Veterans Approve

Following our feature story “The Troops Rally” by Logan Smith (Nov./Dec. 2021), Editor Shelley Basinger received numerous emails from Lynchburg’s veterans community, thanking the magazine for highlighting this iconic downtown gathering. Here are a couple of those kind comments:

“I’m a military veteran and I have attended many of these gatherings,” wrote Joseph Arnold, TSgt (Ret.), USAF. “I enjoyed the write up and I thank you for doing that.”

“Thanks for writing the article about Monument Terrace and what it stands for both here in Lynchburg and across the USA. Excellent writing and coverage!” wrote Judy Bowman, USAF Veteran, Vietnam.

Correction

We made an error in our Best Of Lynchburg Hall of Fame list, featured in the July/Aug. 2021 issue of Lynchburg Living. Lynchburg Chiropractic was unintentionally omitted and should have been listed as a winner in the Best Chiropractor category. We apologize for this error and appreciate Lynchburg Chiropractic for bringing it to our attention.

For All Ages

Maybe this is proof we should add a baby and kids section to the magazine? Reader Aimee Cochran shared this photo with us on Facebook. She said her 14-month-old is obsessed with books and enjoyed looking through our “book” (the recent Nov./Dec. issue) too!

Remember to stay in touch with us on Facebook. We would love to hear what you are reading and enjoying!

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.

Spreading the Word

A local putt-putt group contacted us to say thank you after some new faces joined their fun. Willie Perry, a volunteer organizer of the Senior Putt-Putt League, told editor Shelley Basinger they had about five or six new people come out to play, all because they read the article in the July/August issue of Lynchburg Living, “Mini Golf, Big Benefits.” Perry says they typically average about
30 people every time they play.

Their 2021 season has ended but will resume in April at the Putt-Putt Fun Center on Timberlake Road.

Taste Try Outs

Long-time contributor Mikael Blido says he has never received so much feedback about one of his cooking articles. Since the release of our September/October issue, he says he has heard from four separate individuals—two men and two women—who made (and enjoyed!) the chicken pot pie from his “Dudes CAN Cook” feature.

Be sure to check out all of the year’s recipes at lynchburgliving.com and let us know how your meal turns out!

The Votes Are In

We want to once again thank you, our readers, for casting votes in our annual Best Of Lynchburg contest. Thousands of you went online to pick your favorite restaurants, businesses and more; we logged close to 43,000 total votes!

Look for the full list of winners in our January/February 2022 issue.

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.

Take Paws

We have to chuckle just a little as we apologize for an error in our May/June feature, “The Heritage Meal.” Writer Mikael Blido thought he heard Gail Pond, from Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest, say Jefferson’s cook used cat paws to extract natural gelatin to make a wine jelly. But she said calf. Thankfully, you can buy gelatin packets at the grocery store so no cats should have been harmed due to this misunderstanding!

Voting Begins
It’s that time again! Voting for our annual Best Of Lynchburg Awards starts July 27 and runs through September 9. Be sure to visit our website, lynchburgliving.com, to vote for your favorite restaurants, destinations, people and more. The results will be published in the January/February 2022 issue of Lynchburg Living.

Bridal Showcase Success
Wedding season is back—and we couldn’t be more thrilled for couples and the local wedding industry. We held our annual Bridal Showcase on June 6, 2021, at the Kirkley Hotel; approximately 70 brides and their families came out to talk with vendors about their big day. Be sure to check out our sister publication, Central Virginia Bridal Guide, at vabridal.com or find one at local stands with Lynchburg Living.

We Want To hear From You!
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.

You’re Welcome
It was a delight working with Lonnie Hoade and Paul Webster, of T.C. Trotter’s Moose Mix for Bloody Marys, on our March/April feature, “Lynchburg is for Bloody Mary Lovers.” Lonnie sent a message to Editor Shelley Basinger after seeing the article in print for the first time: “Oh my goodness Shelley. I just saw the article. It’s amazing. And you two (photographer Ashlee Glen) did a fantastic job on those pictures. Thank you so much!” – Lonnie Hoade

Private School Omission
We unintentionally left a local private school off of our listing in the Lynchburg Area Private School Guide included in the March/April issue. World Community Education Center is located in Bedford, offering a Montessori education to children in grades pre-K through 12th grade. Learn more about the school at worldcommunityedu.org.

Social Media Buzz
Our 2021 Idea House had some of you chatting online: “Swoon!” said Hill City Mom @heireysays on Instagram. “Exquisite,” wrote FUSE Electrical, LLC on one of our Facebook posts. It was even prettier in person! Check out the recap of our Idea House open house weekends on pages 23 and 24.

We Want To hear From You!
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.

Top Teacher Awards
While we didn’t get to do many in-person presentations this year, that didn’t stop Lynchburg Living from spreading joy to local educators through our annual Top Teacher Awards. After reviewing dozens of nominations sent in by the community, our panel of judges selected 10 teachers to feature in this issue. In early February, Editor Shelley Basinger delivered a framed certificate as well as a swag bag from Chick-fil-A Wards Road/River Ridge to each teacher.
Flip to page 103 to learn more about this year’s incredible Top Teachers!

“Thank you so much for everything! It was such a great surprise!”
– Itzel Nogueras, Heritage High School

“Thank you so much for this honor”
– Kevin Latham, Fort Hill Community School

– Lauren Hensley, R.S. Payne Elementary School
– Lindsay Donaruma, Yellow Branch Elementary School

We Want To hear From You!
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.

Blind Billy Update
We have received so many positive comments about our feature, “Blind Billy’s Beacon,” found in the November/December issue of Lynchburg Living. Reader Linda Marion wrote us to say, “This story truly warmed my heart.”

