How a Stunning Portrait of a Lynchburg Icon Will Help LOCAL Students

When award-winning Lynchburg artist Kevin Chadwick attended an Old City Cemetery Candlelight Tour two years ago, he had no idea he would be walking away with the inspiration for his next painting. “The actor playing Blind Billy sitting on his stool looked like a painting to me,” Chadwick recalls.

Blind Billy, beloved Lynchburg fifer, was born a slave in 1805 and died a free man in 1855 after members of the Lynchburg community collected funds to purchase his freedom. His impressive musical prowess, displayed at balls and parties and on street corners, endeared him to the community and ultimately secured his freedom before he passed. Chadwick couldn’t stop thinking about Blind Billy and how he wanted to make sure this resilient character was a permanent piece of Lynchburg’s history.

“Upon hearing his story, I was hooked and came back the next week at dusk to ask the startled actor if I could photograph him,” Chadwick says. “He played the part so well that I could feel Blind Billy’s love and connection he had to his flute playing.”

That actor was Chris Evans, a highly involved member of the local theater community. Evans had no reference of Blind Billy before playing the role but says he used his perception of the time period as well as historical anecdotes to represent him as best he could. “People enjoyed his company. He was someone they benefitted from so they wanted him around. But I think not being able to see his environment was his benefit. It also was easier for people to accept him. He wasn’t intimidating,” Evans explained.

The painting took several weeks to complete, and Chadwick notes that the scene was a product of his imagination. “I imagined a darkened room with a fire going and Blind Billy quietly playing his flute,” he says. “Warm tones were used with bits of wallpaper to give me the chance to paint more patterns.”

Before painting Blind Billy, Chadwick already had experience painting Black individuals. “I had an old photo of a laughing woman in my files and every time I came across it, it made me smile,” he says. “Seeing it again years ago, I decided to paint it and posted it on Facebook. To my surprise, it got the most likes out of any of my earlier works and I thought that maybe I had hit on something. My technique has progressed through the years and more and more I find an invigorating challenge in capturing the likeness using all the beautiful tones and highlights found in painting dark skin.”

Combining oil paints and water-based paints poses an additional challenge, but it is one that Chadwick relishes. “It is a bit of a balance since the skin tones are in oils and the patterns are in flat water-based paints,” he notes. “Until the oil work is done at the end of the process, the paintings sometimes look flat. Painting the faces and hands brings the painting to life in a wonderful and sometimes surprising way.”

Chadwick’s exquisite portrait of Blind Billy is valued at $12,000 and could easily be displayed in a museum, but he chose instead to donate it to the Lynchburg Beacon of Hope and Lynchburg Art Club “Art for Achievement” event in November. The hybrid virtual event includes a live art auction featuring eight pieces of art, as well as a silent auction. Proceeds from the event will support Lynchburg Beacon of Hope’s college and career access work for thousands of Lynchburg City Schools students and help fund “Stay Close, Go Far” scholarships. “Stay Close, Go Far” provides free community college or a scholarship to one of Beacon of Hope’s local college or technical school partners for hundreds of LCS graduates from 2019-2024.

“With all of the violence and injustice happening on our streets these days, I felt I had to do something—and that permanent change can only happen with education,” says Chadwick. “The donation of ‘Blind Billy’ is a tremendous gift to our event this year,” says Joan Foster, Development Director of Lynchburg Beacon of Hope. “It is extremely important to our history in Lynchburg and to Lynchburg Beacon of Hope’s mission to tear down the barriers for young people that prevent them from achieving education and training after high school.”

Fittingly, Lynchburg Beacon of Hope originated in 2011 as a direct result of the City of Lynchburg’s Dialogue on Race and Racism in 2009 and 2010.

“The education sub-committee of these talks birthed the idea that any student who graduated from a Lynchburg City School would be supported to go on to post-secondary education by this community regardless of their GPA, economic status, or zip code in our city,” Foster says. “Beacon of Hope strives to empower and equip Lynchburg’s young people to seek higher education by building a pathway between high school and higher education.”

To help facilitate this mission, Beacon of Hope operates three privately-funded “Future Centers”: one at E.C. Glass High School, one at Heritage High School, and one at Central Virginia Community College. These centers provide mentoring, assistance in learning and practicing study skills, and much more.

Last year’s inaugural “Art for Achievement” event was a great success, and Laura Hamilton, Executive Director of Lynchburg Beacon of Hope, believes this year’s hybrid virtual event could be even more fruitful. “The Lynchburg community is an extraordinarily philanthropic one,” she says. “We have already seen some long-time events find their way into the ‘virtual space’ and we are hopeful that as our passion for supporting our young people has not waned during the pandemic, neither will the community’s passion for supporting our work.”

The partnership between Lynchburg Beacon of Hope and the Lynchburg Art Club imbues these “Art for Achievement” events with a strong sense of community. “‘Art for Achievement’ truly represents the home-grown nature of Lynchburg, as the Lynchburg Art Club was founded in 1895 by the then-Supervisor of Art in the Lynchburg Public School System, Bernhard Gutmann,” notes Foster.

Although this year has been challenging in unprecedented ways, events like “Art for Achievement” can provide a sense of hope and forward momentum while also helping us honor the memory of people like Blind Billy, who weathered the strongest of storms while also pursuing his passion.

“Like Lynchburg Beacon of Hope itself, ‘Art for Achievement’ represents the true grassroots nature of the Lynchburg community,” says Hamilton. “Artists coming together, young people coming together, philanthropists coming together—this collective of individuals can and will make a tremendous impact on the community now and for decades to come. It is an honor to be able to play a small role in community transformation, one painting and one student at a time.”

Kuumba Dance Ensemble Continues to Thrive During Pandemic
Photography by Ashlee Glen

The beat of the drums was powerful and hypnotic and seemed intrinsically connected to the dancers leaping and gesturing adeptly across the floor. Dressed in beautiful, bright costumes, the performers seemed focused but also free. Their unified movements indicated that they had clearly rehearsed rigorously for this performance, but there was an easy exuberance in their presentation that created a relaxed, yet dazzling, environment—you couldn’t take your eyes away from them.

I first saw the Kuumba Dance Ensemble perform in 2018 at the Lynchburg Public Library, where I work as a youth services library assistant. On that day, there was someone else behind the scenes who caught my eye as well. Directing the dance routine was ensemble founder Sheron White. Her pride in her students was a joyous thing to witness. I was immediately struck by her positive and infectious energy and by the camaraderie she had fostered within the company. I knew then that I wanted to be part of this extraordinary group, and I got my chance to do so the following year.

