Mark Your Calendar for These Regional Races

November 28
Turkey Trot for HumanKind
5K Run & Walk
E.C. Glass High School,
Lynchburg
8 a.m.

December 7
Reindeer Run 2 Miler
Hydaway Outdoor Recreation Center
936 Camp Hydaway Road, Lynchburg
9 a.m.

February 1
Arctic 5K
Hydaway Outdoor Recreation Center
936 Camp Hydaway Road, Lynchburg
9 a.m.

March 7
King of the Mountain (1-mile hike)
Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre
4000 Candlers Mountain Road, Lynchburg
11:30 a.m.

April 25
Run 4 Their Lives
Liberty University Indoor Track, Liberty Mountain Drive
Time: TBA
Benefits Freedom 4/24

For more information about each of these races,
visit the Lynchburg Road Runners page on the
Run Sign Up website: runsignup.com/Club/Races/493.

Health and wellness podcast recommendations

For those on the go (and let’s face it, that’s everyone these days), it’s hard to find the time to sit down and absorb the latest self-help book. Podcasts are perfect for multi-taskers—you can drive, run, or even clean the house while you learn. Here are a few of our top picks.

10% Happier with Dan Harris
National TV news broadcaster Dan Harris promotes the benefits of meditation—something he turned to after having a panic attack live on air in 2004. Harris welcomes guests who talk about happiness, mindfulness, and how to maintain balance in your life.
Learn more: www.tenpercent.com/podcast

Rethinking Weight Loss
Whether you’re struggling with your weight from a recent gain or have been fighting the battle since childhood, this NPR podcast is for you. It explains the science of weight and how our bodies lose it. Step away from the fads and let this informative podcast put you on a road to body acceptance.
Learn more: www.npr.org/podcasts/510339/weight-loss

Ali on the Run
Ali on the Run is a great tool for runners of all levels—from experts to beginners. Host Ali Feller talks to runners on all ends of the spectrum about what keeps them going day after day. You’ll also learn some applicable life lessons too.
Learn more: www.aliontherunblog.com/tag/podcast/

Get Fit Guy
Host Brock Armstrong is here to help men “rise above your former self.” His goal is to give his fellow men the fitness tools they need while also maintaining a healthy balance between athletic performance and an enjoyable life.
Learn more: www.quickanddirtytips.com/get-fit-guy

at Lynchburg’s Riverside Park

Take care of your body and your mind with a hike on the Alpine Trail, the first dedicated hiking trail in Lynchburg. The Alpine Trail was built during the 1920s and ’30s when visitors could cross the James River onto “YMCA” island, which is now known as Treasure Island.

This secluded path winds through the steep, wooded hillside of Riverside Park off Rivermont Avenue—offering spectacular views of the James River. Nature lovers will also adore the frequent sightings of woodland birds, including migrating hawks.

Restrictions: Since the slope of the hill drops almost vertically onto the railroad tracks hidden below, this trail is not recommended for small children or individuals with disabilities. Strollers and bicycles are prohibited.

Where to Enter: Look for a marked entrance sign just past the Riverside Park Overlook. An entrance to the other end of the trail is found near the Fink Deck Truss Bridge.

Nearby Attractions: Visitors to Riverside Park can also enjoy the Overlook (an area overlooking the James River with historic stone walls), tennis and basketball courts, playground equipment, sprayground (open seasonally), a transportation exhibit featuring a train locomotive and the Fink Deck Truss Bridge.

Length: 1 mile
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

Take 30
Looking for a quick workout to fit into your very busy schedule? Align Athletics has you covered. The fitness center, located in New London, offers two versions of its core group classes: Align 60 and Align 30. While Align 60 is more intense and requires previous experience, Align 30 is a great option for those who want an intense, effective workout… and also want to get out the door quickly. Find more details at alignathletics.com or on Facebook.

A Legendary Workout
The YMCA of Central Virginia is offering a new class specifically for people over the age of 50: CrossFit Legends. Don’t let the word “CrossFit” scare you away—this course puts movement and mobility first, CrossFit second. Participants learn how to minimize the side effects of aging, restore their general physical capacity, re-learn movements, and ultimately regain control of their bodies. Learn more at ymcacva.org under the Programs tab.

