The thrill of springtime: all around us, flowers are budding, days are lengthening and the promise of summer vacation is thick in the air. That’s why we’re particularly excited for the June 18th launch of the 5th Annual Lynchburg Restaurant Week—the one-of-a-kind, original event that involves nearly 30 local eateries and invites the public to enjoy prix fixe menus of 3 for $15 or 3 for $25 courses (you can skip ahead and view all of them now on page 68, I won’t mind). For the first time, we’ve joined forces with the Academy Center of the Arts as our nonprofit partner. With recent rebranding and a renewed focus on being the “arts hub” for our region, and in light of all they do to support the development of our culture and community, this collaboration is one that can have a positive impact for many in the surrounding area. Some of the proceeds and your donations—visit www.LynchburgRestaurantWeek.com for more information—will go towards promoting the arts for all us.
This issue also features our first ever expanded Home and Garden section with in-depth, local stories about maximizing your space, preparing a home to sell quickly and learning the necessity of supporting pollinators with some easy adjustments to your home garden. And don’t miss the essential summer garden checklist prepared by local Master Gardener Susan Timmons on page 115!
In honor of Mother’s Day, we bring you the story of Robin Foutz and her son Elisha; as a family, Robin, her husband Nate, and their other two children have supported Elisha through numerous surgeries and a long recovery following an accident when he was only 12 years old. You’ll be encouraged and amazed at Elisha’s resilience as shared by Robin on page 129.
Like the Foutzes, I love my own children in ways I never would have imagined prior to having them. And it’s for that reason that I’ve decided to bid goodbye to a job that I have loved for a season of my life—editor of Lynchburg Living. While I love this community and this position, my hope is to maximize the time I have with my daughters while they’re still young. As a new parent, people often say, “Enjoy it while they’re young,” and “Don’t blink, or you’ll miss it.” Well, I’m blessed to be able to fully embrace that advice, and so I will.
As I look ahead, I’m filled with anticipation for the continued growth and development of this wonderful publication and the region it represents. It’s a true privilege to live here!
All my best –
Jennifer Redmond, Managing Editor
Jennifer@lynchburgmag.com