Last fall, I had the privilege of participating in White’s Adult Afro-Caribbean dance class through Lynchburg Parks and Recreation. She and the other members of Kuumba made me feel so welcome and encouraged me to express myself at a time in my life when I really needed an outlet to do so. It was one of the best and most freeing experiences of my life, and I cannot thank Sheron enough. It is an honor to share a piece of her story and spotlight the important work she’s doing in our community.

White had a strong and varied dance background before eventually focusing on African dance in the mid-80s. In 1986, she moved from Lynchburg to Baltimore, where she taught dance at several middle schools and joined an African dance company. Her dance teacher suggested that she visit Africa, and she did so in 1996.

“My professor said, ‘You cannot teach African dance unless you go to Africa.’ So I went to Senegal, West Africa,” White recalls. “I learned so much. The culture in Africa was so amazing and accepting.”

Upon her return to the U.S., White moved to a different dance company in D.C. and became a principal dancer. She ultimately decided to move back to Lynchburg in 2013 and established Kuumba Dance Ensemble in 2017.

Kuumba was originally called “Lynchburg Afro-Caribbean Dance Ensemble,” but White found the name clunky and decided to change it.

“The reason I named it ‘Kuumba’ is because when I went to Africa, they named me ‘Kuumba’,” says White. “At first, I hated that name! We had a naming ceremony and everyone else got these cool names—I can’t remember what they were—but I got ‘Kuumba’? Well, that was my own inability to understand what that name meant. It means creativity. Come on, Sheron!”

Over the past three years, Kuumba has grown from four adult dancers and one drummer to about 40 dancers—30 of which are children—and seven drummers. A partnership with Lynchburg Parks and Recreation and the aid of donors such as the Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation have added to the ensemble’s momentum, and even a global pandemic hasn’t slowed it down.

“We wanted to engage our children and keep them motivated during the pandemic,” White says. To that end, White connected with a hip-hop instructor from Alabama who offered virtual hip-hop classes for Kuumba students twice a week.

Kuumba also participated in the Academy Center of the Arts’ Juneteenth 2020: An Exercise in Resilience event on June 19. The live-streamed event, which was put on by the Academy, the Juneteenth Coalition, and The Listening, Inc., featured several Black artists, performers, and local figures.

“The pandemic was in full bloom, so we practiced in my backyard,” notes White. “We were limited to ten people. It was difficult, but we made it happen.”

Part of the difficulty was learning how to work in masks, which includes practicing proper breathing techniques.

“We actually ended up performing in masks made by Cynthia Hudson, one of our drummers and seamstresses,” says White. “During practices, I always instruct the students to walk away, remove their masks, take deep breaths, and drink lots of water when they get winded.”

Safety is paramount for White, who cares for her 94-year-old mother. “It is huge for me to socially distance and keep things safe for everyone,” she says. “In addition to wearing masks, we take temperatures before classes. When bad things happen, we don’t get discouraged. We problem solve and figure out how to make things work.”

White and other members of Kuumba resumed classes in early July. Participants were able to choose between in-house lessons at Lynchburg Parks and Recreation and online lessons. Kuumba will hold a virtual recital on November 7, and White’s inspiration for the theme of the performance is very close to her heart.

“There is a book written by Mychal Wynn called The Eagles Who Thought They Were Chickens that I used to share with my students when I worked in schools,” White says. “I use this book to help children understand that they can soar and feel good about who they are no matter what other people think. This year, Kuumba is going to draw inspiration from this book to catapult us into talking about the beautiful eagles of Africa and how they soar, and about how when people cut you down, you rise above.”

In preparation for the recital, instructors from Africa will hold virtual dance classes and teach choreography inspired by eagles while White comes up with her own twist on the theme for additional choreography. Although tickets and other details are still in the works, there will be an opportunity to make donations to support Kuumba’s continued growth.

Kuumba also plans to perform at the annual Kwanzaa celebration at Miller Park on December 30 if conditions allow, and White hopes that the celebration will be extended next year. “In 2021, we’re looking at having Kwanzaa celebrations each of the seven days of Kwanzaa,” she says.

As Kuumba continues to adapt and thrive through these unprecedented times, the overarching goal of the group—to spotlight and honor African culture while also supporting and celebrating other cultures—will stay the same.

“I believe that, in Lynchburg, culture matters. Whether the culture is white, Black, Mexican, Asian, or something else, it’s rich here,” says White. “It’s a good idea for us to learn about other cultures. We wouldn’t be afraid of different cultures if we tried to understand where those cultures come from. We [at Kuumba] see what we do as an opportunity to teach people about African culture. When we perform, we hope to provide instruction, share a rich tradition, and show that we are all more alike than unalike. This is my calling.”

What the Curation of The Cocktail Party Could Mean for Anne Spencer’s Legacy
Photos by Ashlee Glen

Although she never set foot in New York City, Anne Spencer was a central figure in the Harlem Renaissance.

Spencer’s involvement in this hugely important cultural movement, which fostered and celebrated the intellectual and creative accomplishments of African Americans, began with a visit from James Weldon Johnson. In addition to being a renowned African-American writer, Johnson was also a civil rights activist and field secretary for the NAACP.

When he came to Lynchburg, he—along with Spencer and other activists—established a Lynchburg chapter of the NAACP. Johnson became fast friends with both Anne and Edward Spencer, and he discovered early on that Anne was a talented writer whose poems demanded exposure and deserved acclaim. Before long, Spencer had a poem published in The Crisis, an NAACP-published magazine, and another poem published in The New Negro: An Interpretation, a groundbreaking anthology of African-American work edited by Alain Locke, who is often referred to as the father of the Harlem Renaissance. Anne and Edward’s Pierce Street home quickly became a hub for African-American artists, writers, and intellectuals passing through the South.

Despite her increasing popularity and friendships with such prominent people as Johnson, W.E.B. Du Bois, and Langston Hughes, Spencer valued her privacy and enjoyed spending time working alone in her garden. Additionally, only about 30 of her poems were ever published even though she likely wrote at least a thousand during her lifetime.

“Anne’s poetry has activism in it, but it’s not in-your-face activism,” says Shaun Spencer-Hester, one of Anne’s granddaughters and the executive director and curator of the Anne Spencer House & Garden Museum. “She kind of used nature and incorporated it with activism to address things that she didn’t think were always fair or equal.”

Spencer’s simultaneous compulsion to write (and disinterest in seeking fame for her writing) led to the existence of a painting in the Spencer House with a fascinating backstory.
When it came to writing, no surface was off-limits for Spencer—including her own bedroom wall. Spencer would wake up in the middle of the night and write any number of things—poems, ideas, grocery lists—on the wall of the bedroom she shared with Edward. At one point, he suggested they have a painting done on the wall. Anne agreed.

