Lynchburg Living

Community NEWS

GIRLS NIGHT OUT AND FROCKS 4 FREEDOM JOIN FORCES TO BENEFIT FREEDOM 4/24

On September 21, the 2^nd annual Frocks 4 Freedom, a sale of new and excellent used women‘s designer clothes, bags, shoes and accessories, will be held in conjunction with Girls’ Night Out at Robin Alexander Bistro on Main Street in Lynchburg. All proceeds from the sale benefit Freedom 4/24, a nonprofit that exists to raise awareness of the sexual exploitation of women around the world.

Girls Night Out starts at 5 p.m. and goes until 10 that night. Ladies can enjoy special dishes and drinks while taking in the trends from Boudoir and Boho Luxe boutiques, and latest hair styles from Mia Bella Salon. Then, shop Frocks 4 Freedom from 6 to 9 p.m. Brand name items for sale include Coach, Vera Bradley, Sperry Top Sider, J.Crew, Anthropologie and more. Most items are $8 and under.

For more information about Girls’ Night Out and Frocks 4 Freedom, visit www.rabistro.com. Learn more about Freedom 4/24 at www.freedom424.org.

PET PHOTO CONTEST TO RAISE MONEY FOR LYNCHBURG HUMANE SOCIETY

Got a cute pet? Submit their photo to the Lynchburg Humane Society (LHS) and they might just end up in the shelter’s 2012 calendar. Between now and October 1, pet owners can submit a picture of their pet online to the humane society. Twelve photogenic cats and dogs will be chosen as winners. All benefits from the calendar will aid LHS in becoming a “no kill” shelter.

Pet contestants will have their photos voted on by the public to determine the top six cats photos and six dogs photos that will appear in the calendar. Winners’ owners will receive a free calendar.

To enter a pet into LHS’s online photo contest, owners must provide information about their pet, themselves and then upload a photograph. There is a $10 entry fee per photo. For complete rules and to enter, visit www.lynchburghumanesociety.org.

LYNCH’S LANDING RECEIVES 2011 NATIONAL TRUST MAIN STREET ACCREDITATION

Lynch’s Landing has been designated as an accredited National Main Street Program for meeting the commercial district revitalization performance standards set by the National Trust Main Street Center. Each year, the National Trust and its partners announce the list of accredited Main Street programs that have built strong revitalization organizations and demonstrate their ability in using the Main Street Four-Point Approach methodology for strengthening their local economy and protecting their historic buildings.

The organization’s performance is annually evaluated by Virginia Main Street, the statewide organization that which works in partnership with the National Trust Main Street Center to identify the local programs that meet 10 performance standards. Evaluation criteria determines the communities that are building comprehensive and sustainable revitalization efforts and include standards such as developing a mission, fostering strong public-private partnerships, securing an operating budget, tracking economic progress and preserving historic buildings.

“Lynchburg’s downtown is the heart of our community and a critical economic agent,” Anna Bentson, Executive Director of Lynch’s Landing, said. “We are proud of this year’s accreditation. The Main Street program provides a systematic approach towards downtown revitalization that has proven itself successful across the country and here in Lynchburg.”

Lynch’s Landing organizes and supports events and activities that bring people to downtown Lynchburg. In 2010, more than 36,000 people attended an event sponsored by Lynch’s Landing. The organization also strives to advance building rehabilitation efforts, improve the physical appearance of downtown and works closely with all downtown businesses, restaurants, retailers and organizations to maximize their success by offering training programs, quarterly forums and creative promotional opportunities.

MASTER GARDENERS SOUGHT

The Hill City Master Gardener Association (HCMGA) is currently accepting application for the 2012 training classes entitled “Become a Master Gardener.” The HCMGA is a nonprofit providing trained volunteer educators who supplement the educational staff of Virginia Cooperative Extension with programs on horticulture. For more information, contact Joe Pond, Training Committee Chairman at (434) 384-7868 or tjpmg05@verizon.net. Visit www.hcmga.com to view an introductory letter, course overview and application.

7TH ANNUAL “PINK AUCTION LUNCHEON” TO BENEFIT BREAST CANCER RESEARCH AND EDUCATION

MDM Networking, Inc., presents the 7^th Annual “Pink Auction Luncheon” on October 16 at the Holiday Inn Select at 601 Main Street in Lynchburg from 2 to 6 p.m. All profits from the auction will be donated to local, regional or national organizations. A preview of auction items begins at 1:30 p.m. on October 16. Tickets are $20 and are available for purchase at Givens Books, Heritage Connections and the Holiday Inn Select. No tickets will be sold at the door.

MDM Networking, Inc., was founded by three local sisters, Kathryn Drayton, Violet Mitchell and Louise Mitchell, a breast cancer survivor, as a nonprofit, service organization with the primary mission to inform, educate and empower women and girls specifically in the areas of health awareness and advocacy. The “Pink Auction” was developed specifically to provide information to women about cancer and is MDM’s primary vehicle to raise funds for cancer research, education and services.

Since it began seven years ago, The Pink Auction has raised and distributed more than $40,000 to recipients such as The American Cancer Society, The Free Clinic of Central Virginia, The Johns Foundation, The Meharry Medical College and The Sister Study for Breast Cancer Research. For information or to purchase tickets to the event, contact Louise E. Mitchell, (434) 384-2858, Kathryn M. Drayton, (434) 385-0532 or Violet O. Mitchell, (434) 239-9209.

GRIEFSHARE PROGRAM OFFERED TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY

Community members who have experienced the death of a family member or friend are invited to register for the GriefShare program sponsored by Gentle Shepherd Hospice.

Those dealing with grief, recent or not, will find encouragement, comfort and help in grieving the death of a spouse, child, parent, sibling, other family member or friend. GriefShare will present valuable information about facing a new normal in life and renewing hope for the future. This program is Christ-centered with all levels of faith being accepted.

GriefShare is held on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to Noon at Gentle Shepherd Hospice in Lynchburg. Pre-registration is requested by contacting Candice McCann at (434) 846-6270.

LYNCHBURGMOMMIES.COM OFFERS A RESOURCE FOR LOCAL MOTHERS

LynchburgMommies, a free support group for moms in the greater Lynchburg area, has recently launched their online support Web site for moms and moms-to-be. The site offers a simple way to connect with local moms for friendship, support and fun. Members meet on private discussion forums to share information on everything from where to get the best haircut to tips on transitioning to a “big kid” bed. Each month, LynchburgMommies also offers many face-to-face events for our members, their children and their families.

The Mommies Network is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping moms find support and friendship in their local community. Through local volunteer teams, The Mommies Network currently operates 124 Mommies communities in 34 states, providing more than 31,000 moms with a free and easy way to connect with other local moms for friendship, support, advice and fun. Each community has extensive online forums, private chat rooms, and weekly, face-to-face events for both adults and their kids. For more information, visit www.lynchburgmommies.com.