Provider at Dermatology Consultants discusses the importance of regular skin exams

Skin cancer affects 1 in 5 people in the United States, and according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), one American dies from skin cancer every hour. One of the most important ways to detect and treat skin cancer before it becomes deadly is to visit a dermatologist for a skin exam.

Skin cancers are an abnormal growth of skin cells, which are commonly caused by overexposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun. According to the EPA: “Both UVA and UVB rays can cause damage to your skin. Sunburn is a sign of short-term overexposure, while premature aging and skin cancer are side effects of prolonged UV exposure.”

Although it’s not as common, skin cancers can also form from scars caused by burns or disease, occupational exposure to certain chemicals, and repeated X-ray exposure. People have a higher risk if they have a history of skin cancer, burn easily, have blond or red hair and have a history of excessive sun exposure, which includes being sunburned and using a tanning bed. Additionally, people who have or have had an immune system-suppressing disease, are also at a higher risk.

Kappa M. Peddy, M.D., a provider at Dermatology Consultants for 18 years, recommends an annual skin exam as a method of skin cancer prevention and says these can either be full body or partial.

“Typically, an exam will include a review of your family history of skin cancer and any areas of concern. You can expect to get fully or partially undressed to allow for a thorough examination from head-to-toe. For females, it’s best to wear no make-up, nail polish and have hair down,” she says.

Peddy says the visit does not typically take more than 10 to 20 minutes. If something suspicious is discovered, they will most likely take a biopsy to help diagnose the skin condition.

“Skin exams are important because early detection of skin cancer provides the greatest chance of successful skin cancer treatment,” she says. “Skin cancer is most treatable when discovered early.”

Dermatology Consultants offers a variety of skin cancer services from prevention, to diagnosis and treatment.

“The dermatologists at Dermatology Consultants have a combined 150 years of dermatology experience, unmatched by any other local dermatology practice,” says Peddy. “We are patient-centered, … quality, and offer comprehensive dermatology services that include everything from general and medical dermatology to specialized skin cancer surgery.”

Other ways to prevent skin cancer include avoiding sun exposure at peak times (between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.), avoiding tanning beds, covering up with clothing including a wide-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses when outside, and using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher (re-apply every one-and-a-half to two hours).

Despite skin cancer being the most common type of cancer in the U.S., that doesn’t mean you should always stay indoors.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: “Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun can stimulate production of vitamin D in the skin. Having little or no sun exposure may put a person at risk for low levels of vitamin D, but too much UV exposure from the sun or artificial sources can increase risk of skin cancers and eye disease.”

The key is to find the right balance—we need the sun, but we need to protect ourselves at the same time. The most important aspect of prevention is finding the skin cancer early, meaning it is crucial to contact your dermatologist immediately if you notice anything suspicious on your skin or think you might have skin cancer.

“If left untreated, skin cancers can continue to grow and lead to disfigurement, loss of function and/or become life threatening,” says Peddy.

Dermatology Consultants is open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. They can be contacted by phone at 434-847-6132 or by email: info@lynchburgdermatology.com. Learn more about Dermatology Consultants online at LynchburgDermatology.com.

You don’t have to step inside the doors of an art gallery or museum to view a local artist’s most recent work. Bobby Fuller (aka Bartertown Bobby or Bobby Nowhere) is the person behind the recent creative displays that have been popping up in the downtown area. You may remember Bobby as the Artist Profile in our January/February 2017 issue of Lynchburg Living. He is most well known for his sculptures made from recycled materials.

While it looks like graffiti, the displays are actually temporary. They are made out of large pieces of paper that are pasted to the wall.

As Interest in Downtown Life Grows, a Local Family is Providing the Historic Homes

From HGTV to the “swipe left” feature on Instagram, American culture is more preoccupied than ever before with all things “home renovation.” Indeed, few pleasures are more enjoyable than viewing the dingy “Before” photos of a hapless property, only to then compare them to the glorious “After” images. Lynchburg, with seven substantial historic districts and low cost of living, is the perfect incubator for this phenomenon, and home renovation projects continue to pop up all over the city.

Many locals have turned this trend into a dedicated pursuit, such as Victoria Bartholomew, a real estate agent who rehabilitates rundown properties in Downtown Lynchburg’s historic neighborhoods along with her husband Damien and her dad Dan Hague. Together, the three of them comprise Rise Up Properties, which renovates historic homes and downtown spaces.