“My grandfather was trying to protect my grandmother,” Spencer-Hester says.

“My grandfather had a pool table in the attic, and in order to get to the attic, you had to walk through my grandparents’ bedroom.

The community of people who knew of her knew she was a person who often wrote for privacy, so they could have said that the writing on the wall meant that she didn’t want to be bothered with people. They also could have said, ‘What about that Anne Spencer? She’s just too much!’

My grandmother wasn’t afraid to step out, but that wasn’t the kind of thing women did during that time period.”

Ultimately, Dolly Allen Mason, a friend of the Spencers, painted The Cocktail Party on a canvas that was pasted directly onto the Spencers’ bedroom wall in 1944. The painting depicts a large gathering of smiling, well-dressed men and women, along with two large disembodied grins in the background.

In a 2018 C-Span interview, Spencer-Hester mentioned that her grandmother said the painting was “about having to go to a party and put on a phony smile.” Spencer-Hester notes that this statement refers to her grandmother’s aversion to disingenuity rather than an aversion to social gatherings in general.

“She was definitely not an introvert, but she also didn’t need to have people tell her who she was,” Spencer-Hester says. “There was nothing phony about her and she would tell you exactly what she thought but was never cruel with her words. I think she was just saying that people don’t always act genuine at parties. When you go to a party, you’re in the moment, feeling out the room, and maybe you’re not really being you.”

There is another intriguing layer to The Cocktail Party: who it potentially depicts. Spencer-Hester speculates that some of Spencer’s famous friends may be portrayed in the painting.

“In my 12 years of involvement with the museum, I have gotten to know these people by reading my grandmother’s papers,” she says.

“They have really become familiar to me. I pass this painting daily, and one day I looked at the gentleman in the bottom righthand corner, at his profile, and I’m like, ‘That’s James Weldon Johnson with his big forehead! And that’s his wife Grace! And that could be W.E.B. Du Bois in the bottom lefthand corner with two of his smart women that he liked to travel with!’”

Spencer-Hester believes that Spencer herself might be depicted in the painting as well.

“My grandmother used to talk about, and has written about, her and her friend Mary Rice putting on their best red dresses or red hats, and that meant that they meant business,” Spencer-Hester says. “When they wore red, that meant they were going out into the community to do some shaking up!

In the painting, you can see two women with red on, so maybe that’s them.”

Regardless of the particular figures portrayed in the painting, its historical and cultural significance are undeniable. In January, The Cocktail Party was selected from more than 40 applicants as one of the Virginia Association of Museum’s “Virginia’s Top 10 Endangered Artifacts.” Although the top two prizes ultimately went to other artifacts at other museums, the Anne Spencer House & Garden Museum received an award of $500 to put towards the painting’s restoration.

Mark Wittl, conservator and owner of Virginia Art Conservation and Restoration, LLC, recently met with Spencer-Hester to look at the painting. “It is a well-executed, whimsical painting of social interaction in happier times,” Wittl says.

“I am thrilled to be a part of this exciting project and hope the joy I personally feel when I complete a restoration can be shared by all who view it in the future.”
Following a May visit to inspect the painting, Wittl returned to the Spencer House in June to remove the oil-on-canvas artwork from the wall—a necessary part of the restoration process since portions of the wall are experiencing internal failures, he explained.

The removal was successful, but intense—it took Wittl about four hours to extract the canvas inch by inch. He transported the painting to his studio in Roanoke for restoration, which includes cleaning, mounting it to a suitable substrate, touching-up and framing. Wittl believes the entire process will take eight to 12 weeks.

After it’s restored, the original painting will be framed; a copy will be printed and rehung inside the museum where the original used to be located. Spencer-Hester also says they are making some limited edition copies available for purchase, with proceeds going toward the restoration of The Cocktail Party.

Once the painting came off the wall, Spencer-Hester was thrilled to unearth another surprise: more art. The Cocktail Party was covering up three smaller paper paintings. “One of the three paintings is intact. The other two adhered to The Cocktail Party,” she said.

As The Cocktail Party is restored, Spencer-Hester is excited to investigate these new pieces of her grandmother’s past—and hopefully unearth more secrets of her legacy as well.
“There is another layer to remove as we get down to the plaster. Dranny’s scribbling on the wall has yet to be seen,” said Spencer-Hester. “How exciting to find the artwork. It adds another layer to the story. Oh, if these walls could talk…”

New Artistic Amenities in Bedford Await Brighter, Busier Days Ahead

Art, in its many forms, has become a source of distraction and comfort to many of us during these disconcerting times. Community-driven art initiatives are especially important—they serve as tangible reminders of what we can accomplish and share with the world when we work together.

Bedford’s recent beautification initiative, known as “The Loop Project,” is a shining example of what community partners can achieve. Some of the most recent additions to the Loop, the town’s popular walking route, are steel-fabricated benches and bike racks that display a local artist’s unique design.

Last July “The Loop Project” received an AARP Community Challenge Grant, a grant awarded for projects that aim to make immediate improvements and jumpstart long-term progress to help residents of all ages. The project was one of 159 projects selected from over 1,600 applications.

“The Loop is well-known within the town and beyond as a walking destination,” says Bedford Economic Development Coordinator Mary Zirkle. “The existing pedestrian amenities (concrete benches and wood-slat trash cans) were also starting to show wear and needed a facelift.”

The task of beautifying these amenities within the timeframe stipulated by the grant (about four months) was a challenge in and of itself, then town staff decided to add another challenge on top of that: the designs used for the proposed benches and bike racks would be chosen from submissions from the general public.

Fortunately, local artist Megan Davies was up for the task. She submitted the winning designs for the benches and bike racks and was also asked to come up with a sign design based on the findings of a “Design the Sign” public workshop. Her painting of the Peaks of Otter, called “Shape Our Land,” was selected for the bench design, and another one of her drawings of the Peaks was used for the bike rack design.

“So many people in this area love the iconic mountains, so I felt that design was a great fit for a public piece,” Davies says. “I love simple line-work. The lines and sections of the painting could be constructed into a bench several different ways, giving the fabricator more freedom and flexibility.”

To ensure that the design guidelines would call for proper functionality, Zirkle touched base with David Hanowitz, owner of Central Virginia Manufacturing. “I had met Dave in 2018,” Zirkle recalls. “I remember him saying they like to make different things that aren’t [always] industrial. I needed expert advice as we tailored the design guidelines when putting out the call for designs.”

