When our schedules are full and we don’t have time to run to the grocery store for dinner ingredients, we often turn to food that comes in a cardboard box and is delivered within 30 minutes or less. But what if you had the option to have fresh, healthy ingredients that were hand-picked just for you? The creative minds behind Lynchburg Grows, a nonprofit urban farm located in Fort Hill, realized the advantages of readily-available, local produce and decided to turn that idea into a reality.

“Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a great way to re-invigorate the focus on buying food that is locally grown,” Aaron Lee, Operations Manager at Lynchburg Grows, explained. “Plus, it’s a great way to generate revenue that supports our mission of helping the disadvantaged in the community, while putting money directly in the pockets of the farmers that help make our CSA robust and varied. It’s also a great way to outreach into the community with, at current count, 116 people signed up to participate in our summer CSA.”

So what is a CSA, exactly? Each week, Lynchburg Grows compiles local produce, all grown within a 60-mile radius, and distributes it to the community. This keeps local fridges stocked with fresh ingredients at all times—and waistlines away from greasy takeout.

“Our CSA is truly a seasonal effort,” Lee said. “Throughout the summer, we flesh out the weekly bags with whatever we, and the other farmers we work with, are picking at the moment. Of course, each week has its share of veggies, but we also include fruits. Most weeks, customers can also count on getting one of the following: a dozen eggs, a chunk of cheese, butter or maybe even jam.”

Subscribers of the Lynchburg Grows CSA have the option of picking up their weekly lot directly at Lynchburg Grows—but they also have a partnership with AREVA and Genworth Financial where they drop off CSA shares at their offices each week to its employees.

“We do this because those businesses want to offer their employees fresh, local veggies and fruits and were able to find at least 10 employees willing to participate in the CSA,” Lee elaborated.

CSA bags can be picked up beginning Tuesday at 11 a.m. until Friday at 3 p.m., during Lynchburg Grows’ regular business hours.

But what happens to the food that doesn’t get picked up? Lynchburg Grows has a solution to that, too.

“The items not picked up are donated at the end of the week to Daily Bread or the Salvation Army,” Lee said.

This generous donation, coupled with Lynchburg Grows’ mission to aid and support those in the community with special needs, is one reason why the CSA has been so successful so far. As if that weren’t incentive enough, the CSA is also putting money back into the community.

“Last year, we put more than $15,000 in the pockets of area farmers by including their produce in our CSA. That’s the money side,” Lee said. “But, more importantly, the quality of the produce is logistically fresher when you buy it from the folks producing it in your backyard. There are a myriad of other reasons, but just knowing that, in whatever small way we are helping to keep our local agricultural heritage alive and meaningful for future generations gives the idea purpose enough.”

And it’s a purpose that Lee and Lynchburg Grows hope to maintain for years to come.

Lynchburg Grows is a nonprofit urban farm whose mission is to create job opportunities for disadvantaged and disabled people in the community. The summer CSA began in June and will last for 21 weeks. Subscriptions are $315. For more information, visit www.lynchburggrows.org

Often remembered specifically for that purpose, this Mediterranean-style building has been serving seniors in the area since 1903. 

“We bought the old Bedford Hotel in 1903,” explained Dr. Ron Plamondon, Executive Director of the Elks National Home. “In 1914, we decided we needed a new place. So, we tore down that building and people stayed at the old Jeter School for Girls, which is no longer in existence. In 1960, we dedicated our existing building.” 

After tearing down the castle-esque Bedford Hotel, the Elks National Home moved a few feet from the original location and built a more modest, yet architecturally beautiful, building for seniors. 

“It’s changed quite a bit since it was originally built,” Plamondon remarked with a laugh. “We originally started the Elks National Home for the elderly and the poor elderly—for those people who couldn’t find work and were too old or sick to work. We bought the hotel for those people. After we built the main building, we added H Building in 1927. In 1930, we built I Building. We could house up to 400 people—and we did during the 1930s when a lot of people were out of work.” 

In the beginning years, the Elks National Home only housed men. It wasn’t until recently that women were able to live there as well. 

“H and I Buildings used to just house men in a dormitory style,” Plamondon explained. “In 1985, we started renovating the main buildings. In 1999, we allowed women for the first time and created space for 37 apartments. H and I are still dormitory style—though we don’t use I building anymore. Next year, we’re looking to start a renovation program to turn H and I building into apartments. Then, we’d add a specialty care unit and 49 more apartments.” 

