Local Dermatologists Debunk 9 Sunscreen Myths

Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the most preventable risk factor for all types of skin cancer, including melanoma. With hot weather in full swing, sunscreen should be a staple in your routine whenever you or your family spends time outside.

However, there are a lot of myths and misconceptions surrounding sunscreen, when it should be worn, and how often it should be applied. Several local dermatologists put these myths to rest, so you can be informed about your sunscreen choices this summer.

Myth: “I don’t need to wear sunscreen.”
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends that everyone (all skin types) wear sunscreen, at least an SPF of 30, to protect their skin from the sun’s damage. The higher the SPF, the higher the protection from the UVB rays. Dr. Kappa Meadows of Dermatology Consultants recommends a broad spectrum sunscreen to her patients to protect against both UVA and UVB rays. “Because the sun is classified as a carcinogen, just like nicotine is, it’s recommended to protect your skin so that you won’t develop cancer,” she says.

Myth: “One good burn each season will protect me.”
There is no scientific data to support the claim that a base tan or burn will protect your skin from future damage. “Every bit of sun damage increases your risk for skin cancer,” says Dr. Sonni Carlton of Dermatology Consultants. “Sunburns are definitely a known risk factor for melanoma.” According to Dr. Meadows, a base tan will give you a protection equivalent to an SPF of 3, so you should apply sunscreen for optimal protection.

Myth: “All sunscreens are the same.”
“All sunscreens are certainly not the same,” says Dr. Kristen Kuk of Ridgeview Dermatology. “One way to categorize sunscreens is into chemical and physical sunscreens, which have different properties. Chemical sunscreens work by absorbing and essentially deactivating ultraviolet rays as they reach the skin. The advantage of chemical sunscreens is that they are more easily made to be colorless and odorless, which makes them more appealing to most. However, they are also the most likely to cause allergic reactions. Physical or barrier sunscreens most commonly contain titanium and or zinc oxide. They work by reflecting ultraviolet radiation and therefore often have the more opaque appearance that is less popular, particularly in facial sunscreens. However, physical sunscreens are better tolerated by people with sensitive skin.”

Myth: “I can apply at the beginning of the day and I’m covered.”
The AAD recommends reapplying sunscreen at least every two hours. When doing so, apply generously to all areas of skin that will not be covered by clothing. Adhere to the guideline of “one ounce, or enough to fill a shot glass,” which the AAD considers enough to cover all exposed areas of the body.

Myth: “The SPF in my makeup is enough.”
In general, most people do not apply makeup heavily enough to give them adequate sun protection. “The recommendation is a moisturizer with an SPF of 30 or greater under makeup,” says Dr. Alexis Chantal of Ridgeview Dermatology.

Myth: “Last year’s bottle is still okay to use.”
Before being made available to purchase, sunscreen is put through rigorous tests. In order to be placed on store shelves, sunscreen must be able to survive three months in the laboratory conditions, which simulate three years in the real world. This means your sunscreen should be good for three years from the production date. However, be sure to check all sunscreen containers for an expiration date, and throw it away once that date has passed. Dr. Megan Allison of Ridgeview Dermatology says, “For optimal sun protection as well as texture, stability, and sterility of the product, use the sunscreen prior to the date listed on the bottle. Keep in mind that sunscreen should be used generously and frequently.” If used correctly, a bottle of sunscreen should be used before the end of summer.

Myth: “I need sun to get vitamin D.”
This is perhaps one of the most common misconceptions.

Dr. Kamal Chantal of Ridgeview Dermatology explains, “You do not need sun to get the vitamin D your body needs. You can get all the vitamin D you need through your diet or a vitamin D supplement negating the need for unprotected sun exposure. In fact, many people who are exposed to a tremendous amount of sunlight, such as surfers in Hawaii, have been proven in medical studies to be vitamin D deficient.”

Myth: “The chemicals in sunscreen are more dangerous than sunburn.”
The FDA regulates sunscreen ingredients and holds them to the same standard as any other over-the-counter drug. “The American Academy of Dermatology strongly emphasizes the need to wear sunscreen,” says Dr. Carlton. “Just because the internet says sunscreen isn’t safe doesn’t mean that it’s true.”

Myth: “I only need sunscreen when it’s sunny.”
“Forty to 80 percent of UV rays penetrate clouds,” says Dr. Carlton, meaning you are still very likely to get burnt under cloud cover. Continue to follow the same guidelines for sunscreen application that you would on a bright, sunny day.