After several businesses put in a bid for the project, Hanowitz’s manufacturing proposal was ultimately selected, and he and his team were excited for the unique challenge.

“I have worked with customers in the past to recreate artworks using our metal fabrication abilities, but this project was unique in the fact that there were several pieces of art to be incorporated into the different builds,” Hanowitz says. “Many times we cannot 100% recreate a drawing or painting to transfer over to cut-and-formed steel due to limitations within the material or machinery used.”

But after what Hanowitz describes as “many hours” designing the benches, they feel like they came as close as they could to making Davies’ painting come to life on a steel canvas. “At the end, we were very pleased with the outcome,” he says.

Central Virginia Manufacturing produced six benches, all of which have been placed, and six bike racks, all of which were in the process of being placed in mid-April. Two of the six benches are smaller, backless benches, and all six benches bear the new town brand on their legs. All the signs that have been produced have been placed, and a few additional signs are being made.

Although neither Davies nor Hanowitz reside in Bedford, they both feel strong ties to the town and are delighted to play a role in its beautification and advancement.

“Whenever I talk to other artists about how and where to get involved, I always stress to plant some artistic roots in Bedford,” says Davies. “The art community in Bedford is more like family and everyone is so supportive of each other. Bedford is my art home.”

“The community will embrace a project like this, especially when members of the community are directly involved with the design work,” Hanowitz notes. “These projects always benefit local companies that are involved as it gives examples of their abilities and can help foster future projects with other local businesses.”

Zirkle hopes this initiative will be the first of many art-focused projects, and community collaborations, in Bedford.

“I hope the benches and racks will encourage people to add more public art of their own and to request that of the town,” she says. “I want visitors to see that we are a creative and welcoming community, and these pieces can help convey that. Maybe one day we can have an ‘Art Walk’ of some kind for people to discover unique pieces and appreciate them. I think art should be a year-round celebration of what Bedford is.”

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During the Pandemic…
“Public Works placed these benches while this pandemic was going on. The director and I talked about how important it was for people to see things like this happening, that work on improving the community continues. The bench installation came at the perfect time with people needing to get out safely and to see something new that brightens their day.”
– Mary Zirkle, economic development coordinator in Bedford

DOLLY PARTON’S IMAGINATION LIBRARY WILL EXPAND IN LYNCHBURG THIS YEAR

The Dolly Parton Imagination Library, an international initiative that sends free books to children from birth to age five, is extending its reach to additional Lynchburg-area zip codes this year. Local education-focused nonprofit The Aspire Foundation began partnering with DPIL last fall and has since signed up many families who reside in the 24501 and 24504 zip codes.

“When we started the program last September, we didn’t know how fundraising was going to go,” says Aspire Foundation co-founder Mary Omotoye. “We decided to start the program in 24501 and 24504 because according to the U.S. Census Bureau, those are the most socioeconomically challenged areas in Lynchburg. We are happy to announce that we now have enough funding to open the program up to 24502 and 24503 as well in 2020!” Grants from the Schewel Family Foundation, Centra Foundation, Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation, and Mustaches 4 Kids increased DPIL funding significantly.

Omotoye first learned about DPIL when she and her family lived in Cleveland, Ohio. She and her husband, Samuel, enrolled their two young sons in the program and received free books for about half a year. When the family moved to Lynchburg, however, they discovered that DPIL was not available. For the Omotoyes, this absence proved to be an exciting opportunity rather than a disappointment.

“I checked the Imagination Library website and found out that in order to be an affiliate of the program, you have to be a nonprofit organization,” Omotoye notes. “I talked to my husband about it and we thought, ‘Why don’t we start a nonprofit?’ We always had it in mind that we eventually wanted to do nonprofit work in the education sphere, so we thought this initiative was a great place to start.” The couple founded the Aspire Foundation in 2018.

Rox Cruz, a local mom and Freedom Schools Site Coordinator for The Listening, Inc., was one of the many parents who was excited about DPIL coming to Lynchburg.

“I am a major Dolly Parton fan, so I’ve known about this program for over 10 years,” Cruz says. “Once I had my first son, I wanted to sign him up for the program right away. We were living in Florida at the time, but unfortunately our zip code was not eligible for the program. I was so stoked to find out we were eligible in Lynchburg!”

Beloved country music artist Dolly Parton founded DPIL in 1995, and the program has since expanded beyond Dolly’s home state of Tennessee to all 50 states and to Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Ireland. Childhood literacy is a passion of Parton’s largely due to her own upbringing.

“Dolly Parton’s father was illiterate, and she grew up very poor. Her mission is to provide books for all children, no matter their family’s income,” said Omotoye, who also experienced a humble childhood. “My husband and I are immigrants and didn’t have a lot growing up, but good educations and a love of books and learning helped us find success—I’m a pharmacist and my husband is a physician.”

By 2003, DPIL had mailed one million books, and now the program sends out over one million books per month. DPIL earned the Library of Congress Best Practices Award in 2014, and the initiative’s 100 millionth book was dedicated to the Library of Congress in 2018.

Enrolled children between ages birth and five receive one free, high-quality book each month until they turn six. The books are selected by an expert panel and come from reputable publisher Penguin Random House. Titles are age-appropriate, at least two bilingual titles are sent to each child each year, and DPIL’s partnership with the Braille Institute of America ensures that blind and visually impaired children receive Braille books.

Cruz, whose sons are one-and-a-half and four, is especially grateful for the addition of bilingual books to their home library.

“My husband is Puerto Rican, so it is really meaningful to us that this program occasionally sends out bilingual books,” she says. “I was so excited when my four-year-old received A Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats in English and Spanish last month.”

Although DPIL is beneficial for all children in the targeted age range, it is ideal to enroll a child at birth.

“What’s special about this program is that it really starts from birth,” says Omotoye. “We’re really trying to target that age group before kindergarten because there are tons of studies that show that just having books in the home early on in a child’s life—before the child is even talking—is incredibly impactful on brain development and reading readiness.”

Of course, reading to your child is even more beneficial than simply having books in your home. “For parents, the DPIL books are a reminder to be more intentional about sitting down and reading with your children,” Cruz says.

Omotoye adds that DPIL has a “large impact with a relatively low financial input.” It costs $25 per child per year, which comes out to $2.10 per book including shipping costs.

With the upcoming inclusion of additional Lynchburg zip codes, the Aspire Foundation will be focusing on registering new families for DPIL in 2020. Existing partnerships with Miriam’s House, Johnson Health Center, Richeson Drive Pediatrics, the Jubilee Community Center, and Lynchburg City Schools (specifically the Pre-K Headstart program) will continue to raise awareness of and participation in the program, and Omotoye hopes to work with even more community partners this year.