Ever since its inception, residents have been required to be members of an Elks Lodge prior to living at the Elks National Home. With 105 men and women currently living there, Plamondon doesn’t see that as a restriction. 

“You definitely have to be an Elk. You shouldbe an Elk for five years, however, there is a waiver process,” he said. 

Along with the 105 residents at the Elks Home, 19 nurses, CNAs and medical technicians work on-site around the clock to ensure everyone is properly taken care of. 

“We have doctors who come in three days a week,” Plamondon explained. “They are foot doctors, optometrists, hearing aid specialists. Just about everything you can think of, we have them come to the home. If [a resident] needs to go out to see a specialist, we do provide transportation.” 

Even thought the Elks National Home is much like its own little community and neighborhood, residents occasionally want to stretch their legs and get out-and-about—and that’s taken care of as well.

“We also have an entertainment director. We have a golf course on-site which the residents love. We also have indoor and outdoor shuffle boards and BINGO tournaments. When residents want to go out, we make trips to banks, to the mall, etc., a couple of times a week to Lynchburg, Roanoke and, of course, around Bedford,” Plamondon said.

Acting as a historic emblem and a scene of many childhood memories, the Elks National Home has created a standard of excellent care for over 100 years—a reputation it expects to continue for 100 more, and beyond.

“I think, to a certain degree, God prepares me for certain things,” Vince Phelps stated after telling the creation story of his business, VC Design and Build. After what seemed like a roller coaster of successful businesses, Phelps easily depicted how he got from Point A to Point B—two polarizing moments in his career life that have made an impact not only on him, but our community.

The story goes like this: In 2004, Phelps sold his incredibly successful software company. Trips across the country and countless hours in the corporate world ended and at 40 years old, he asked himself the inevitable question: What next?

“I really like real estate and commercial real estate,” Phelps explained, as the first glimmers of his passion for the subject started to rise in his voice. “So, I took the money I had made from selling the software business and invested it into commercial real estate. As a part of that, I met Chris Gentry and began buying more commercial property.”

Of course, as with many commercial properties, renovations became a familiar term in Phelps’ vocabulary.

“Instead of contracting other people [for the renovations], I developed my own contracting capabilities,” he said.

In September of 2008, VC Design and Build opened its doors to turn-key design and building services.

“VC stands for Vince and Carolyn, my wife. We’ve been married for 20 years and I couldn’t have done this without her support,” Phelps explained.

As the economy began to dip, Phelps never questioned his decision to start VC Design and Build.

“In our first year of business, we were able to stay afloat during a tough economical time,” he said. “I was blessed along the way to meet Dr. Bentley and his wife, who wanted to build a new practice. I just so happened to own the land on the corner of Timberlake—so I sold him the land and built his practice. We were able to work with great people and build something very unique. And we were able to do it at a time when our economy really needed us. Dr. Bentley and his wife felt the same way—they wanted to make an impact on the community too. We touched over 500 lives with that one project—that’s how many people participated in it.”

With an uncertain real estate market, Phelps has had to keep a unique perspective.
“All I know is what it [the real estate market] is. I only know how to succeed in a difficult market—because it hasn’t been easy since I’ve been in business. People are waiting for the market to change … and it has. It’s different. We need to be able to work in this different environment and be effective and efficient,” he said.

With a full-time staff of about 12, VC Design and Build doesn’t just focus on commercial properties. According to Phelps, there’s something special in building a home for someone.

“We build products for people that enable them to be self-sufficient longer. We recognize that the market has changed and that people are living differently today than they did even five years ago. We don’t like to use the word ‘downsizing’ but people are reshaping and redefining. It’s more efficient to say, ‘How am I going to live here and what’s the right square footage for my home?’ We help our clients figure that out,” Phelps explained.

It’s this turn-key concept that has solidified VC Design and Build’s success in their three short years.

“We look at the design build a little differently. I will help them understand the investment and how real estate works in general. We’ll help educate them and help them prepare to go to the bank and secure financing. We take the lead as a one-stop shop,” Vince added with a laugh, “We’ll even move your furniture.”

Of course, it’s not all about the tangible things when it comes to VC Design and Build. Recognizing the importance of giving back to the community, VC supports local charities, such as Kaleidoscope, Meals on Wheels and their animal program, AniMeals. In addition, any product VC sells within a city limit, they’ll donate $250 to the closest humane society.

As for where his company will be in the next five years, Phelps has high hopes.

“I see us as one of the most well respected construction firms in Central Virginia,” he said. “I believe we will shock people with the amount of work we’ll do. I think we’re redefining the way construction works.”