Before the “After” Photos

Victoria, like many young professionals, wears a lot of hats; Damien does as well being the owner and operator of Rise Up Climbing on Church Street. And while they enjoy the renovation process, it’s labor intensive and decidedly unglamorous. [Case in point: Damien’s job was to mow the lawn in the midday heat while this interview and photos were taking place.]

Victoria herself is no stranger to the nitty-gritty work that goes on behind the scenes. She recalls using her “16-year-old twiggy arms” to help her dad run wire for his historic home years ago on Washington Street.

Flash forward to fall of 2017, and Victoria and her dad are still working on properties together with Damien joining in about eight years ago. Together, they purchased five properties in Daniel’s Hill, the district that boasts views of the James River with Point of Honor at its southern border. Four homes are on Cabell Street with one on F Street. The plan is to “renovate and resell” them, a distinction Bartholomew makes because “they aren’t ‘flips’ with new paint and flooring.” Instead, they “take it all down to the studs.”

“We Gutted Everything”

A few days before the initial Open House for 129 Cabell Street, the first home of five to be renovated, Victoria is giving us a tour in mid-May.

“This house was very dark because that window was the only window in the dining room,” she says, pointing. “So there was a wall here, there was a wall here—this was a cave in here. So, it was like… Okay! That’s not going to work. And then all the ceilings were dropped, so we had to pull all that stuff down…”

Victoria speaks quietly but quickly, describing all of the changes with sweeping and dismissive gestures. “Obviously,” she concludes, “we gutted everything.”

And that’s not an exaggeration. What sounds daunting to most is par for the course here, and it’s exactly what they love to do. Victoria, Damien, and Hague do the majority of the work on their numerous projects—“You can catch us down here on Cabell Street almost any morning of the week working away,” she says. Collectively, they determined what needed to be done and how they wanted to do it; when certain elements demanded a highly specialized skill, they hired out as needed.

“I am the design leader on the project,” Victoria says. “My dad focuses on the construction plan for the project, and Damien is the one that keeps us in check and also ends up doing a lot of the physical labor (I call him the Light Fixture King). We do all the work on the house and act as general contractor on our own projects.”

Perhaps the most critical decision with 129 Cabell revolved around the existing layout and improving the flow from the living room to the kitchen and dining rooms. This was where Victoria’s “wall here, wall there,” description was given, and seeing the openness and light-filled rooms today makes it hard to imagine the original “cave” she describes.

Yet, Victoria thrives in that in-between of the “Before” and “After,” knowing it’s atypical: “People have a hard time visualizing it,” she says, adding that if they show an unfinished project to prospective buyers, they’re unlikely to come back. That’s okay, because to Victoria “half the fun is picking the finishes and fixtures; I enjoy it.”

After removing some walls, improving the flow and reconfiguring the kitchen, they also had to tackle some major “functional elements” such as all new wiring, plumbing, HVAC and insulation.

“We have to save the historic character but also update it to a standard we would all want to live in today,” Victoria explains.

Renovating essentially boils down to finding a way to merge these modern amenities with the character and unique elements of a home’s original style. In 129 Cabell, the real character exudes from the exposed chimney that runs through the center of the home, providing a stunning focal point while also delineating the front living room from the dining area.

“We are big fans of new wiring, adding air conditioning, insulating walls, but you better believe I love old windows, original wood floors and any type of wood work,” says Victoria. “We will go to really great lengths to save those.”

Other unique elements they preserved include the original claw foot tub in an upstairs bathroom, the fireplace mantel, the detailed scrolling and paneling woodwork on the staircase, which they painted, and the original windows, which they cleaned up.

As a real estate agent, Victoria knows today’s buyers and the amenities they prioritize. So, 129 Cabell Street was updated to include an en suite with a tiled, walk-in shower, a true rarity in historic homes. Victoria also worked in open shelving and exposed brick for the kitchen to stay on trend. And one of her favorite elements is choosing the distinctive light fixtures—especially ones that will make a strong statement.

A Love for Historic Homes

So, considering the intense labor involved, why historic homes in Lynchburg? For one, Victoria has lived here since she was eight years old, saying, “My family is here because of old houses. I believe the ‘youngest’ house I’ve ever lived in was [from] 1921, and so it’s a family thing—it’s in my blood.” She studied Architecture and Urban Planning at Virginia Tech, an experience that “provided extremely useful lessons in community development and working within existing constraints to plan for the future.” Upon graduating, Victoria saw more historic homes per capita in Lynchburg than in most other cities; with so much selection in style, size, and age, she saw an opportunity.