“To register as many children as possible, we want to partner with places that provide services and programs for children,” she says. “We have many wonderful community partners already and are hoping to partner with One Community, One Voice and other organizations in the near future.”

Cruz highly recommends enrolling in the program as a supplement to taking your children to the library.

“We love taking our kids to the library, but this program brings free books to us when we’re too busy to go out or it’s flu season and we don’t want to risk our kids getting sick,” she notes.

Although the long-term benefits of DPIL, libraries, and reading books in general may be lost on little ones, the joy of receiving a free and personalized gift in the mail applies to folks of all ages.

“For kids, it’s simply a gift that they get in the mail,” Cruz says. “There’s a kind of magic in receiving snail mail, especially when you’re receiving something wrapped up with your name on it. My four-year-old thinks Grandma Dolly sends him the books personally!”

To check your family’s eligibility for DPIL, visit aspirefound.org. Although it is possible to register online, Omotoye recommends doing a written registration form at this time. To learn more about DPIL, visit imaginationlibrary.com.

A LOOK AHEAD TO THE AREA’S THEATER OPPORTUNITIES

Information Compiled by Emily Mook

If you’re a fan of the theater, the greater Lynchburg region has a little something for everyone. From high school students to professional actors, we are lucky to live in a community that invests in and supports its performers of all levels. To make it even easier, we’ve compiled our annual Theater Preview Guide to highlight the year’s upcoming local shows.

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Community/Professional

Academy Center of the Arts
600 Main Street, Lynchburg
academycenter.org

Community Through Theatre Presents: Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
“Christopher, 15 years old, stands beside Mrs. Shears’ dead dog. It has been speared with a garden fork, it is seven minutes after midnight and Christopher is under suspicion.”
March 7, March 12-14 at 7:30 p.m.,
March 8 and 15 at 2 p.m. at the Joy & Lynch Christian Warehouse Theatre

Opera on the James Presents: The Barber of Seville
“The story is simple: a handsome young nobleman is in love with an independent-minded young woman, who is kept under constant surveillance by her elderly (and ill-tempered) guardian. Enter the Barber, who, through various ruses—one of which includes a mountain of shaving cream—saves the day.”
March 27 at 7 p.m., March 29 at 2 p.m. at the Historic Academy Theatre

Academy Presents:
Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood LIVE!
“Daniel Tiger and his family—along with O the Owl, Miss Elaina, Katerina Kittycat, Prince Wednesday, and more familiar friends—will take audiences on an interactive adventure to the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, sharing stories of friendship, helping others and celebrating new experiences.”
April 5 at 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. at the Historic Academy Theatre

Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest Presents: A Conversation with Mr. Jefferson Featuring Frederick Douglass
“Thomas Jefferson is joined by famed abolitionist, autobiographer, and orator Frederick Douglass for a fascinating look at their lives and legacies.”
April 25 at 7 p.m. at the Historic Academy Theatre

Academy Presents: Reduced Shakespeare Company: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised]
“All 37 Plays in 97 Minutes! The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] is an irreverent, fast-paced romp through the Bard’s plays.”
May 16 at 7:30 p.m. at the Historic Academy Theatre

Endstation Theatre Company
2500 Rivermont Avenue, Lynchburg
endstationtheatre.org
* All evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m. All matinee performances begin at 2 p.m.

On Golden Pond
“The plot focuses on aging couple Ethel and Norman Thayer, who spend each summer at their home on a lake called Golden Pond. … The play explores the often turbulent relationship [the daughter] shared with her father growing up and the difficulties faced by a couple in the twilight years of a long marriage.”
June 19-21, 23-28 at Thoresen Theatre, Randolph CollegeCollege

Bye Bye Birdie
“Bye Bye Birdie is an American musical about fictional pop sensation Conrad Birdie and his final performance before being drafted to the army.
He promises a song and a kiss to a typical American teenager on the Ed Sullivan Show.”
July 14-19, 21-26 at the Warehouse Theatre, Academy Center of the Arts

The Twelve Dates of Christmas
“Christmas celebrations are just around the corner and Shirley the Partridge has got some problems to solve. The French Hens are arguing, the six geese have flown to Florida for the winter and worst of all… someone has stolen the Five Golden Rings!”
December 17-20, location TBD

Little Town Players
931 Ashland Avenue, Bedford
www.littletownplayers.com

I Hate Hamlet
“TV star Andrew Rally is about to start rehearsals to play Hamlet—and he is terrified. In the midst of his confusion, he is visited by the ghost of legendary actor John Barrymore.” Directed by David Walton.
March 13-15, 20-22

Once Upon a Mattress
“This musical comedy opened off-Broadway in 1959 before moving to Broadway. It was written as an adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, ‘The Princess and the Pea.’” Directed by Denis F. Deane.
June 5-7, 12-14
*Friday and Saturday night shows begin at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday shows at 2 p.m.

Renaissance Theatre
1022 Commerce Street, Lynchburg
renaissancetheatrelynchburg.org
* Thursday, Friday, and Saturday shows begin at 8 p.m., doors open at 7:30 p.m. Sunday matinees begin at 3 p.m., doors open at 2:30 p.m.

M*A*S*H: The Play
“The staff of a Korean War field hospital use humor and hijinks to keep their sanity in the face of the horror of war. Some of your favorite characters from the TV show are here: Radar O’Reilly, Painless the dentist and, of course, Hawkeye. Join us for the hilarity as they run amok in the 4077 MASH!”
March 1, 5-7

Other Desert Cities
“Brooke Wyeth returns home to celebrate Christmas. She announces that she is about to publish a memoir dredging up a pivotal and tragic event in the family’s history—a wound they don’t want reopened.”
April 24-25 and May 1-3, 7-9

Nana’s Naughty Knickers
“What Bridget saw as a unique opportunity to stay with her favorite Nana in New York for the summer quickly turns into an experience she’ll never forget! Her sweet Grandma is running an illegal boutique from her apartment, selling hand-made naughty knickers to every senior citizen in the five-borough area!”
July 10-11, 17-19, 23-25

Sister Act
“When disco diva Deloris Van Cartier witnesses a murder, she is put in protective custody in a convent! Using her unique disco moves and singing talent to inspire the choir, Deloris breathes new life into the church and community but, in doing so, blows her cover.”
October 2-3, 9-11, 15-17

A Good Old Fashioned Redneck Country Christmas
“Bill, Dave, and Jimmy have had it with their women! Even though it’s Christmas Eve, the boys decide to hightail it into the mountains for a little hunting and a lot of beer. It’s gonna take a Christmas miracle to get these redneck families back together.”
December 4-5, 11-13, 17-19

Wolfbane Productions
618 Country Club Road, Appomattox
wolfbane.org
* Thursday, Friday, & Saturday Performances: All shows start at 8 p.m., doors open at 7 p.m.
* Sunday Performances: All shows except Young Frankenstein start at 3 p.m., doors open at 2 p.m. Young Frankenstein Sunday performances start at 8 p.m., doors open at 7 p.m.