By Leah Jones

A new partnership focuses on fitness and wellness for new moms

I’m lying on a yoga mat, adjusting the placement of my hips and feet for the Pilates class that’s about to start. Andrea Neiman, the class instructor, comes over and gently rolls my shoulders backward to correct my posture. Before the class, Andrea covers variations for each of us—all women who have given birth in the last year or two—so that our movements are safe and effective whether we experienced a vaginal or cesarean birth.

The class is calm, slow, and just what I need after four pregnancies pushed my body to its limits. I created life, but in doing so, my body literally readjusted my skeletal structure, stretched my skin and left curves in new places (hello, underarms!?).

Ask any woman—regardless of the number of hours in labor/pushing or whether the c-section was emergency or planned—and she will tell you the ways in which her body was never the same.

Physically, women who have vaginal births can experience incontinence, discomfort during intercourse, abdominal muscle separation or other issues. For those who experienced a c-section, recovery can be lengthened and painful. For example, my best friend always kept a pillow nearby because clutching it to her abdomen was the only way to ease the pain and discomfort that sneezing or laughing would cause her healing incision.

Besides basic bodily functions, the postpartum weeks and months can come with depression or anxiety, and often mean lingering and sometimes surprising body and self-image issues. While mental health concerns should be treated by a trained professional, nurturing a healthy body can go a long way to ease some of the mood disorders postpartum women can experience.

To respond to the needs of local mothers, The Motherhood Collective, in collaboration with Lynchburg Parks and Recreation, has rolled out a new series of community classes and activities for new and expecting mothers. Mothers, like me, who just need a little help getting back on track.

My Story
I’m going to just put it all out there—after four vaginal births, my pelvic floor needs some serious help. Following my third pregnancy, I experienced what I now know was “urge incontinence,” meaning that it wasn’t a problem if I sneezed or laughed (unlike several friends, who leaked at every sneeze). Instead, if I felt the urge, my muscles would fail to hold it in before I could walk through the kitchen to my bathroom—obviously, this was not only humiliating but highly inconvenient.

I was embarrassed, but I brought it up with my provider, who pointed me in the direction of a pelvic health physical therapist, and she told me the muscles supporting my bladder were actually working too hard and clenching all the time, and gave me exercises to help calm them.

After my first child, the baby weight came off quickly with nursing and light exercise, so I was surprised when I ballooned after my second pregnancy. Life circumstances piled on more anxiety, and I turned to food for comfort more often than not. Needless to say, that number on the scale never came back down. I know I am the steward of my body, but a full-time job and growing family meant my own fitness and well-being took a backseat.

But eventually, I knew enough was enough: I couldn’t keep putting everyone and everything else first. I had already attended some of The Motherhood Collective’s conversation cafés and playgroups, so when I heard about their new wellness classes, I decided to finally prioritize my health and give it a try.

Postpartum Core Connections
Back in the Pilates class, called Postpartum Core Connections, Andrea walks us through gentle stretches, and builds up to light, repetitive toning exercises. She stresses this is not a traditional Pilates class, but a hybrid based on her training and the specific needs of the postpartum women she teaches.

For example, when working with a woman who has experienced a vaginal birth, Andrea focuses on strengthening the pelvic floor and bringing the hips and pelvis back to a new “normal” resting posture. For mothers who experienced a c-section, she will help gently strengthen the abdomen, which may still be recovering from major surgery.

Lauren Barnes, executive director of The Motherhood Collective, explains that the choice to expand into wellness was obvious when the organization began planning their 2017 programming calendar.

“We looked for gaps in ways we were serving women,” says Barnes. “We saw severe disparities specifically regarding women’s pelvic floor health and other muscular post-birth issues.”

She says research shows 1 in 4 women experience post-birth pelvic floor or abdominal injuries.

“We saw that women were physically not doing well, and we partnered with excellent instructors and Parks & Rec to offer this class to truly nurture the mother to grow the child,” she explains, referring to the organization’s mission statement.

Aside from helping women physically, the partnership also reduces the financial barrier by making the classes much more affordable than what they would cost at private practices. The entire six-week Pilates class is just $18 for city residents.

Mamas on the Move
Also offered through this collaboration is Mamas on the Move, a free, regularly scheduled stroller walk at local parks, so new parents can meet for a casual workout that’s gentle and social, while still getting women moving.

First-time mother Courtney Sinha, 35, is a social worker in Lynchburg who’s been attending the Mamas on the Move stroller walks even before she was pregnant. As she planned to conceive, she says, “I needed to lose weight and I did that by walking. I kept motivated by thinking that one of these days I would have a baby, and we could go walking together.”