The article focused on a painting by local artist Kevin Chadwick of Blind Billy, a beloved fifer and slave in Lynchburg who died a free man after members of the community purchased his freedom. The painting was part of a live auction at the Art for Achievement virtual event to benefit Lynchburg Beacon of Hope. Organizers tell us the painting sold for $14,500 to a “syndicate” of individuals who plan to hang it at E.C. Glass High School. Overall, the nonprofit made an astounding $86,000 at the event to fund scholarships and other resources for high school students.

“The event was just amazing! Truly. Thank you so much for everything you did to help us, Shelley,” Beacon of Hope Executive Director Laura Hamilton wrote to editor Shelley Basinger.

You’re Welcome
After seeing our article about The ETC Shop, a nonprofit consignment store benefiting the Lynchburg Junior Woman’s Club, Susan Kidd sent us this kind thank you:
“We are so excited to have this recognition and share space in the magazine with so many other wonderful groups! Thank you so much! Reaching this milestone has been such a blessing and this is the icing on the cake!”

We Want To hear From You!
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.

Business Booster
A little press in Lynchburg Living can go a long way! Local interior designer Katrina Morris, featured in “Farmhouse, Refined” (May/June), says the article brought customers into her new shop inside James T. Davis Paint & Design Center. It doesn’t end there—Katrina & Co. is already expanding inside the store! She sent us a message saying: “The shop has been very successful so far, even with [the coronavirus]… The magazine has helped a lot! People have come in and said that’s where they saw us, so THANK YOU!”

Positive Vibes
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, we rebranded our May/June publication to become “The Community Issue” and worked with a local artist for an illustrated LYH cover. We received encouraging notes from readers, including the below:
“[I got the new magazine yesterday] and just wanted to say it looks great! LOVE THE COVER and the whole issue being so upbeat and positive. … The colors are so vivid and make me smile.” – Deborah Fears Keeling

“Thank you so much for the May/June 2020 Community Issue, which warmed my heart even more about this community. …this issue just confirmed my reason for moving to the City of Lynchburg.” – Carol Pomper

Voting Begins
It’s that time again! Voting for our annual Best Of Lynchburg Awards starts July 16 and runs through August 31. Be sure to visit our website, lynchburgliving.com, to vote for your favorite restaurants, destinations, people and more. The results will be published in the January/February 2021 issue of Lynchburg Living.

Idea House in Progress
Our 2020 Idea House is under construction, and we can’t wait for you to see the finished product! The three-bedroom, Colonial-style home is located on Clayton Avenue in the heart of Lynchburg’s Boonsboro neighborhood and was designed to tie into the historic aesthetics you see in that part of the city. Follow Lynchburg Living on Facebook and Instagram for more teasers, and look for the full feature in our next issue!

We Want To hear From You!
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.

Idea House Prep Begins
We are excited to announce that Lynchburg Living is partnering once again with Custom Structures for our next Idea House! The 2020 home will be built in Boonsboro. Watch for more details in upcoming issues!

Business Booster
We love spreading the word about new businesses—and we love it even more when our articles help them attract new customers!

Hannah Frazier of Father’s Café and Bakery wrote to us: “We cannot express how grateful we are for the article (July/August 2019). It was so well done and I easily have at least 10 people a week who say the article is what brought them into my shop. Some have even said they never even knew the [Lynchburg] Community Market as a whole was even here—so not only did they discover our bakery but all the other wonderful vendors we share the space with!”

Giving Back Awards
We received so many positive comments about our 2019 Giving Back Awards on November 12. It may go down in the books as our best yet!

“Had a wonderful time last night. Thanks so much for letting us be a part of it all. I did a break on my show today talking about what an honor it is to be counted among so many amazing nonprofits.”
– Mike Weston, The Journey
Find more comments and a full photo recap of the reception/ceremony on page 22!

Santa’s Helpers
The Lynchburg Living team decided to make a group contribution to the local “Be a Santa to a Senior” program in December. With staff donations and a company match, we were able to serve as the “rescue squad” and purchase last minute gifts for 10 local residents.

We want to extend a huge thank you to Home Instead Senior Care for organizing this program every year and making a difference in the lives of local seniors!

We Want To hear From You!
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.

Giving Back Awards
The Giving Back Awards/Community Impact Appreciation reception is our way of saying “thank you” to a variety of local nonprofits and businesses that make our region a better place to live. Likewise, we received many “thank you” notes via email and on social media following the event on Nov. 13.

Becky Tweedy with Meals on Wheels of Greater Lynchburg said: “Thank you again for hosting such a lovely event last night! Raising awareness of the nonprofits and their missions in our community is a wonderful goal, and what a fun way to go about it!”
Mike Weston with The Journey said: “Thanks again for inviting us to be a part of last night’s awards event. All of us here at The Journey appreciate what you and Lynchburg Living do for our community.”
See more photos from the reception on page 23!

Top Teachers Search
A panel of judges is sifting through dozens of nominations to determine our 2019 Top Teachers. We received close to 100 recommendations from the community. See who the panel selected in the March/April issue of Lynchburg Living!

Readers Cause Restocking
After our November/December issue hit stands, many of you read about our artist profile Sarah Raessler then went straight to Givens Books to buy a book of her work.

Her mother Deborah wrote to us: “We are receiving many positive comments throughout the community, and we even had to take more books to Givens. Our hats are off to you, not only for what you have done for Sarah, but for what you do to highlight so many good things about living in Lynchburg!”

We Want To hear From You!

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.