Steel Magnolias
“Picture it: anybody who’s anybody comes to get their hair done here. Winner of Wolfbane’s 2020 Audience Choice poll, get up close and personal with the ladies like never before: no stage, no curtain, just hair… and a little bit of gossip.”
May 7-10, 14-17, 21-24, 28-31 at The Wolf Den indoor venue

Young Frankenstein
“Based on the hilarious Mel Brooks classic, with all your favorite characters: the famous doctor Frederick Frankenstein (pronounced ‘Fronk-en-steen’), the hunchbacked sidekick Igor (pronounced ‘Eye-gore’), the leggy lab assistant Inga (pronounced normally), and more!”
October 8-11, 15-18, 22-25,
October 29-November 1 at the Wolf PAC outdoor venue

Stranger Sings
“Written exclusively for Wolfbane by Cinco Paul, this highly energetic, feel-good parody returns just in time for the holidays! Based on the first season of the hit Netflix show ‘Stranger Things,’ join Chopper and Twelve (see what we did there) as they journey through another dimension with Eggos, Demogorgons, and Madonna.”
December 3-6, 10-13, 17-20 at the Wolf Den indoor venue

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College

Liberty Tower Theater/Alluvion Stage Company
1971 University Boulevard, Lynchburg
liberty.edu/academics/art/theatre & alluvionstage.com

Sonic-Con Audio Theatre Convention
“Sonic-Con is an audio theatre convention featuring interactive workshops, industry professionals, and live radio dramas. The convention will be the 20th-22nd, but we’ll have select performances available on the evenings of the 23rd and 24th. Tickets to the public performances sold separately from the convention passes.”
March 23-24 at 7:30 p.m. at Liberty University

The Drowsy Chaperone (Academic Performance)
“Hailed by New York Magazine as ‘The Perfect Broadway Musical,’ The Drowsy Chaperone is a masterful meta-musical, poking fun at all the tropes that characterize the musical theatre genre.”
April 17-18, 21, 23-25 at 7:30 p.m.,
April 18 and 25 at 2 p.m.,
April 26 at 3 p.m. at the Tower Theater

University of Lynchburg Theatre
1501 Lakeside Drive, Lynchburg
lynchburg.edu/academics/majors-and-minors/theatre/

Curtain Call Musical Theatre Cabaret
“Come share a night of heartfelt joy, laughter and of course, singing. With music from Bright Star, Once, Big River and more!”
March 27-28 at 7:30 p.m. at Dillard Theatre

Student Theatre Production (production TBD)
“Entirely produced and executed by students working collaboratively to find their own vision and voice. Mature themes and language.”
April 22-24 at 7 p.m. at Studio Theatre Stage

Randolph College Theatre
2500 Rivermont Avenue, Lynchburg
randolphcollege.edu/theatre

The Mousetrap
“A timeless tale of ‘whodunit,’ Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap strands seven strangers at Monkswell Manor during a blizzard. But a police sergeant unexpectedly arrives, worried that a murderer-at-large is among the guests of the Manor.” Directed by Stephanie Holladay Earl.
April 9-12, times TBD

Sweet Briar Theater
135 Chapel Road, Sweet Briar
sbc.edu/arts/theatre-productions/

Circle Mirror Transformation by Annie Baker
“Sweet Briar Theatre presents the acclaimed play by Annie Baker about how a community acting workshop gradually reveals the hopes, fears, and unresolved conflicts among a random group of people in a small New England town. This play is directed by Sarah Jane Grubb as part of her senior project in Theatre.”
May 8-9 at 7:30 p.m. at Babcock Studio Theater

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Youth

Cavalier Theatre
(Jefferson Forest High School)
1 Cavalier Circle, Forest
sites.google.com/bedford.k12.va.us/cavaliertheatrehome/home

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
“The classic story tells of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped under the spell of an enchantress! If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end and he will be transformed into his former self. But time is running out.”
April 30, May 1-3, May 7-8 at 7 p.m.,
May 9-10 at 3 p.m.

City on a Hill Youth Theater
219 Breezewood Drive, Lynchburg
facebook.com/CityOnAHillYouthTheater

Pride and Prejudice
“Finding a husband is hardly Elizabeth Bennet’s most urgent priority. But with four sisters, an overzealous match-making mother, and a string of unsuitable suitors, it’s difficult to escape the subject.”
April 23-May 2, times TBD

Brookville Theatre (Brookville High School)
100 Laxton Road, Lynchburg
facebook.com/BrookvilleHighSchoolTheatre/

42nd Street
“Aspiring chorus girl Peggy Sawyer comes to the big city from Allentown, PA, and soon lands her first big job in the ensemble of a glitzy new Broadway show.”
April 2-3 at 7 p.m., April 4 at 2 p.m.
and 7 p.m., April 5 at 2 p.m.

Fame JR.
“Set during the last years of New York City’s celebrated High School for the Performing Arts in the early 1980s, Fame JR. is the bittersweet, but ultimately inspiring, story of a diverse group of students who commit to four years of grueling artistic and academic work.”
May 21-22 at 7 p.m., May 23 at 2 p.m.

Glass Theatre
(E.C. Glass High School)
211 Memorial Avenue, Lynchburg
ecglasstheatre.org

In the Heights
“Lin Manuel Miranda’s In the Heights tells the universal story of a vibrant community in New York’s Washington Heights neighborhood—a place where the coffee from the corner bodega is light and sweet, the windows are always open, and the breeze carries the rhythm of three generations of music.”
April 29-30, May 1-3 at 7 p.m.

Pioneer Theatre (Heritage High School)
3101 Wards Ferry Road, Lynchburg
lcsedu.net/schools/hhs/about/activities/pioneer-theatre

Roald Dahl’s Matilda, The Musical
“Matilda is a little girl with astonishing wit, intelligence, and psychokinetic powers. She’s unloved by her cruel parents but impresses her schoolteacher, the highly loveable Miss Honey.”
April 3-4 and April 9-11 at 7 p.m.,
April 5 at 3 p.m.