Peakland Pilates Transformation
There are new leaders at Peakland Pilates—and Celeste Sedlar and Jenna Chalk are starting off their journey with a bang! The duo has unveiled new classes and has restructured the studio to maximize space for barre, dance and TRX classes. Check out their class schedule at peaklandpilates.com or visit their Facebook page.

Kratos Said Knock You Out
The Forest-based Kratos Fitness has rolled out a high-intensity, boxing-inspired workout program called KnockOut. Try their Krank KO class and you’ll burn calories and shed fat by utilizing heavy bags, cycling and more. Another option is KnockOut Boxing and Conditioning. The atmosphere alone will get you energized—KnockOut workouts are accompanied by blood pumping music and lighting. Learn more at kratosfitnessstudio.com.

Age: 45 | Title: Songwriter

Lynchburg Living Editor Shelley Basinger: Jamie, your songwriting talents have received national attention over the past five years or so. How long have you been writing?
Jamie Trent: I’ve been writing for 30 years. I wasn’t an outcast growing up, but I definitely was artsy, more introverted. I expressed myself in ways such as writing poetry and found my niche. I wrote an awful lot of bad, bad poems back then!

SB: After high school, you joined the military—which laid the foundation for one of your most well-known songs, “Bullet Holes in the Sky.” Why did you decide to enlist?
JT: I joined the service and served during the Desert Storm conflict in ’92. While I was exposed to the conflict, I never served on the front lines. Growing up I was a “military brat”—my dad served 30 years in the Navy so we traveled around the country. Joining the service is sort of what I thought you did, especially if you didn’t have an identity. I spent four years in the military and it helped get my head on straight and put things in perspective.

SB: Where did life take you after the service?
JT: I went to college and started singing a lot, mainly private weddings and parties, which paid my way through school. Then, after college, I started making some connections in the songwriting industry. I met some folks in Nashville who thankfully took me under their wing and taught me how to be a better writer. Along the way, I continued to hone my craft.

SB: When did you feel like you got your first big “break”?
JT: I had two or three cuts with indie artists. As a non-signed songwriter you really have to cut your teeth with not-so-well-known artists. Then about five years ago I wrote a song for my wife called “The Outer Banks and You.”

That’s sort of our little safe haven, and I wrote it for our anniversary. I had no intentions of pitching it because I thought it might be too regionally based.

But I did end up sending it to a guy I work with in Nashville and he said, “Man, that is the best one you’ve ever written.” He set me on the track to pitch it to chambers of commerce and real estate companies. It wasn’t 24 hours later that Southern Shores Realty called me and said they wanted to sign me on the spot to use the song in their national advertising campaign. That was a big win for me not only monetarily speaking, but also street cred—people sort of took me seriously then. That’s when I started hearing from others in the industry wanting to do co-writes. You just never know what songs stick.

SB: Over the past few years, you have focused on writing songs about veterans. Why did you choose that niche?
JT: My wife and I were sitting in our garage two or three years ago and she asked me, “Once our careers are behind us, how do you want to be remembered?” I was sort of taken aback by the question. I wasn’t so concerned about “being remembered” as I was about being a part of something that was bigger than myself. It got me thinking. I love to write, I love veterans initiatives… then I came across Songwriting With:Soldiers. This organization pairs combat vets suffering from PTSD and other traumatic brain injuries with professional songwriters. They write songs about their experiences. Through that organization I met some incredible songwriters (Radney Foster, Darden Smith, Jay Clementi, Gary Nicholson). I really started forming a special relationship with Mary Gauthier, who I ended up co-writing “Bullet Holes in the Sky” with.

SB: Mary Gauthier has quite a resume!
JT: She does indeed. She is a Grammy-nominated artist with song cuts by Blake Shelton, Tim McGraw, and Jimmy Buffett. Her songs have been heard on shows like “Nashville” and “Yellowstone.” She also has two TED talks.

SB: What inspired the lyrics of “Bullet Holes in the Sky”?
JT: Mary sent me a text one evening when she was backstage at the Grand Ole Opry in the “Johnny Cash” room. She was getting ready to do a show. She said she had a chorus for a song, but needed “the movie” for the song. Right then and there I sent her a line, “It’s the 11th of November in Nashville, Tennessee, free breakfast at the Waffle House if I show ’em my ID.” At that point, we had “the movie.” She calls herself a “midwife” for songs. I had to laugh when she said this song was like a child in the birth canal and we just had to bring it into the world.