Bikram yoga is quite a bit younger than traditional Hatha yoga, which was developed in India in the 15^th century. Bikram, which was introduced a little over 30 years ago by Bikram Choudhury, concentrates more on the flexibility and cardio aspect than the meditation and serenity of traditional practices. With only 26 poses in the Bikram repertoire, students go through the series in 105-degree temperatures with 40 percent humidity for about 90 minutes.

“We systematically go through the body and work every part,” explained Sarah Curl, half of the duo that makes up Bikram Yoga of Lynchburg, located on Jefferson Street. “The heat makes you more flexible and increases the detoxification of the toxins our bodies build up over time.”

Those attending the class expecting quiet, slow-paced yoga will be surprised to find the complete opposite. With either Curl or her sister, Gretchen Doherty, leading the class, poses and postures will be called out to the participants, removing room for meditation.

“We don’t do any meditation in Bikram yoga,” Curl explained. “We focus more on challenging the body and the cardio—more on the physical than the mental. We go through two series of breathing exercises at the beginning of the class, which allows the student to relax before their workout as well as gets their heart rate slightly elevated.”

The effects and benefits of Bikram yoga can be seen in every participant—even Curl. About five years ago, Curl was preparing for her eighth knee surgery due to a field hockey injury. She was a first grade teacher at the time and had to rely on a cane to walk down the school hallways. Not prepared to go through another painful surgery, Curl began searching for other options. That’s when she found Bikram.

“I first started to lose weight,” she said. “The surgeries and my knee pain hadn’t allowed me to be as active as I once was and the low-impact of yoga was perfect. After just a few classes, I noticed a difference. I had been taking 800 mg of Motrin a day, and I was able to cut back and eventually stop taking it all together. I felt amazing—I could even wear heels again!”

A year to the day after she started practicing Bikram yoga, Curl became an instructor in New Hampshire, where she is originally from. About three years ago, when Curl moved to Lynchburg, she knew she wasn’t ready to give it up. So, she made the trek to Charlottesville a few times a week to teach classes there. In the meantime, Doherty was living and teaching yoga in Los Angeles. Having seen the difference Bikram yoga made in her sister’s life, Doherty knew she had to give it a try and fell in love with it just like her sister.

After hours of planning, coordinating and looking at spaces in Lynchburg, Curl and Doherty finally decided to open a yoga studio on Jefferson Street downtown.

“We had planned to open in January but we finished the renovations early and just couldn’t wait,” said Curl. “My sister and I are teaching 18 classes a week. At first, we were only open Monday through Saturday, but we were turning people away because the classes were full—so we added a Sunday class.”

Students are able to create their own schedule based on the results they want to see.

“We have a 30-day challenge here,” Curl explained, “where students take 30 classes in 30 days—sometimes doubling up on classes to get their hours in.”

With everyone’s progress being tracked on a board in the lobby, the hard work of each student is clear.

“We have some students who were in car accidents and use this as their rehabilitation. Some have come in barely able to walk, and now they’re able to do almost all of the poses.”

Don’t sweat it, however, if you think hot yoga isn’t for you. According to Curl, athletes like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar credit their career to Bikram yoga—so there’s a little something in there for everyone. Whether you’re looking to improve your flexibility, strength, balance or just want to get in better shape, Bikram yoga has a spot on the mat just fo

So where did the idea for canvas totes come from? The catalyst of its popularity can be dated back to the ‘80s, when most grocers were packing goods in paper bags. Eventually, the negative impact of the paper bags on the trees and the earth in general was noticed and ultra-thin plastic bags were introduced to the market. When you compare the two, plastic is an obvious choice—it consumes 40 to 70 percent less energy and generates approximately 80 percent less solid waste.  If consumers were simply using, say, one plastic bag a week, chances are canvas bags wouldn’t be necessary for a few more years. However, statistics show that about 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are used worldwide every year, according to Vincent Cobb, founder of reuseablebags.com.

The need for a more reusable source is obvious, but where’s the best place to get your new bag? That answer is best left to the experts in the field—Fabriko. Fabriko was born in 1946 as a producer of canvas bags, among other products. Originally located in Green Lake, Wisconsin, Fabriko relocated to Appomattox, Virginia, in 1997.

“We started producing environmentally friendly bags in 2002, several years prior to it becoming commonplace,” Melanie Stevens, National Account Manager for Fabriko, explained. “We started originally with only organic and recycled cotton. In 2005, we expanded into what is now our most popular material, ECOSPUN. ECOSPUN is 100 percent recycled, post-consumer plastic bottles which are recycled into canvas-like material. In 2010, 40 percent of all the bags we produced in the USA were manufactured from the ECOSPUN material.”