Liberty Christian Academy Theatre
3701 Candlers Mountain Road, Lynchburg
facebook.com/TheatreLca/

The Sound of Music
“Set in Austria on the eve of the Anschluss in 1938, the musical tells the story of Maria, who takes a job as governess to a large family while she decides whether to become a nun.”
May 14-15 at 7 p.m., May 16 at 2 p.m.
and 7 p.m., May 17 at 3 p.m. at Liberty University’s Tower Theatre

How Quilting Bridges the Generation Gap

Few things are as deeply rooted in tradition as the art of quilting. Throughout history, quilts have served as both functional and ornamental pieces, and they have become deeply symbolic. As is the case for anything that inspires nostalgia, quilting has the potential to be seen as a lost art—quilts as relics. Fortunately, that has not proven to be the case at all.

One need look no further than Lynchburg to see that quilting continues to thrive. Multiple quilting guilds and shops flourish here with diverse members and customers respectively, and there are several reasons why.

Artistically, quilting has remained relevant because quilters have embraced modern techniques that mark a diversion—but never a complete departure—from more traditional techniques.

Lynchburg’s first major foray into modern quilting was marked by the launch of a subgroup of longstanding quilt guild Patches ‘n Pieces in the early 2000s. This group, called LAFA (Lynchburg Area Fiber Arts), was founded due to the emergence of “art quilting,” which places emphasis on form over function.

“Blankets and baby quilts were and still are being made all the time, but now there was this explosion of creativity beyond those projects,” says Laurie Szczutkowski, member and former president of Patches ‘n Pieces. “A lot of quilts being made today are not your grandmother’s quilts!”

“Quilts are coming off beds and onto walls!” exclaims Barb Brummond, member of Patches ‘n Pieces.

An even more visible venture into modern quilting occurred when The Virginia Quilt museum featured an exhibit called “Heritage Redefined: A Modern Quilt Exhibit” in 2017.

“The term ‘heritage’ gives reference to the fact that even though quilting has changed, we have our roots in the tradition; we’re just taking it in different directions,” Brummond notes.

“Some of the things that define modern quilting are different layouts—a practice called alternate ‘gridwork’—as opposed to traditional patchwork; improv, where you’re not working with a pattern; and the use of negative space.”

In the summer of 2019, the Bower Center for the Arts in Bedford showed off numerous quilts at its National Juried Fiber Arts Exhibition. The contemporary quilts and other pieces were created as an artistic expression—not for everyday life. “With artistic quilts, you have some people who have come out of the traditional quilt field and want to expand their creativity in other ways,” said Jill Jensen, a juror and judge of the show.

“There are also artistic quilters who have come from the fine art field. … I started as a painter but I eventually came to textiles. It’s a way to combine all of my loves of color, bold imagery and texture all in one piece of art.”

The latest local development on the modern quilting front is the late November 2019 launch of a local chapter of The Modern Quilt Guild, an international organization founded on the West Coast 10 years ago. Meetings will be held at Threads Run Thru It, a quilt shop in Rustburg.

Efforts to offer quilting meetings and events at night and on weekends have also allowed for more participation from younger generations.

“The plan is to have [Modern Quilt Guild] meetings on weekends so that younger people can come and join the group,” Brummond says. “If we don’t have younger people, we’re not going to have much of a future for quilting! The modern quilt movement is attracting younger quilters, so we certainly want them to be able to attend meetings.”

Patches ‘n Pieces, a 40-year-old local guild that focuses primarily on traditional quilting techniques, saw a need to offer evening meetings; thus Seven Hills Quilt Guild was born in 2000.

“Seven Hills was established by members of Patches ‘n Pieces because they understood that there are people who work full time who also want to quilt and want an avenue to get together and create,” says Linda Black, member and former treasurer of Patches ‘n Pieces.

The Seven Hills Quilt Guild also embodies another reason that quilting has stood the test of time: its capacity to express support and concern for others.

“Quilters have the biggest hearts of any people you will ever meet, and quilting gives us an opportunity to serve those around us,” says Kim Payne, president of Seven Hills. “We feel that we can fill needs with fabric.”

The guild, which currently boasts about 35 members, produces a staggering number of quilts each year for various charities and causes both locally and throughout the East Coast.

Among these many quilts created annually are 50 baby quilts for the Blue Ridge Pregnancy Center, 25 quilts for the Salvation Army, a minimum of 25 quilts for women and 15 quilts for children at the Safe House for Abused and Battered Women, and one or two quilts for the Rainbow of Hope Quilt Auction for Centra Hospice. Additionally, the guild creates 10 to 15 quilts for Quilts of Valor for veterans, quilts for each of the beds and the sofa at the Desmond T. Doss Home for Homeless Veterans, 15 quilts for Hope for Appalachia (which aids special needs children in impoverished areas of Appalachia), and 16 quilts for beds at the Outdoor Education Center in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia (which supports at-risk youth in Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, and Maryland).

The Queen Bees, another subgroup of Patches ‘n Pieces, also creates quilts for local organizations such as HumanKind, Miriam’s House, the Pearson Cancer Center, and Habitat for Humanity.

Unsurprisingly, the internet has also played a significant role in keeping quilting alive.
“The internet has made a huge difference,” Szczutkowski notes. “There are a myriad of permutations of how people have connected internationally over the last 15 to 20 years. That said, I don’t think meeting face-to-face will ever go out of style. The love of fabric is the common thread. There is something about being able to talk about that shared love in person that is very special.”

As it turns out, the cornerstone of quilting’s continued relevance and popularity is a quality it has always possessed: an innate ability to bring people from different backgrounds and of different ages together. As long as experienced quilters are willing to impart their knowledge and beginning quilters are willing to learn that knowledge, quilting will live on.

Luckily, experienced quilters assert that quilting isn’t as challenging as it seems. “Quilting is fun, and it’s not hard!” Payne exclaims. “If you can sew a quarter-inch seam, you’ve got it made.”

“The talent in this town is amazing,” says Szczutkowski. “I suspect that for beginners, it’s challenging to not feel intimidated by folks who have been quilting for a long time. We try to encourage our new members to be inspired rather than intimidated by more experienced members.”

Quilting, and in fact any creative endeavor, may seem especially intimidating to those who feel that they are too old to be considered beginners; that said, it is never too late to pursue a new hobby.

“When I was growing up, my mother didn’t like to sew because she had to sew our clothes, so I didn’t grow up loving to sew,” Black says. “I didn’t make my first quilt until my son was born
when I was 35, and I didn’t make another one until I was 41 or 42. It’s never too late to find your passion.”

Regardless of your chosen creative pursuit(s), the important thing is to never stop creating. “My personal belief is that every human has an urge to create, and we all find our way to do so in some form or another,” Szczutkowski says. “Creating feeds our souls and nurtures us in a way nothing else can.”

