03
Nov
03
Nov
By Chelsea Edwards ~ Guest Writer
The Adult and Career Center of Central Virginia (ACE) is looking for volunteers for their GED program.
ACE is a growing non-profit organization which provides free adult education classes in the region, specializing in English classes, reading and Math skills, college and career readiness courses, workforce preparation activities, integrated education training, in addition to test prep courses for the GED, NEDP, and VPT through one-on-one interaction and support.
Luke Saechao, the regional program manager, said, “We’re all about moving people forward, whether it’s to improve basic literacy, learn English, get a high school equivalency, or prep for post-secondary education/training such as the community college or an industry-recognized certification program, to job placement. We want to help the adults that come through our programs to set and achieve their academic and career goals.”
(more…)
27
Oct
By Hayden Dietz ~ Guest Writer
Nov. 2, the election day for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, House of Delegates, and some local offices (depending on locality) , is rapidly approaching.
On the ballot for governor, Terry McAullife is the candidate for the Democratic Party, and Glenn Youngkin for the Republican Party.
(more…)
20
Oct
By Dr. Ghislaine Lewis ~ Faculty Advisor
As part of the Homecoming 2021, the University of Lynchburg paid tribute to several African American firsts.
The honorees included the first black students to live on campus, the first black head coach, the first black student government presidents, the first black administrator, the first black dorm mother and the first black dean.
Those honored included Dr. Allethia Ingram ’76, MEd ’86, Mr. Bob Tate ’71, Dr. Christopher Boyd ’97, Ms. Coretta M. Jones ’73, MEd ’76, Dr. Dorothy Smith Akubue-Brice, PhD, Mr. Hilliary Scott MA ’21, Dr. Kelli Rainey ’99, Dr. Loretta Jones-Gafford ’73, Ms. Tommie McCune, and Ms. Wilhelmina Washington Johnson-Niblett ’70.
(more…)
20
Oct
By William Hayden DIetz
A large fire engulfed a historic downtown Cottage Stillroom business in a Candle Factory on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021.
The fire was located on Cabell Street, near Rivermont, where the building that is host to a candle making business shot out grey plumes of smoke into the air.
One person suffered burns to their arm, but according to fire officials the burns are not life threatening.
Flames decimated the candle shop, however the fire department was able to extinguish most of the active flames quickly.
(more…)
29
Sep
By Critograph Editorial Board
The University of Lynchburg will officially inaugurate its first female president, Dr. Alison Morrison- Shetlar on Friday October 1, 2021 at 3 p.m. in the Dell.
(more…)
08
Sep
William Dietz ~ Guest Writer
The City of Lynchburg is preparing for the Virginia Ten Miler, which is scheduled for Sept. 25.
The race will begin at 8 a.m. at E.C. Glass High School located at 2111 Memorial Avenue, Lynchburg, Virginia 24501.
Though race falls during the university’s fall break, the Ten Miler is on the list of volunteer opportunities for students and staff through the Center for Community Engagement. Cindy Ferguson who heads the center has indicated she is looking for additional volunteers.
(more…)
01
Sep
By Hunter Epperson, William Deitz, William Masselli & Andrew Wheeler
As COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Central Virginia and Liberty University moves to online classes after an outbreak in their first week of school, students at the University of Lynchburg say they still feel safe on campus.
“An average of 32 cases per day were reported in Lynchburg, a 47 percent increase from the average two weeks ago. Since the beginning of the pandemic, at least 1 in 10 residents have been infected, a total of 8,326 reported cases. Right now, Lynchburg is at an extremely high risk for unvaccinated people,” according to the New York Times Lynchburg, Virginia COVID case tracker.
According to Liberty University’s COVID-19 Dashboard, which has not been updated since Aug. 25, there were a total of 159 active cases; 124 of those were active student cases, and the other 35 were active faculty/staff cases. There are also 274 on campus students in quarantine, as well as 111 commuters and 107 employees.
As of publication on Aug. 31, there were seven positive COVID-19 cases within the University of Lynchburg student population; all are quarantining off-campus and there is one student in quarantine on campus. There are currently three active cases among faculty and staff, according to the University of Lynchburg’s confirmed cases of COVID-19 page.
