think I would like to pet that dog.’ She petted her. Then after I left, she got out of her chair, walked into the hallway and called after me… ‘tell me what kind of dog that is, I think I might want to get one of those!’”
Therapy dogs have a knack for turning skeptical individuals into “dog people.” Just ask Beamer.
“To be honest I have always had a fear of dogs, until we had pet therapy. I had a couple of bad circumstances in the past,” she explained. “Not only have I witnessed what pet therapy does to calm a patient, they also have such a calming effect on me.”
She says the visits from dogs like Cece are also great for hospital staff, who work long hours in a high stress environment. They also encourage handlers to take the therapy dogs through waiting rooms.
“For a family who is waiting for news, that’s a stressful time. There is no simple surgery. When those pets go through the waiting room, that just brings the family some relief,” said Beamer.
If you are considering seeing if your pooch has what it takes to be a therapy dog, here are a couple requirements for certification, as listed on the website for the Alliance of Therapy Dogs, another well-known and reputable therapy dog organization:
∙ Dogs must be at least one year old.
∙ All breeds are accepted.
∙ Dogs must be current on all vaccines required by local laws, have a negative fecal test every 12 months and be clean and well-groomed for each visit.
The testing process depends on which therapy dog organization you are working with. Each organization has its own set of standards and checklists. It’s recommended that you work with a program that is recognized by the American Kennel Club (see sidebar).
And if your dog does pass the certification test, just a warning—you may end up on the receiving end of the therapy, too.
“There were days when I would pull into the hospital parking lot and think… I don’t know if I have the energy to do this. But when I left I felt 100 times better than when I went in,” said Bailey. “The hospital is a great leveler. You walk into a room and you don’t know whether you are talking to a CEO of a company or someone who lives under a bridge. Everybody is the same. I just felt exhilarated after talking to everybody and seeing my dog make everyone so happy.”
Looking for a Therapy Dog Program?
The American Kennel Club has a full list of organizations they recognize at this link: www.akc.org/sports/title-recognition-program/therapy-dog-program/therapy-dog-organizations/
If Scott Elliott has learned anything over his many years of building and renovating properties as the owner of Custom Structures in Lynchburg, it’s to move fast when the right thing pops up. So that is exactly what he and his wife, Meredith, did in July 2021 when a house on Smith Mountain Lake, right by Hales Ford Bridge, came up for sale.
“I called her and said, ‘Get to the lake now!’” Scott recalled. “She hauled tail to the house and I hadn’t even seen it. I was on a plane when she made the offer.”
The home had been a rental for many years and was dingy and outdated, but the empty shell didn’t scare the Elliotts. In fact, they are well accustomed to transforming properties from abysmal “Befores” into gorgeous “Afters.” Here are some highlights of what they did to overhaul their personal lakehouse-turned-Lynchburg Living Smith Mountain Lake Idea House in a matter of just seven months.
COASTAL CHIC MEETS LAKE LUXE
Not every lake dreams of being an ocean, and thankfully the Elliotts’ SML house didn’t have to choose stylistically either. Exterior additions to the home include cedar shake siding, a copper cupola up top, and hurricane shutters, all of which give the entrance a coastal vibe. Two decks on the back flank the home, while a flat seating area with a fire pit and Adirondack chairs awaits conversations overlooking the lake. Down the stamped concrete walkway to the dock is a shed that the Elliotts repurposed into a “Bar Barn,” adding cabinetry, a mini fridge, and a margarita machine so visitors can grab a drink on their way to the water.
POP THE TOP
With four kids plus an exchange student under one roof, along with Meredith’s desire to host large gatherings and rent the home out to others, the first major change the couple decided to make was raising the roofline. By building up instead of out, the Elliotts were able to stay within the home’s original footprint while adding soaring ceilings with wooden beams in the great room and kitchen, as well as a loft above that holds a Queen bed, two children’s cots, and a full bathroom. As they went up, the Elliotts also added new windows and transoms to bring in abundant light and clearer views of the lake. Their thoughtful renovations helped transform the home’s total hosting space into five bedrooms (including a children’s room with six bunk beds), four bathrooms, and a full basement.
A KITCHEN WITH SHIMMER
Lake kitchens lend themselves to a certain vibe, often with dark wooden cabinets and walls and green or red tones. While this look conjures up joyous summer memories for some, Meredith wanted a fresher look for her new kitchen. She accomplished this vision with white cabinets and quartz countertops, married together with gold hardware and a shimmery fin-shaped tile backsplash that nods to her surroundings.
A PLACE TO GATHER
Another priority for Meredith was to integrate a large dining table without making a formal space for one, so she cleverly inserted it at the intersection of the kitchen and the great room.
“I had to have somewhere to seat a lot of people,” she said. “I want this place to be for families, big families—grandparents, grandkids, aunts, uncles—so everyone can cook together and be together.”
UNEXPECTED ART
“Before it got cold, we took the jet skis around the corner to a little cove and literally just grabbed so much driftwood and let it dry,” Scott said. “Then we cut it and put hooks in there and attached it [to the foyer chandelier]. We hit the jackpot on that.”
This unique focal point of the home’s entry is just one of the surprising ways that Scott and Meredith wove artful touches throughout the home. They also repurposed larger works of art and even an old privacy screen to use as headboards. Then there’s the 1960 surfboard hanging above the couch in the great room—a $100 Facebook Marketplace find, though it took a little negotiating on Meredith’s part.
“I messaged [the owner] and he said, ‘I have 30 people lined up and I just want someone to cherish it,’” she recalled. “I said, ‘I can promise that I will cherish this. I know exactly where it’s going and you can come see it if you want.’
And he said, ‘I’m going to sell it to you!’”
TILE WITH STYLE
Additional impressive features can be found in the bathrooms, where Meredith made good use of unexpected colors and patterns, retrofitted vanities from Green Front Furniture, and glimmering bowl sinks from Ferguson. Tile selections range from a skinny teal tile laid in a herringbone pattern in the hall bathroom to a blue dot tile in the master bath to a textured white tile running from the walls through the shower in the loft bathroom.
HAVE A COW, AND A DRINK
Although the home’s basement was “dungeon-like” when they bought it, Meredith saw that it held possibilities. She took advantage of an existing bar, retrofitting it with a bronze sink, mint tile backsplash, and a sheet of patinated copper under a new quartz countertop. Above the bar hangs a large cow mural with a memorable back story.
“That came out of Big Lick [Tropical Grill] on Timberlake Road,” Meredith recalled. “They were going to throw it away and Scott was like, ‘Nooooo!’ So we have had that since 2010, and it has gone from our barn to the first lake house to here. It’s just fun.”
The colorful cattle oversee the rest of the entertainment space, complete with a ping pong table, TV area, and large windows that beckon guests outside.
For the Elliotts, the home has been both a labor of love and a sprint, and Meredith eagerly awaits the moment when she can finally sit down and soak in the finished product.
“I can’t wait until I can turn on that gas fire pit when it gets dark, open a bottle of wine, and just sit here and not be bothered and listen to the boats,” she said.