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Photos by LAURA BETH DAVIDSON

A Comprehensive Guide to Cannabidiol

Although CBD (cannabidiol) was legalized in Virginia last March and has since become a staple in many households, it can be difficult to discern fact from fiction when deciding if CBD is right for you and your particular health needs. In an effort to help you make an informed decision, we spoke to three local experts about what CBD is, its benefits and risks, and how to decide which form of CBD is best for you.

What is CBD?

CBD is one of the many cannabinoids found in hemp plants. Cannabinoids are chemical compounds that help connect cannabinoid receptors of the body and brain, thereby stimulating the body’s endocannabinoid system. Stimulation of the endocannabinoid system promotes homeostasis in the body and inhibits inflammation.

It is extremely important to note that CBD and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which is also a cannabinoid, are not the same thing. THC is psychoactive, or mind-altering, whereas CBD is not. “CBD is the non-psychoactive cannabinoid found in hemp that is revolutionizing the health and wellness industry,” says Dr. Kimberly Combs, a Family Practice Physician at Central Virginia Family Physicians. “CBD oil is made by extracting CBD from the cannabis plant, then diluting it with a carrier oil like coconut or hemp seed oil.”

“[Scientists] discovered the endocannabinoid system around 1992,” says Vicki Tipton, owner of The Victorian Hempy, a “CBD Hemp Boutique” on Rivermont Avenue. “We found that the endocannabinoid system was not functioning properly, so we took a look at the DNA in the bone marrow of our ancestors from 200 years ago for insight. It turns out that our ancestors were unknowingly consuming cannabidiol.”

Specifically, according to Tipton, our ancestors grew hemp for rope, oil, paper, and clothing, and the leftover hemp was thrashed and turned into straw or hay. In turn, livestock consumed this CBD-rich straw and hay, and humans consumed the livestock, thus benefiting from the effects of CBD. The discovery of this fact was instrumental in the movement to reintroduce CBD for human consumption.

What are the benefits of taking CBD?

The endocannabinoid system is responsible for connecting receptors through the central nervous and digestive systems, and when this process runs smoothly, the body remains balanced. When this process falters, however, inflammation occurs. “Inflammation is usually the source of things that go wrong in our bodies,” Tipton says. “Some examples include migraines, intestinal issues, esophageal issues, and diverticulitis. One of the things that scientists know for sure is that CBD has anti-inflammatory properties that help regulate the endocannabinoid system and restore homeostasis.”

In addition to reducing inflammation, CBD helps boost the immune system. “CBD is great for people who are recovering from chemotherapy or radiation,” Tipton notes. “Those treatments are specifically designed to bring down the immune system, and CBD taken as an herbal supplement can help boost the immune system and dramatically shorten recovery time for those treatments.”

According to Dr. Combs, CBD is also used to “treat anxiety and depression, alleviate cancer-related symptoms, reduce acne, improve neuroprotective properties, and benefit heart health.” Although more research is needed, other potential benefits of CBD include antipsychotic effects, substance abuse treatment, anti-tumor effects, and diabetes prevention.

Lynchburg resident Shea Gravely began noticing positive changes a couple of days after trying CBD oil for the first time. “I started noticing that a fog had lifted,” she says. “My stress and anxiety started to melt away. I felt like a better, healthier person.”

Gravely adds that after about a month of taking CBD, her severe back and knee pain had diminished significantly—something she had been struggling with since having three children. “I’ve been taking CBD since April, and it has been such a game-changer for me,” she says.

In fact, Shea was so changed by CBD, she started selling products for Green Compass, Inc., a company that specializes in the entire chain of CBD production.

What are the risks of taking CBD?

According to Dr. Combs, there are essentially no risks associated with taking CBD as long as you select a high-quality product. “There really are no risks in taking CBD because it is intended to stimulate your own cannabinoids into action,” Dr. Combs says. “Mild side effects may include diarrhea, fatigue, and changes in appetite, and you should check with your physician before taking CBD if you take medication that contains the cytochrome P450 for metabolism because a harmful interaction could occur.”

It is recommended that people with digestive issues take CBD oil with food to mitigate side effects.

Although CBD regulations are becoming more and more stringent, some products are still potentially risky. “You have to know the paper trail,” Tipton advises. “You have to know how it’s grown and what it’s tested for. Most companies are growing the hemp indoors to ensure quality control. Companies that grow outdoors are regulated by the Department of Agriculture to ensure that the product is certified organic.”

“You can research the company and it needs to have a third-party confirmation, quality assurance and control, and antimicrobial testing,” adds Dr. Combs. “Dr. Oz did a story and he went and purchased 13 random bottles of CBD and only three actually contained CBD. CBD is a little bit expensive and medical insurance isn’t paying, so it is worth looking into the company before spending any money. There are good companies out there like Green Compass, HempWorx, and Ananda Hemp that I know have been very helpful.

It’s extremely important to note there is little scientific research on the effects (both short and long term) of CBD products—but with their popularity, we could see more findings in the coming years.

They are also not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration—at least not yet. Because of this, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services sent a letter to all state industrial hemp processors in July, telling them their department would be treating all hemp-derived extracts as “approved food additives”—which means food safety inspections would be required.

What form of CBD is right for me?

CBD is available as ingestible oil, capsules, and topical cream, and your specific health needs will dictate which form is best for you. Overall, oil is the best fit for most people. “The oil is the most effective way to get CBD into your bloodstream,” Tipton says. “You can usually start feeling the effects of the oil in 15 to 30 minutes. I had a customer tell me the other day that it not only calmed her but also gave her a sense of focus and clarity. The oil is also the most cost-effective option because you can adjust the dosing.”

For those who have had knee or back surgery, those with nerve issues, and those with restless leg syndrome, topicals are usually the best option because they penetrate all seven layers of skin to reach and soothe the affected muscles and tissues.

Capsules are ideal for people who need a specific dose and want to administer just once a day. Because capsules have a slower time release, they help sustain homeostasis for a longer period of time.

The Bottom Line

Whether you decide to incorporate CBD into your health maintenance plan or not, it is undeniable that CBD is a rapidly growing and improving industry with a growing number of supporters. Of course, the most important thing to remember when making any decision that impacts your health is to be entirely informed about and comfortable with any product you decide to use. For Gravely, the decisions to both use and advocate for CBD have been transformative. “I had no intention of being a Green Compass CBD Advocate when I first heard about it, but then I quickly realized that this is such a great product, and people need to know about it,” she says. “It has truly changed my life.”