(more…)
25
Aug
By William Dietz ~ News Editor
Hill City Pride will host PrideFest 2021 on Aug., 28. PrideFest will include Pride in the Park at Riverfront Park, and Pride After Dark at the Glasshouse in Downtown Lynchburg.
Pride in the Park will have food and craft vendors, community partners, sponsors, and LGBTQIA+ performers to celebrate the community. The event is set to open at 1p.m. and conclude at 5 p.m.
(more…)
05
May
Pete Deaver ~ Guest Writer
One year after quarantine hit full force, vendors at the Lynchburg Community Market indicate that it was a very profitable year.
When the pandemic hit roughly one year ago, and efforts to stay home and stay safe increased, small businesses took a massive blow. According to a survey conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank, 30% of surveyed business owners indicated that their business would likely not survive the impact of the pandemic.
However, farmers in Lynchburg, Va., and surrounding areas, tell a different story.
(more…)
05
May
Cassandra Matthews ~ Assistant Editor
The annual Hike for Hope is occurring at the Claytor Nature Center on May 8.
This event is being put on by the University of Lynchburg and American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) to bring awareness to suicide prevention efforts while raising money for the cause.
To raise money for AFSP, registrants for the hike will share their fundraising page, asking friends, family, and the community to help.
(more…)
28
Apr
Pete Deaver ~ Guest Writer
Virginia has passed two new bills that are designed to protect victims from forced sex crimes if they are victims of human trafficking.
House Bill 2133 was voted on during the 2021 General Assembly and was unanimously approved. It seeks to allow victims of human trafficking who had been, “solicited, invited, recruited, encouraged, forced, intimidated, or deceived by another to engage in acts of prostitution or unlawful sexual intercourse for money or its equivalent” to apply to have convictions as a result of those terms to be vacated. This means that, although the record of that conviction will still be in place, it will be considered dismissed by a court of law.
(more…)
28
Apr
Cassandra Matthews ~ Assistant Editor
The Claytor Nature Center is home to the Belk Astronomical Observatory, and work done there furthers the discoveries of the NASA Solar System Ambassador program.
The NASA Solar System Ambassadors (SSA) website page describes the program by saying, “The NASA Solar System Ambassadors program is a public engagement effort that works with motivated volunteers across the nation to communicate the science and excitement of NASA’s space exploration missions and discoveries with the people in their communities.”
Trish Cerulli is one of those motivated volunteers. She said, “I became an SSA in Jan. 2021, after hearing about it last year from one of our dedicated docents, Ray Bradley. As the Outreach Coordinator for the Belk Observatory, much of my work there is already aligned with the mission of the SSA program, so I was happy to be selected as a volunteer SSA for NASA! I am the only SSA serving in the Lynchburg, Va., area, and I hope to be able to visit local libraries, scout troops, campus events, and other Lynchburg community opportunities to spread the word about space science and Belk Observatory!”
(more…)
21
Apr
Margaret Rolf ~ Guest Writer
The Academy Center of the Arts will be hosting Brett Thomas, a mobile Raku artist, for a pottery session in which attendees can create pieces in outdoor kilns. The class will take place in two sessions on April 23 and April 24.
Thomas has been coming to the Academy since Oct. of 2016 and this will be his ninth time teaching classes.
“I think people are really wowed by the process because of its immediate response,” said Ted Batt, the director of Visual arts who also oversees the Pottery Studio at the Academy. “You get these really cool metallic colors that you do not get from firing okay, and it’s got a long history it actually dates back to Japanese processes.”
(more…)
07
Apr
Maggie Rolf ~ Guest Writer
It has been one year since COVID-19 emerged, bringing challenges and even closure for many small businesses due to lack of customers. However, a few local Lynchburg businesses are standing strong.
CBS News stated, “nine million small firms are at risk of closing for good this year.” Outside the Cone and Mission House Coffee are local businesses in Lynchburg, Va., that have defeated the odds and remained strong during the pandemic.
Kyle Spangler, owner and manager of Outside the Cone an ice cream shop in Wyndhurst, said, “Definitely feel very blessed and lucky to be able to have a shop that is doing so well in a time like this.”
(more…)