Courtney now attends every session with her wife, Kim, and newborn baby Nora. Like many working mothers in the group, the Saturday option was perfect as she headed back after maternity leave. Even if she doesn’t want to get out of bed, she says, “The baby wakes up early so there’s really no sleeping in.”

While it’s advertised as a stroller walk, many parents bring an infant carrier to walk with their babies close to them.

Healthy Mama Self-Care Series
The self-care series launched because Barnes says women were not taking time for themselves. “So we thought… why not make a time? It will be on their calendar.”

The five-class course leads women through a different healthy living topic each week, and then at the end of each session there are
30 minutes of silence and candlelight. “Watching women come out of there, it’s like they’re coming out of a spa. It’s amazing,” says Barnes. “We love nothing more than helping to create outlets for community that also cultivate healthy habits or positive self-care.”

And the community agrees: the first round of new programming this past spring sold out, and more programs are being added. “It’s been an overwhelming response.”

As far as my own journey goes, the Pilates class is just a small piece in what I hope will be a lifelong practice of caring for myself in my role as mother and provider for my family. During the whirlwind of the preschool years I will have to be diligent about my own wellness, but my mind and body deserve it. And I believe that my kids will reap the benefits (because they can already tell you that a stressed-out mama is no fun!).

For now, you can find me on a yoga mat somewhere, breathing in and out, learning to love and care for this new version of the body I’m in—and thankfully, it’s only getting stronger with each Pilates leg lift.

By Meridith De Avila Khan

Mark Your Calendars July/August

Plein Air Painting at Randolph College:
July 9, 2 – 4 p.m.
Summer is the perfect time to unwind by getting in touch with your creative side. Spend the afternoon on the lawn of the Maier Museum learning the French painting technique of en plein air, or the act of painting outdoors, as a local artist shares their tricks of the trade then cuts you loose to create a masterpiece of your own.

Virginia Dare Pirate Cruise: July 15, 16;
3:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Come walk the plank and spend an afternoon living like a pirate on Smith Mountain Lake. This cruise on the Virginia Dare is a guaranteed good time for all ages. Maybe you’ll see Jack Sparrow!

Glow Ride on Percival’s Island: August 5, 8 – 9 p.m.
Forget dancing in the moonlight—let’s bike! All ages and skill levels are welcome to join this 6-mile roundtrip cruise around Percival’s Island. Don’t forget to get decked out for the occasion—there’s a prize in store for the most festive bicycle!

Annual Riverfront Chalk Festival: August 19,
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
The streets of downtown Lynchburg become your canvas at Amazement Square’s Annual Riverfront Chalk Festival. Watch the riverfront area come to life as members of the community splash chalk onto the streets to create a smorgasbord of inspired doodles. With live music, food trucks, activities, and a chalk art contest, this free event has something for the whole family to enjoy!

Local Openings & Closings

Hello! to Beale’s Brewery and BBQ on Grove Street in Bedford.

Hello! to Craft Beer Cellar on Wards Road, expected to open in June.

Goodbye to Hill City House on Timberlake Road, which was torn down for a new roundabout.

Hello! to a new location of Mister Goodies in the Village Courts Shopping Center in Boonsboro.

Goodbye to Rivermont Makery on Rivermont Avenue.

Hello! to Mookie’s, now serving homemade ice cream sandwiches next to Aylor’s in Forest.

Hearty, filling, comforting—Samantha Moroz’s savory recipes are what you would call “good for the soul.”

However, the Lynchburg wife, mother of two and adjunct professor is the first to tell you her deep dark secret—she had no clue how to cook until she got married about 10 years ago. But after saying “I do,” she rolled up her sleeves and started following the recipes of well-known cooks. Her mother was one of them, along with big names such as Ina Garten and Martha Stewart. From there, Moroz branched out by blending recipes, then later added her own tweaks and combinations to create the perfect dishes.

Her soups, chili, pastas, and homemade pizza and bread not only impress her family and close friends but also larger groups about once a month. And her desserts, such as a warm cookie skillet with vanilla ice cream, will make your mouth water.

We love Samantha because she is a perfect example of how there is a hidden chef inside all of us—all it takes is a little inspiration and a lot of practice!