“With historic homes, there is no one exactly alike,” she says. “Walking into every historic home I’ve ever been into really keeps me hooked; there are so many possibilities and often so much potential.”

In recent years, she has become increasingly devoted to the downtown sector, volunteering with various organizations and focusing on renovating several homes. Now, she says, “We are certainly seeing an increased draw to those areas. People want to walk downtown, live in diverse communities, not live in a ‘cookie cutter house,’… and be surrounded by beauty—the historic districts offer all of this currently at a lower price than many other parts of the city.”

She says renovating historic homes is “genuinely a passion project,” adding, “I had many clients looking for this type of house, which is why we decided to renovate and resell, because we knew there were buyers and had nothing to show them. What a great thing to be able to renovate a vacant long-dilapidated house and turn it back into a contributing structure!”

For now, they’re certainly doing their part—129 Cabell is officially on the market, and Rise Up Properties is already fast at work on 117 and 119 Cabell, the next two homes in queue.

So You Want a Fixer-Upper?

Pros:
• Initial purchase costs will be lower on a home that needs work done
• You control final colors, fixtures, and changes to meet your preference

Cons:
• Most projects will take a large amount of time and cash (versus a turnkey property purchased with a conventional loan)
• Historic homes require city approval of exterior changes
• Unforeseen problems typically arise that may stall progress
• Managing the timetable can be tricky (electrical before drywall, etc.)

Victoria’s Caution:
“It takes a lot of work and money, and you have to love it.”

Age: 50… (mumble) | Title: Design Whisperer

How early in your life did you discover a love for art?
In second grade, I was drawing on my report card cover and the teacher said, “You are an artist!” It resonated with me. Every year after that it seemed I was the class artist. My goals were to be a fashion designer and the President of the United States. At least everyone would look good! Ha!

But you sort of strayed from it a little bit?
I was in a creative writing class in junior high and that stirred my imagination, giving me a love for writing. In high school, I took a journalism class and eventually became the editor of the high school paper. Naturally, I wanted to be a journalist and while on a college tour of Eastern New Mexico University, I saw the PBS station and knew right then that is what I wanted to do. I began my broadcasting career in college at 17 years old, spending every waking hour and weekends hanging out at the TV station and learning about all the equipment.

It didn’t take long for art to find you again, though—even in the journalism field.
While I was majoring in broadcasting, I minored in art. While I was working at the PBS station as a student, the art director left and I asked to fill that position. I was directing a television show at the same time. It was the best of two loves.

You spent the bulk of your career in Florida. How did you end up there?
After I graduated, family matters brought us to Orlando. I got a job right away at WOFL-FOX35 working in master control. In 1983, broadcast engineering was largely male dominated, so I was the only woman in the department for four years. When the station got a new graphics system, I went for the position as the first on-air electronic graphic designer… and got it! It was so new and cutting edge. I had the opportunity to travel and learn new ways to bring moving graphics to the small screen. I was one of the first women in Orlando to be in an on-air designer position. After 13 years at FOX, I applied for the Art Director position at the CBS station in Orlando and worked at WKMG-TV6 for the next 13 years. I loved working in broadcasting as an artist. So much creativity and learning on the job with my crew.

While you were caught up in graphic design at work, did you focus on any other types of art at home?
I really had a busy life with a demanding career and two sons involved with school and sports. I was always quick sketching at work to show how animations would move or how the anchors would stand next to graphics, so that still kept me involved with the tactile experience of pen to paper. It wasn’t until my boys got closer to graduating high school when I started to paint at home. I had to design very tightly for television and I wanted to loosen up and have fun and get messy. I was slapping paint on the canvas and getting back to my roots. I joined a group of artists in Casselberry where we exchanged themed art journals and studied “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron. Creating in those sketchbooks inspired me and taught me how to work with different mediums. I created a sketchbook of caricatures of my family saying wacky things for the Brooklyn Library and submitted it for their permanent collection.

Where did your career take you next?
After my sons graduated, my husband and I moved to Steubenville, Ohio. I had never been to such an industrial area in my entire life. My eyes drooled with all the machinery and the architecture in the area. Very exciting. As it turns out, the newspaper was looking for a graphic designer and I got the job! I believe in synchronicity and the publisher came in one day holding up a caricature map of a city and asked, “Who can illustrate something like this?” After working on those sketchbooks, I had honed my skills and I raised my hand. I just finished my fifth caricature map with the Fun Map of Lynchburg. It is now a 1000-piece puzzle.

We love the Lynchburg puzzle! How long did it take to complete?
It took me three months to draw everything. When I am creating a piece of art, I first see it in my mind. I would go to sleep and dream of drawing and placing everything.