As for the inspiration behind the song, many folks—civilians and military—have mixed emotions about serving and the sacrifices we have to make. It’s not a question of being patriotic, just the internal conflicts that we feel sometimes.

SB: Were you surprised by the press the album and song received? The album was featured in the LA Times and nominated for a Grammy.
JT: Short answer, YES. But more importantly, it gave me HOPE. With more than 22 veteran suicides per day, we need to continue to find ways to help our soldiers and their families. If songs can do that, which I believe they can, then this album and song gives me hope that they are reaching the masses.

SB: More recently, in mid-September, you decided to use a song you wrote two years ago to help some residents affected by Hurricane Dorian. That turned a lot of heads as well.
JT: A couple of years ago my wife, Tammy, and daughter, Kardigan, and myself actually spent an entire week in Ocracoke. Having vacationed in the Outer Banks for over 35 years, I had never actually spent a week on that island. It was like no place I had ever been. I loved it and knew the minute my feet hit the beach that I had to write a song about it. I partnered with a songwriter friend of mine, David Kent, to finish the song. (As a side note, David landed a #1 hit for Blake Shelton’s song, “Austin.”) Once I heard about and saw all the destruction that had occurred from Dorian, I felt a calling to do more. So I decided to sell the song through iTunes and Amazon Music outlets and donate 100% of the proceeds to help with the relief efforts. I am partnering with The Outer Banks Community Foundation (OBCF.org or OBXdisaster.org). This was just my little way of trying to give back.

SB: That’s incredible. What’s next for you?
JT: As a songwriter, it’s all about write, write, write, re-write. Continue to get better. Continue to make connections. For me, it’s therapy and to be quite honest, it’s fun. I realized many years ago that I didn’t have the patience or talent for golf. So many of my Saturday mornings you will find me doing FaceTime or Skype co-writes instead of playing 18 holes.

I’m still writing some songs about the Outer Banks too, actually finishing up one now. I want to continue being involved in the local veteran community. I held a fundraiser at the American Legion three years ago, raised about $20,000. I’m looking to do a golf tournament next year.

SB: Do you have any advice for aspiring songwriters?
JT: A very established multi-#1 hit songwriter once told me, “Writing to the radio will make you a liar.” You are just going to come up short and you are never going have anything new to say. Someone once interviewed Bruce Springsteen and asked him the same question. His answer was, “If you are writing a song and 1+1 equals 2, you have failed.” That is about as brutally honest as it gets. My personal advice would be to write as much as you can. Work with co-writers. Make connections. The songwriting community is filled with folks on every skill level. But to work your way up the ranks, you have to get in the game.

SB: How can readers get in touch with you?
JT: Find me on Facebook, Jamie Trent/Songwriter. Or visit Reverbnation.com/obx.

Look What I Found!

Staring blankly at that long holiday shopping list? Don’t fret—we’ve got you covered.

On the following pages in the 14th Annual Look What I Found! Holiday Gift Guide, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite local finds—from unique toys for the kids to glamorous accessories for mom.

Enjoy our Virtual Gift Guide below! You can zoom in to read all the details!

BEHIND THE SCENES
While a high of 89 degrees didn’t really get us into the spirit, Mikael Blido’s delicious treats sure did.

On September 21, this issue’s Taste contributor invited us to his Forest home to show off three baked goods. He prepared everything beforehand and had it ready to go. (One reason why we love Mikael!)

Photos of the festive bread and cookies in the sunroom were easy; photographer RJ Goodwin used a chair to get an overhead view. Mikael provided plenty of fresh holly to add a subtle holiday touch.

Then, we took the cake inside to get straight on shots. It took a little finagling to make the white Christmas lights cooperate in the back corner but with RJ’s expertise, a warm glow behind the masterpiece was achieved.

And you better believe the team chowed down when the last photo was snapped. ’Tis the season!

Learn how to make Mikael’s cake and other goodies on page 92.