Chicken Prosciutto Alfredo

Ingredients:
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
2 cloves minced garlic
2 tablespoons butter
2 cups heavy cream
1-1/2 cups parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
4 pieces deli prosciutto, sliced or torn apart into pieces
1 pound chicken breast,
cubed into 1/2” pieces
1 pound pasta
(fettucine, shells, penne)

DIRECTIONS:
Cook pasta according to package directions (add a tablespoon of salt to your water to add flavor to the noodles); drain.

In a saucepan, sauté the garlic in butter. Add heavy cream and bring to a boil; boil for one minute. Add cheese and stir until melted, then add fresh parsley.

In another pan, sauté the onions in butter. Add the cubed chicken to the onions. When almost finished cooking, add the prosciutto. Combine the pasta, cheese sauce and chicken together, serve and enjoy!

Lemon Asparagus

Ingredients:
Bunch of asparagus, ends cut off
Olive oil (or butter)
Salt and pepper
Parmesan cheese
Lemon, cut in half

DIRECTIONS:
Arrange asparagus in a baking dish or on a cookie sheet, dot the asparagus with butter (or drizzle with olive oil), sprinkle with salt and
pepper and toss to coat. Squeeze half of a lemon all over the asparagus.

(Cut the remainder of the lemon in slices if desired and layer the slices on top of the asparagus.) Bake for 10 minutes at 425, sprinkle with parmesan cheese and roast for 3-5 minutes longer.

Dutch Oven Bread

Ingredients:
6 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon instant or active-dry yeast
2 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 2/3 cups of water

DIRECTIONS:
In a large bowl, combine the flour, yeast and salt. Add the water and stir until all the ingredients are well incorporated; the dough should be wet and sticky. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Let the covered dough rest overnight (12-18 hours) on the counter at room temperature. When the risen dough is bubbly, it is ready.

Lightly flour your hands and a work surface. Place dough on the floured surface, cover with a kitchen towel, and let the dough rise again for about two hours, until it has doubled in size. (It will be a big blob.)

After about 1-1/2 hours, preheat oven to 425-450 degrees. Line the Dutch Oven (or a 6-8 quart heavy covered pot) with parchment paper.

Place the covered Dutch Oven in the oven to heat up. When the dough has fully risen, carefully remove pot from oven using oven mitts. Remove top towel from dough and slide your hand under the bottom towel; flip the dough over into pot, seam side up.

Cover and bake for 45 minutes. Uncover and continue baking about 5-10 more minutes, until the top is golden brown.

Remove the bread from the pot and let it cool completely on a wirerack before slicing.

Looking for something new to try with your family when school lets out? We have six ideas for you in our 1st Annual Guide to Summer Fun!

Bikes Unlimited
What better way to explore our blossoming downtown than cruising the Blackwater Creek trail on two wheels.
The shop at Bikes Unlimited not only offers full service and sales, but its location also guarantees a day of adventure for the entire family. After your trip, grab some post ride grub on Jefferson Street, home to some of Lynchburg’s greatest restaurants.

FEKS Martial Arts
There is NO summer better then a FEKS summer. With different themed weeks such as Ninja week, Power Rangers week, and many more, your kids are sure to stay excited and looking forward to week after week. Don’t let your kids be the only ones that have fun.
With four different high fitness and self-defense based adult classes offered, you are
sure to make some new FRIENDS and have a BLAST. FOR 6 WEEKS FOR $99 and a FREE Uniform, come try something DIFFERENT, EXCITING, FUN, and learn some AWESOME skills at the same time.

Liberty Mountain Snowflex Center
LMSC is all about offering experiences that enrich the lives of families! Whether it’s a birthday party, first-time snow sports lesson, or simply a summer night tubing with the family, Snowflex is the perfect place for you and your family to come together in the great outdoors. The above image shows how the Summer Day Camps at LMSC can leave kids feeling like family.

Lynchburg Beach Music Festival
Lynchburg’s Riverfront is turning into a Beachfront on June 24th from 12-7. Enjoy music from The Embers, The Castaways, The Band of Oz, & The Motown Legacy Revue. Included activities are the obstacle courses, climbing wall, carnival games, and kid activities. Unique Food Trucks! Beach Drinks! Dancing! Cash prizes given out all day long! Kids 12 & under free. Tix $35/Advance; $45/Door; $150/VIP.

YMCA of Central Virginia
The YMCA of Central Virginia enriches the summer months with a range of activities and plenty of time for friendships and adventure! Youth and adults can enhance their summertime fun with camp, family activities, senior trips, outdoor activities and community engagement. Visit ymcacva.org for more information.