How did you decide whom to feature?
With a timeframe in mind, I went to everyone I could get to in Lynchburg and sold spots on the map. Some of the people I included because I needed folks to model for me. My friend’s children, my art friends and, of course, my husband is fishing in the front.

What goes in to designing and sketching each building?
I sketch out the whole lay of the land on paper. Where the river goes, where the mountains will be, where the different areas of town will be located. I take pictures of the buildings and the people so I see their features. I also use Google and Bing maps to get placement of buildings in relation to each other. I create each drawing in its own file and drop it into the big map so I can move it around if needed. The main map gets to be about three gigs. I’ve pushed it to four gigs, but Photoshop starts balking.

While the caricature maps are your “bread and butter,” you love experimenting with other kinds of art. What else keeps you busy?
I love pastels, acrylics, colored pencils and encaustic wax. Encaustic is the oldest form of painting. Beeswax and resin are heated to a certain temperature and pure pigment is then added. “Encaustics” originates from the Greek word enkaustikos. I started painting with encaustics on the back of cigar boxes. I like being outside painting nature and street scenes with pastels. I am a consummate learner and recently started painting with acrylics.

And you’ve enjoyed getting to know other artists in town in a very creative way.
I started an altered art journal group here in Lynchburg because I need the camaraderie of other artists. We meet once a month and swap journals and teach each other our different methods of painting with all kinds of mediums and tools. My current journal’s theme is “naked.” This group is so creative and I love the surprise of what everyone has created when we meet. So fun.

As an artist, what inspires you to paint or create?
I take my camera everywhere I go and take pictures of whatever inspires me. Tight shots of mushrooms, bugs and flowers are so wonderful. I like it when a little bug sneaks into my photo and I don’t see it until I download my photos into my computer. Whenever my husband and I travel, I get some interesting phone photos as I take pictures of whatever we’re passing. It’s usually a “look at that!” as we’re zooming by. I start thinking about my photos at night when I’m drifting off to sleep and what I can create from them. I’ve put my street scenes on earrings, in paintings and on cigar boxes. Inspiration comes from taking a walk in the neighborhood and seeing the asphalt cracks after the rain. Learning new techniques with different mediums makes me question how I can use them in my next journal entry or painting. I see faces everywhere and humor always inspires me.

What advice do you have for other aspiring artists?
Learn the basics of your craft. Know what your paint or medium does and how to use it. Ask questions. Make friends with lots of other artists. Take classes. Paint or draw every day. Go to sleep with a design challenge and then dream of the solution. Keep files of inspiration. Watch videos. Go to movies. Listen to music and podcasts. Read. Be curious and open. Push past your fear. Don’t judge.

What do you like best about being an artist in the Hill City?
I find inspiration in the natural beauty that surrounds us. I enjoy the company of some very smart, talented creative folks and we learn from one another. There are some exciting art and creative experiences offered here in Lynchburg and more places are opening up for local artists to share their work with the public.

How can readers get in touch with you?
My website is www.lillianbrue.com. I am also on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter as Lillian Brue art.

Vote Today
Visit lynchburgliving.com today to cast your vote in two of our very popular contests!

Nominations are now open for the Best Of Lynchburg Awards—recognizing your favorite businesses, restaurants, destinations and more. Voting ends on September 28. The results will be published in the January/February 2019 issue of Lynchburg Living.

Voting for our Giving Back Awards continues through July 30. Select the nonprofit you think should be recognized for its contributions to the Central Virginia region. The winning nonprofits will be featured in our November/
December issue.

Feedback
From the text to the photography and beyond, the Lynchburg Living team works hard to make sure our story subjects are well represented. We appreciated hearing this positive feedback from our May/June issue’s Artist Profile, Kathy Cudlin:

“I just wanted to tell you how thrilled I am! … The layout is just beautiful, and you all picked exactly the photos I loved the best from the photo shoot, so thank you, thank you! The magazine is always truly gorgeous, anyway, and I am so pleased to be in it.”

Send us an e-mail to shelley@lynchburgmag.com. Correspondents must identify themselves; names may be withheld on request. Lynchburg Living may edit or condense.

Headlines from the Region’s Parks and Beyond

Kayaking for Kids

New this year at Ivy Creek Park’s Clemmons Lake—children as young as 8 years old can sign up for kayaking or canoeing lessons. The Lynchburg Parks and Rec employees who oversee those lessons are all certified by the American Canoe Association. Once your child knows the ropes, you can take the whole family out for a day on the water! Visit lynchburgparksandrec.com/our-parks/ivy-creek-park to learn more.

