Mennonite families in Gladys, a small Campbell County community, started a school in the basement of their church in 1974 with 14 students.

‘Glengarry Glen Ross’

Brothers Jeremy and Jamie Ridgeway started holding mixed martial arts fights in 2008 to give the guys who train at their Wards Road martial arts academy a chance to get into the ring.

For Casey Gillis, River Ridge mall’s new 14-screen stadium-seating movie theater feels like another world — one she likes very much.

Bill Slade Sr. and his son, Bill Slade Jr., began hiking the Appalachian Trail in March at Springer Mountain, Ga.  one year after the 66-year-old Slade Sr. had open-heart surgery.

The Morgan family plot at Old City Cemetery has always intrigued Ted Delaney.

In the same week, our daughter and I stumbled upon Lynchburg in books we were reading. Emily found a story about a tree at E.C. Glass in a book titled “Remarkable Trees of Virginia” by Nancy Ross Hugo and Jeff Kirwan. I discovered a passage about Lynch’s Ferry in “A Place Called Freedom” written by Ken Follett.

The first place you should look for your lost pet is the local animal shelter. The key is to look regularly, every two to three days, and even expand the search to other shelters and rescue groups. Additionally, there are several other steps that will help you in your search.

Harold Peters of Lynchburg rode his bicycle 100 miles a couple of weeks ago to raise more than $600 for multiple sclerosis research. It wasn’t an unusual feat, in bicycling circles — except that Peters’ age is pretty close to his mileage.

The United Way of Central Virginia’s latest fundraiser, set for 7 p.m. Oct. 17 in the Holiday Inn Select downtown, will feature lip-synching performances by more than 30 Lynchburg-area businessmen.

The Holiday Inn Select’s first dinner show, set for 7 p.m. Friday, is “Still Groovin,’” a play written by frequent Black Theatre Ensemble collaborator Jennifer Petticolas, who is also directing and acting in the production.

Seascape

Just think of the Jubilee Family Development Center’s latest fundraiser as casino night with horses, organizers say.

For Appomattox old-timers, the second weekend in October means it’s time to break out the overalls and bandana and celebrate the Historic Appomattox Railroad Festival.

For many, Rebec Vineyards’ Virginia Wine & Garlic Festival is one of the fall season’s last hurrahs.

When Mark Landry set out to compose a piece for the Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra, he wanted something with a Lynchburg flavor.

Sandi Prentice has idolized Julie Andrews ever since she saw the legendary film and stage actress as Mary Poppins, one of her most defining roles.

We all know teens love their gadgets - more for texting than talking. But the devices are posing some new challenges for parents. How can they teach their tech-savvy kids some electronic etiquette?

The Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra is looking for accomplished, qualified musicians for positions in all sections of the orchestra, to fill open positions as they occur.

The Seven Hills Art Club has planned a trip to Waynesboro on Friday for a tour of the P. Buckley Moss Museum.

The Jefferson Youth Chorale is looking for children (third grade or older) and teenagers who enjoy singing to participate in this year’s Jefferson Chorale Christmas Concert, to be held on Dec. 5-6.

Annette Chenault has been passionate about art for as long as she can remember, but didn’t seriously pick up a paintbrush until she was 18 years old.

Burg reporter Liz Barry spent a few hours at the Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre to investigate how it stacked up to real snow

Only a few years after rediscovering his childhood hobby, Tim Ewers has reached a point that, according to one old-timer, many aspire to but few attain.

Get the latest on what’s going on in the Lynchburg area this fall season.

As the seasons change, outdoor activities for the kids may fall away. Colder weather starts picking away at the countless outdoor options of the summer.

National Slam Poet champion Taylor Mali is performing at Central Virginia Community College next month.

Open auditions for Richard O’Brien’s “The Rocky Horror Show” at Randolph College Wildcat Theatre will be held at 7 p.m. Sept. 7 and Sept. 8 in the Thoresen Theatre, located in the Leggett Building on campus.  Dance, music, and acting auditions will be held Sept. 8, with dance and music auditions only on Sept. 7 (auditionees will be asked to return Sept. 9 for acting audition).

Cantate, The Children’s and Youth Choir of Central Virginia, will hold auditions for its 2009-2010 concert season.  Boys and girls in grades third through 12th are encouraged to audition for this choir, which is dedicated to bringing classical choral music to the youth of Central Virginia. 

Mark Salzman, author of the Pulitzer Prize-nominated “Iron and Silk,” will talk about three recent and unwelcome life changes in “My Year of Diversity: A Tragicomedy” at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 28 in Lynchburg College’s Memorial Ballroom in the Hall Campus Center.