Title/Occupation: Wildlife, Nature, & Adventure Photographer/ Biology Major at Lynchburg College
Age: 20

When did you first become interested in photography?
Well, it just happened. Last March (so it has only been about a year) I was messing around with my phone camera and little Sony digital camera when I went outside or on hikes and posted some photos to Instagram. I received positive feedback, which is what spurred me to continue. That summer (2016) I created an Instagram account (@tylerstephens_photography) and then received my Canon camera for my birthday. I was published in Suffolk Living not long after.

Are you self-taught or have you received any formal training?
I’m mostly self-taught. I did take a photography class to hone my skills when I came back from summer break.

Why nature? What inspires you to focus on the outdoors?
There is this feeling (I cannot explain) about being outside, being able to explore, experiencing wildlife, and being adventurous. I would like to hike everyday if I could.

Describe one of the craziest things you have ever done to get that “perfect” shot.
I believe it is a tie between getting within 20 feet of a skunk and other animals or running along the edge of a cliff to then pose before my camera timer released.

What’s next for you in your photography journey?
Hopefully I can save up for a trip to Colorado that I am planning for the summer of 2018. But for now, there is a whole lot of Virginia I haven’t seen.

Store Owner Peg Breiholz’s Personal Farmhouse Style

I’ve always loved doing creative things,” states Peg Breiholz, local artist and owner of The White Brick House in Forest. From her upbringing to her current business, Peg has maintained a strong sense of self that drives all her decisions and inspires others to do the same.

Staying true to roots
The Minnesota native grew up on her family’s homestead in Springfield where they farmed livestock and crops; Peg remembers they “had acres and acres of strawberries and cucumbers in the summer.” As one of 13 children (she calls herself “the lucky middle”), she pitched in around the farm along with her nine brothers and three sisters. She attributes this lifestyle to helping establish and nourish an entrepreneurial spirit within the family.

Peg came to Virginia for the first time when she was 20 years old: “I worked as a camp counselor over in Goshen, a couple of hours away from here, and I just had this distinct feeling that this is where I belong.”

Raising a family
As soon as she and her husband married, he attended a technical school in Hutchinson, Minnesota and moved to Alabama for a brief time so he could complete his studies. “After he finished, he had a job offer there and one at Babcock and Wilcox, and I already had two brothers who were living here in the Lynchburg area, so we came here!” Peg explained.

That was 28 years ago. Since then, Peg became a mother of two, educated her children, ingrained herself in her artwork and family life, and opened several small businesses—it’s been a busy time of life.

The Breiholzes live in Forest along with their daughter, who just finished her master’s degree in counseling at Liberty University, and her cat Sasha. They also have a son who recently began a doctoral program in electrical engineering at the University of Virginia.

Tending creativity
Peg refers to herself as “a junker” because she loves finding objects that others might pass over and enjoys making them beautiful and useful again.
She acknowledges that “most items I work on aren’t visibly valuable; they often have minor cosmetic issues to begin with. I like to give them a new life.”

She found herself doing this so frequently that she and a friend began selling their personal creations at Peddler Antiques in Forest six years ago. This wasn’t Peg’s first foray into the world of arts and crafts; she has been an artist as long as she can remember, working as a graphic designer for a local newspaper before staying home to raise and homeschool her children.

As a young mother, Peg turned to her art as a fun and creative outlet. “I started doing pastels when my son was two—it was something I could pick up for a few minutes and come back to.” She especially enjoyed dabbling in pastels and watercolor, and her original work is not only on display within her house, but it has also made appearances and won awards around the area, such as Best in Show in Bedford’s Centerfest one year, a ribbon from the Bedford Council for the Arts, and several ribbons from the Lynchburg Art Show.

Around the time her youngest child was graduating from high school, Peg opened a small shop on Etsy, and eventually moved into business for herself and opened The White Brick House, a home goods store named for the building’s façade on Ashwood Park Drive in Forest.

The store carries goods made by Peg and several local artisans, most of which would fall into the category of farmhouse style, which has been a mainstay in American decor far longer than HGTV and Pinterest might indicate—and who would know more about authentic farmhouse style than someone who grew up on a legitimate Midwestern farm?

Building a white brick house
The owner of the booming Forest business calls a white brick house home herself. An easy drive down a pastoral Forest road leads to a lot with a clear view of a Blue Ridge panorama overlooking the rolling green hills of the neighboring farmer’s land.

It was that view that ultimately sold them on the lot six years ago and the landscape dictated many of their final decisions.