Get Some Air!

After a grassroots effort led by skaters and local business owners, the Rotary Centennial Riverfront Skatepark on Ninth Street has reopened to the public. The previous owner, Amazement Square, transferred the deed to the city earlier this year. This 14,000-square-foot complex includes a street course and a bowl for skaters to improve their skills. Hours are subject to weather.

Trailing Off

Looking for a new path to take? Check out the New London Tech Trails in Bedford County, located at the New London Business and Technology Center off Route 460. Runners, hikers and bikers can enjoy 6.5 miles of multi-use trails on more than 500 acres—all created by the Bedford County Parks and Rec team. The system is a great “power hour lunch” for park employees, but it’s open for the public to use too!

A Whole New Level

You may not realize it—but you now live next to “America’s East Coast Mountain Biking Capital.” Virginia’s Blue Ridge is now an official Silver-Level Ride Center™, a designation from the International Mountain Bicycling Association. There are only 15 Silver-Level Ride Centers in the world and one on the East Coast. Lee Wilhelm, Chair of Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge, calls the designation a “game changer.”

Melodies and Memories

Listen out for some sweet sounds this summer at Riverside Park. In early May, Kids’ Haven and the Junior League of Lynchburg partnered together to install a Weenotes instrument that children can play. It’s dedicated to every child who has lost a loved one, which aligns with the mission of Kids’ Haven. The Junior League helped establish the nonprofit 20 years ago to raise awareness and provide comfort for grieving children in the community.

Mark Your Calendars July/August

Don’t let the heat keep you on the couch this summer! Check out these active events in the Hill City that will get your blood pumping.

Down Dog at the Water Dog
July 28 & Aug. 25, 11:30 – 12:30 p.m.

A workout doesn’t sound so bad when it’s accompanied by a tasty craft beer! The Water Dog is partnering with Yoga Goodness Studio for these fun, refreshing yoga sessions. One brew of your choice is included with your $12 admission. Love beer but aren’t sure about yoga? This class is perfect for beginners and is offered monthly through the end of the year. Register at yogagoodnesslynchburg.com.

The Great Cardboard Boat Race
Aug. 11, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Put your design and engineering expertise to the test with this fun event for all ages at Miller Park Pool. The challenge is to paddle your vessel to the finish line—but don’t be intimidated by failure. There’s also the Titanic Award for the “Most Dramatic Sinking.” Cost is $10/boat. Register by August 9 at lynchburgparksandrec.org.

Love. Pets. Match. Tennis Tournament
Aug. 31 – Sept. 2

Practice your serve and perfect your backhand—then show off your skills at Oakwood Country Club for a good cause. Proceeds from this weekend-long event will benefit the pets at the Lynchburg Humane Society. For registration and sponsorship information, visit lynchburghumane.org to learn more.

Find more events in our Calendar on page 136!

Local Openings & Closings

Hello! to new bakery truck, Where the Sweet Things Are.

Hello! to a brick and mortar location of Mama Crockett’s Cider Donuts, opening soon on Fifth Street.

Hello! to Eden and Vine, a floral and gift shop on Forest Road.

Goodbye to the Patriotic Peacock boutique/art studio on Main Street.

Hello! to Harry’s Bakery and Catering on Jefferson Street.

Hello! to a new location of Joe Bean’s in Altavista.

Goodbye to T&E Catering’s Campbell Avenue location.
(But hello! to a new location very soon.)

Hello! to Skyline Rooftop Bar, William and Henry Steakhouse, and Marigold Coffee and Wine Bar, all under the roof of the new Virginian Hotel.

Goodbye to Altus Chocolate on Main Street.

Behind the Scenes

After keeping in touch with the staff at the Virginian Hotel for over a year, we were thrilled to finally take a Lynchburg Living team on a tour of the finished project on May 22.
Writer Suzanne Ramsey, photographer Heather Kidd and managing editor Shelley Basinger were escorted through every main room of the hotel by general manager Dennis Marcinik and catering/sales manager Shelley Simpson.

Marcinik and Simpson took their time and made sure to stop and elaborate on different art displays, décor decisions and much more. There were also plenty of side conversations about the building’s history. A big thanks to the Virginian staff for their hospitality!

(Also, we are working on a plan to make sure copies of Lynchburg Living are always on hand for out-of-town visitors at this local destination!)

Read our full feature about the Virginian on page 45.