Local Openings & Closings
Hello! to a new location of Ford Mays Wealth in Wyndhurst.
Hello! to Peaksview Brewery and Games on Timberlake Road, set to open this winter.
Hello! to Gentleman John’s Classic Barber Shop on Main Street.
Goodbye to Phase 2 on Odd Fellows Road. The venue’s final concert is Nov. 2.
Hello! to seafood restaurant Crab Du Jour on Wards Road.
Hello! to Rolled Cold Creamery on Main Street.
Goodbye to vegan restaurant Urbavore on Church Street.
Hello! to Gilded on Church Street, featuring gifts, cards and coffee.
Hello! to Three Roads Brewing Company (formerly Third Street Brewing Company in Farmville). The brewery will open a location on Court Street in early 2020.
Hello! to Starr Hill Brewery on Main Street, opening early next year.

Mark Your Calendars November/December
Downtown Lynchburg
Tree Lighting
Nov. 30, 4 – 7 p.m.
Officially kick the Christmas season into high gear with this second annual event at the Craddock Terry Hotel. This also marks the beginning of the holiday lights on the Bluffwalk—grab a hot drink and take in the sights as you do some shopping!

Christmas at Hydaway
Dec. 5-7, 6 p.m.
Come get into the spirit at Camp Hydaway! Enjoy an outdoor walk through Christmas scenes and lights while enjoying hot cocoa and cookies. There will also be bonfires, photo booths, Christmas crafts and more. Better yet—it’s free!

A Holly Jolly Christmas Home Tour
Dec. 8, 1 – 5 p.m.
Five historical Bedford homes will be covered in Christmas spirit thanks to five local garden clubs. They range from “The First Lady of Bedford Avenue” built in 1866 to a Spanish-style home built in 1930. Stop by the Bedford Welcome Center during the tour for refreshments and walk through the Festival of Trees. Purchase tickets at the Welcome Center.

Happy Holidays with the LSO
Dec. 13, 7:30 p.m.
Sit back celebrate the most wonderful time of the year with the Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra. You’ll hear holiday favorites—from beloved hymns to music from Disney’s Frozen. Get your tickets early because last year’s 1st annual event sold out! Find tickets at academycenter.org.

Lynchburg’s “largest art auction” will help high schoolers pursue their dreams

By Teresa Davis | Photos by Bryant Haskins

What happens when a community comes together because of a shared love of art and a united passion to help local students? The result is Art for Achievement—a fundraising effort that combines the talents of dozens of local artists to raise money for Lynchburg Beacon of Hope, a nonprofit focused on helping students attain post-secondary education.

While the grand finale for Art for Achievement is a beautiful formal gala at the Virginian Hotel on Nov. 9, the work to create the centerpiece—a giant mosaic display of artwork—began many months ago.

Lynchburg Beacon of Hope is known for its cornhole tournament fundraiser each year, which is a grand success. But this year they wanted to add another event to their calendar. Inspired by a fundraiser they saw in another state that involved the creation of a huge wall of local artwork, Beacon of Hope’s board members creatively and collectively started working on a plan for a similar art-focused fundraiser and gala. They asked the Lynchburg Art Club for help.

The Lynchburg Art Club was founded in 1895 by Bernhard Gutman, who at the time was the supervisor of art for the Lynchburg Public School System.

To this day, members of the Art Club create scholarships for local students who are planning to attend art school after graduation. Collaborating with Beacon of Hope for Art for Achievement only expands on that mission; they were thrilled to help.

The Art Club didn’t want any financial gain from the project, specifying that all money raised be given directly to Beacon of Hope. They only wanted exposure of their artwork in the community.

Members of the Art Club were asked to create Lynchburg-focused paintings on 10’x10’ canvases to contribute to the giant mosaic. But you didn’t have to be a part of the club—young artists from both city high schools as well as other talented community members contributed canvases as well.

“The enthusiasm about this project has been tremendous right from the start,” said Kathy Busch, the Art Club’s past president and current committee member. “We wanted 100 10’x10’ canvases, but eventually 130 were purchased.”

The painted canvases were placed on multiple display panels, 20 per panel, creating the multi-piece mural wall. When the display boards were placed side by side, the 130 canvases created a larger-than-life display of art.

Local artist and Art Club member Lisa Richards painted three canvases in the mosaic, and she donated two larger floral paintings for the gala’s live auction. She has enjoyed seeing the community be so engaged by an art-focused event.

“This is a great way to help the students to be able to achieve their goals,” Lisa said, adding that it’s also a great way for local artists’ work to be seen, too.