“The fireplace was originally supposed to go on the back wall, but we asked Deitz Lilly, our builder, to move it so we could add windows and really capture the view that we loved so much, and we wanted to bring in as much natural light as possible,” Peg explained.

Her inspiration comes from light, which she finds quiet, clean and peaceful. “I need a lot of white and bright lights, especially in the dullness of winter,” she admits, and even the briefest moment spent here makes it clear. Visitors who enter through her quaint front porch walk into a bright, open space, made to feel even more airy with high ceilings and flowing white custom curtains from every window.

Even though Peg lives in and loves the mountains, she enjoys decorating with the colors of the ocean: blues, greens and sandy beiges. She achieves this palette by incorporating jute rugs, white furniture and a striking collection of countless aqua bottles and mason jars that reside in a front-and-center hutch she rejuvenated with new hardware and paint, anchoring down the space between the foyer, living room and dining room in the open floor plan.

Sowing a sense of style
The dining room draws the eye up, beginning with hand-scraped hickory floors to its board and battens all the way to the blue ceiling “so it seems endless” like the sky. Vintage tablecloths hang on a wooden ladder, and antique corbels add a bit of old-fashioned charm. Peg designed the mantelpiece that frames the see-through gas log fireplace. She coated the chairs, mantel and hutch in Westhighland White (Sherwin Williams) for a crisp look that balances the other pieces Peg made over in the milk paint she carries at her shop.

Peg points out that milk paint helps provide the timeworn and time-loved chipped look on furniture.

Opposite the dining room is a small hallway and one of Peg’s own framed pastel drawings of her son as a little boy. The hallway leads to the office and a hall bath featuring Meador Blue walls, subway tiling, and glow in the dark tile as an accent. “I thought that would be fun!” Peg laughs.

Straight ahead of the foyer lies the family’s living room with an entire wall of windows highlighting the bucolic scenery that persuaded them to purchase the property. In spite of having a dining room and a kitchen nook, this is where the family typically eats dinner and relaxes with the view (or a show on the huge TV that sits atop a reclaimed buffet). She isn’t worried about spills or stains on the custom white slipcovers that adorn the sofas. “Even when my kids were little, I had white slipcovers. With upholstered furniture, if you spill something, you can’t always get the stain out.

With slipcovers, you just take ’em off and bleach ’em!”—and this practical nature is the sentiment behind farmhouse style.

In spite of all the white, the room doesn’t feel cold; it seems welcoming, cozy and warm thanks to a layering of textures and the comfortable couches.
For instance, a collection of skeleton keys rests in a wooden dish on an end table, and Peg’s husband fashioned the lamps from porch posts. Exterior light fixtures are hand-forged and made with hand-blown glass. A glimpse up the staircase reveals an original watercolor of Peg’s two children.

Harvesting history
Peg points out that she loves to tie in forms of local and personal history in all her designs. This is evident from old Bedford County license plates that hang over a doorframe to a pile of yardsticks placed in a primitive milk can bearing the name Roanoke and the old general store scale that provides a perch for a topiary. Of her massive collection of blue glasses, her most special pieces preside on a shelf over the kitchen table; these came from her parents’ home in Minnesota.

Peg loves to bake pies and cakes in her custom kitchen that displays a kitchen island her husband created out of a cast-off workbench; Peg ordered the zinc for its counter and added beadboard along the trim. Although her kitchen contains some modern, high-end features like the Carrera marble countertops, her favorite aspects of her kitchen are her farmhouse sink (“the raised sides make it look like an important statement, like art, instead of just a plain sink”) and her separate drink cooler (“it’s so helpful instead of having drinks take up room in the fridge”).

Would she describe her style as farmhouse chic? “Not chic,” she laughs, “just farmhouse style. Shabby chic isn’t really a term that people use anymore, and it differs from farmhouse in that it’s a more feminine style that uses pastel colors in a neutral palette along with small florals. Farmhouse is more simple, direct, and clean.”

Simple and direct—a perfect example of this comes from Peg herself: “I buy things because I like them, not because of their supposed value or because they’re considered antiques. I like old things with a history, I love seeing chippy paint, and I’ve always decorated with aqua.”

Peg’s sense of style and self is just as spot on as her intuition about living in Virginia. “I have always felt like this is where I belong,” she emphasizes.

A conversation with Peg and a visit in her personal home reveals so much more than figuring out how you want to style your home or how to pursue your craft, but how to stay true to yourself, your roots, and your own personal history.

By Charlotte Farley
Photography by Tera Janelle Auch

A Local Guide to Finding the Freshest Produce

Have you ever noticed there are things you were forced to do in childhood that you choose to do with pleasure as an adult? You know, like staying in, going to bed early, and even eating your vegetables? I have always been a fan of veggies, but even I can remember sitting in the dark at my parents’ dining room table until I finished a plate of (Canned! Plain! Cold!) peas I had staunchly refused. The peas and my parents won.

If you have watched any number of food shows or skimmed through one of many food magazines, you know that vegetables can be the main attraction on your plate for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The best part is we aren’t talking about canned peas. Veggies these days are roasted, stuffed, grilled, sautéed and, no matter what, should be absolutely delicious. So good, in fact, that some days you won’t even miss the meat.

You can find some of the best tasting, freshest veggies at some local providers. Here are a few places you will want to check out.

Fresh Start Micros
Do you know Joe Dowdy? You will want to after this article—I promise! A few years ago he started a small greenhouse for vegetables simply to feed to his family. He began with tomatoes, peppers, green beans and lettuce. His plants took off, and they couldn’t eat nearly as fast as the produce was growing, so Joe began to give away all the extras. As he continued to hone his craft, Joe really “fell in love” with microgreens and began to reach out to local restaurants to see if anyone would be interested in purchasing from him. Thus, Fresh Start Micros was born.

“My staple microgreens is the mustard mix. It is a blend of different mustards that bring a spicy note to whatever it’s added to—salads, garnishes, wraps, etc. At peak, I was growing 30 to 40 trays at a time for local restaurants. They are grown indoors in a small indoor greenhouse. This allows the control of the environment much better than an outdoor environment, where they are very prone to diseases,” said Dowdy.

Staff at Isabella’s Italian Trattoria regularly use his microgreens. You’ll also find them occasionally at the Corner at Rivermont.

“I always welcome the opportunity to grow for anyone who asks and will continue to do so,” said Dowdy. “We have traded our outdoor greenhouse for a smaller container garden and continue to educate everyone we can of the benefits of homegrown, locally-grown, and the incredible benefits of microgreens.”

Dowdy is also working to teach his son about micros so that he may continue the business and hopefully expand it one day.

Want to get your hands on these microgreens? Just shoot Dowdy an email at or find him on Facebook. He is excited to share his passion for microgreens with our community. So excited, in fact, he will deliver them to your door!

Email Joe Dowdy at freshstartmicros@gmail.com.

Lynchburg Grows
Lynchburg Grows (LG) is sort of the coolest concept ever. The nonprofit is a seven-acre urban farm “dedicated to providing access to fresh, local, produce for Lynchburg residents, restaurants, and organizations, while also providing onsite vocational training for disabled and
low-income individuals,” according to its website.

LG says a quarter of Lynchburg residents live in a food desert, which is a higher number than any other city in Virginia. They are working hard through community gardens to make vegetables more accessible to everyone, and in a partnership with Live Healthy Lynchburg, they now support a mobile produce van that takes produce to areas around town with the greatest need.

You can support the LG mission and get your hands on their green goodness by signing up for a Veggie Box.

“Our summer Veggie Box is stocked with all the most delicious summer veggies like tomatoes, cucumbers, green beans, lettuce (early summer), peppers, eggplant, onions… We grow everything we can on the farm, but supplement from other farms for things we do not grow like mushrooms, peaches, corn and melons,” said Shelley Blades, executive director. “We also try to highlight local artisans and give our Veggie Box members something unique like tea from Good Karma Tea Company or bread from Lorraine Bakery.”

The Veggie Box season runs from March 22 through December 20. The cost breaks down to $20 a week, and there are several payment options.

“Pick up is every Wednesday at the farm. We like the pickup method better than delivery. We find it gives customers more freedom to choose which items are most appealing to them and personally pick out their vegetables,” said Blades.

But what if I get my veggies and am stumped with what to do with them? I hate to waste food, especially fresh local vegetables. But Blades says they have you covered.

“We send out a weekly newsletter to our customers to let them know what their veggie options are that week. If there is a ‘funky’ vegetable (think colorful carrots or Chinese cabbage) we usually give a little description about that and provide several recipes.

But, regardless of ‘funky’ vegetables, a few recipes are always included,” she said.

Learn more at www.lynchburggrows.org.

Lynchburg Community Market
Located downtown at the corner of 12th and Main streets, the Lynchburg Community Market is a place where you can choose from a plethora of fresh produce all year long. There are rows and rows of dedicated local vendors.