Ted Batt, director of visual arts at the Academy Center of the Arts, donated two sculptures to the live auction and also helped install the mosaic.

“This event just represents the really strong and vibrant community of artists we have here in Lynchburg,” he said.

The mission of the event also hits close to home. “I wholeheartedly believe in it, having two high school students myself. Making sure every student has the chance to start out on the right foot,” he said, adding that his son is currently attending Central Virginia Community College and his daughter plans to do the same, then transfer to Virginia Commonwealth University.

The staff and supporters of Beacon of Hope, which was established in 2011, work diligently to inspire and assist students who are currently attending Lynchburg City Schools in pursuing post-secondary education, including two- and four-year colleges, military enlistment, trade schools, technical degrees, and industry certifications.

The nonprofit has nestled itself alongside Lynchburg’s public schools. Its purpose is to focus intently on working with students in the 9th through 12th grades, helping each student prepare a plan for their life after graduation.

However, they also work with younger students to ignite a spark of excitement. Beginning in Kindergarten, students are entered into Beacon of Hope’s Kids 2 College program, where they are taught to start dreaming about whether they want to attend college and what they want to be when they grow up. In 8th grade, students participate in Beacon of Hope’s College Readiness Symposium and are given the opportunity to visit a nearby college campus.

Inside Heritage and E.C. Glass high schools there are Beacon of Hope Future Centers. These labs create a safe space where students can seek guidance on post-secondary planning and much more. This year, a third lab was established at the Amherst campus of CVCC.

But one of the most exciting accomplishments of Beacon of Hope, and the purpose behind the Art for Achievement fundraiser, is the Stay Close, Go Far Promise Scholarship. Last year, Beacon of Hope created this scholarship to help bridge the gap between the amount of money students could obtain from FAFSA® (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), grants, and scholarships… and the actual cost of tuition.

When the dollar amount of financial assistance falls short, Beacon of Hope has promised that any student who has attended Lynchburg City Schools for four years (from 9th through 12th grades) can receive what they call a “gap scholarship” to help with the costs of attending CVCC or other area schools. Scholarship amounts vary depending on where the student wants to enroll.

This Stay Close, Go Far Promise was made to help students over a five-year span. More than $5 million dollars has been raised for this scholarship fund by local individuals, businesses, and foundations, and due to the program’s large popularity with students, Beacon of Hope is seeking to raise $2 million more.

According to Joan Foster, who serves on Beacon of Hope’s Board of Directors and on the fundraiser’s development committee, the goal of the Art for Achievement fundraiser on Nov. 9 is to raise money to be used towards this promise.

“We are truly coming together and working together collectively for the future of our students, and for the future of our community,” she said. “That’s a good day in Lynchburg when two groups can come together to do that.”

This new and exciting partnership with the Art Club has given Joan plenty of hope.

Art For Achievement
Saturday, Nov. 9, 6 – 9 p.m.
The Virginian Hotel, Lynchburg
Tickets: $50
Live music, cocktails, canapes. Live and silent auction of local artwork, including canvases.

The Ripple Effect Continues
Charlene Morell, a local woman featured in our September/October issue for her living organ donation that sparked four others, wrote to Editor Shelley Basinger about what she described as the “amazing” article: “[Shannon] did a beautiful job capturing the full story and all that God wrote into our lives.”

And even better? One of the other donors mentioned in the article, Crysti, received a call at her job from someone who read our story and wanted to learn more about living organ donation for a loved one. “I know God is going to continue doing great things through this,” continued Charlene.

Welcome to Lynchburg
Mary Smith picked up a copy of the September/October issue at Neighbor’s Place: “Just wanted to say, being new to the area, Lynchburg Living is really great!”

Thanks for reading, Mary! We truly aspire for our magazine to be a resource for readers—from natives to newcomers.

Small World!
Upon reading our feature about Stanhope Johnson, Carolyn Gills Frazier, author of Stanhope, chronologically, thanked us for a “lovely and lively” article on Lynchburg’s renowned architect.

She also let us in on an interesting connection found within the pages of the September/October issue: “The articles on Stanhope and Farmville have ties to each other. Stanhope designed the Weyanoke Hotel. Stanhope’s niece, Helen Bond Reveley, whom you quoted, is the mother of Taylor Reveley IV, who is the president of Longwood.”
Who knew? Thanks for sharing Carolyn!