You may find something you have never seen before, and most of these farmers and sellers are excited to share with you easy ways to prepare their produce. I have been fortunate enough to have some very kind vendors help me figure out quantities of items I would need for serving a group at a dinner party, what to serve, how to keep things fresh and how to best prepare the veggies.

More than produce, these days at the market you can find handmade candy, homemade breads, local jams, eggs, meats, goat cheese, coffee and so much more.

From potatoes to squash, spring onions to juicy tomatoes, the market is an excellent choice to get all your local produce (and more!) from friendly farmers at even friendlier prices.

Learn more at lynchburgcommunitymarket.com.

By RACHEL DALTON

The Benefits of the Growing Trend

Selling your home these days is a fierce competition. HGTV shows are popular; professional photography is expected. Upon seeing your listing in their inbox or social media feed, a buyer’s first impression is critical. It’s either, “Show me that home, now!” or “Not interested”—with very little gray area in between.

So, how do you make your home stand out? How do you make sure a potential buyer who sees your home’s listing…asks to see it in person? Then, how do you turn that showing…into a sale?

The answer could be home staging—giving your home a facelift that makes it more appealing to potential buyers. According to a 2015 report from the National Association of REALTORS®, 81 percent of home buyers say it is easier to visualize a property as their future home when it is staged.

RE/MAX realtor Nadine Blakely provides the service for free when a seller lists their home with her—something she has been offering since 2007.
“I’ve been trained to have a keen eye for the little things that make a big difference,” said Blakely.

She explains how “staging is different from decorating.”

“I don’t necessarily decorate your home but work with a client to help them show off the really good side of all aspects of their property,” said Blakely.

Staging in occupied houses for sale focuses on the elimination of “things” to attract buyers to the spaciousness, organization and cleanliness of rooms. And sometimes, they aren’t major tasks. For example, Blakely tells homeowners to take the magnets off the front of the refrigerator or, her pet peeve, remove cereal boxes from the top of the fridge.

“[Doing that] screams that the kitchen is too small to even store cereal boxes in the cupboards,” said Blakely.

If you don’t currently live in the home, Dan Vollmer, associate broker with RE/MAX, says staging is “incredibly important.”

“Buyers sometimes have trouble envisioning the way a space can be used, particularly if it’s empty,” Vollmer said.

But does all the effort pay off? In the decade since Blakely started offering free professional staging, she says, “It works.”

“Many of my homes sell in a matter of days, and even for more money, once I’ve staged them,” said Blakely.

More statistics from the National Association of REALTORS® back her up. Their report says 32 percent of buyers’ agents believe staging a home increases the dollar value buyers are willing to offer by one to five percent. Another 16 percent believe it increases by six to 10 percent.

But if you do choose to hire a professional to stage your home (or take advantage of a free service), Vollmer has these words of wisdom.

“You should rely on them and their guidance…” he said. “No one likes to be told their paint color choices or furniture or decor is anything less than beautiful! But if you take a step back, swallow your pride a little, and trust the person you’ve hired to give you expert advice, you’ll be much better off.”

If a professional is not an option, prepare to roll up your sleeves and do it yourself. The elbow grease could pay off through a faster sale for a higher price.

At Millie’s Living Café

I love this time of year in Lynchburg because there are promises of spring everywhere. A lot of us tend to cook lighter meals, eat more raw foods, and focus on a healthier diet as summer approaches.

One of my favorite places to eat clean but easily fill up and fuel up is Millie’s Living Café in Wyndhurst, which opened in April 2015. “The inspiration has been the fact that there were little healthy options in Lynchburg. I had always wanted a café within our store (Health Nut Nutrition) and the passing of my mother in 2012 inspired me to go forward and name it after her,” said owner Dave Thomas.

Thomas has always lead a healthy lifestyle. But after spending some time in California, he got a few ideas that he brought back to Lynchburg and incorporated into the Millie’s menu. The plant-based options are endless and delicious, but the top seller and my personal favorite is the dragon bowl.

Thomas describes the dragon bowl as “a superfood smoothie bowl. It includes fresh frozen fruit featuring the superfruit pitaya (aka the dragon fruit), strawberries, banana, almond butter, and plant protein powder blended together and topped with granola and more fresh fruit. It is naturally sweet with no added sugar or other processed ingredients; it is low in calories and super healthy. It is heart healthy, fiber rich and high in antioxidants.”
And so, so tasty.

You can get the same flavorful sweet treat in smoothie form, just ask for the Pitayalicious.

By RACHEL DALTON