So what caused Fabriko to start producing these bags ahead of the consumer curve? Stevens says it was their customers, who helped make their decision.

“Our customers are primarily Fortune 500 companies who give the bags away at tradeshows, product promotions or employee recognition events. They are very conscious of how their respective brands are received in the marketplace. They have always been interested in being associated with our American-made quality but when we added environmentally-friendly as well, it gave us a very strong competitive advantage. We never approached ‘going green’ with an environmental ideology, we approached with a common sense ideology,” she said.

Fabriko’s balance of business sense and care for the environment has resulted in positive growth in the last two years.

“The fact that we have incorporated green materials into our line of American-made bags can be specifically linked to Fabriko picking up over a dozen Fortune 500 customers in the last two years, including Pepsi, Sony and AOL,” Stevens said.

Of course, Fabriko doesn’t just produce eco-friendly tote bags for shoppers’ convenience. According to Stevens, they also manufacture back packs, messenger bags, aprons and reusable lunch sacks.

With such steady growth in its past, Fabriko is making moves to continue it in the future.

“This year we are introducing custom, corporate, full-color, 100 percent recycled table cloths, table runners and banners,” Stevens said.

It’s this type of attention to consumer needs that has Fabriko expanding throughout North America, with most sales coming from major metropolitan cities in the United States and Canada.

Whatever you’re reason for purchasing a canvas tote, or any other eco-conscious product for that matter—whether it be fashion or function—it is important to remember that every small step you make towards environmental enlightenment will not only benefit you, but the generations to follow.

“The first change [at Recycle Easy] was the switch from the 18-gallon blue bins to the 96-gallon rolling bins, which was accomplished through our partner, BSW Waste Solutions,” Recycle Easy Vice President, Tom Scott, explained of the changes the company has seen within the last year. “When we began the business in the second half of 2008, we decided to use 18-gallon bins which we felt, based on a few test houses, would be enough to handle the weekly recycled needs from a family. It was clear from very early in the process that 18-gallons were not enough to accommodate the weekly needs of most families. And in paying attention to the trends on the East and West Coasts, it became clear that we would need much larger containers.”

After further evaluation, the Recycle Easy team began looking into purchasing their own collection equipment and partnering with another business to get the job done in an efficient and cost-effective way.

“The combination of low efficiencies and small containers led us to investigate the possibilities of purchasing our own collection equipment or partnering with someone who had the equipment and also had excess capacity. We had several conversations, and ended up partnering with BSW Waste Solutions, largely due to their focus on rapid response and customer service,” Scott said. “At the same time, the large containers allowed Recycle Easy to go to every-other-week pickup, which provided the efficiency necessary to continue our business.”

Recycle Easy included residential areas and smaller businesses in their initial plan, but with their increasing business and popularity, Scott says that plan is now being altered.

“The second big change, which we are in the process of implementing now, is the addition of a business route. Although we currently deal with smaller businesses, we are establishing a dumpster route beginning in January 2011, which will serve businesses with larger recycled needs. Many businesses have realized that between 55 and 75 percent of what is typically thrown in dumpsters is actually recyclable (paper, corrugated boxes, glass, plastics 1 through 7, etc.).”

According to Scott, the addition has definitely paid off—for both Recycle Easy and the participating locations.

“During a time when businesses are realizing the detrimental effect of waste to future generations, they are taking a hard look at what they are putting into the waste stream. They are beginning to realize that recycling to a much greater extent is not only the right thing to do, but that the costs can be mitigated by the reduced need for garbage collection,” he said.

One of the participating businesses, Wiley|Wilson, especially benefited from Recycle Easy’s efforts.

“We discovered we were paying more than six times more per pound to collect trash than to collect recycled material by working with Recycle Easy,” Dave Roberts, P.E., LEED AP BD+C, Structural Manager with Wiley|Wilson, explained. “As a result of the audit, we will be replacing all the office trash cans with recycling containers and moving to centralized trash collection.”

“Finally,” Scott remarked, “environmental sense makes economical sense for business.”

In addition to the changes to their business model, Recycle Easy has also made some changes that affect their existing and potential customers. With the addition of a few zip codes to their route and an increase in price—which translates to an increase in service—Scott is hoping many more locals will benefit from their service.

“At this point, we are focusing on filling the gaps on the current routes. We currently service 24501, 24502, 24503, 24504, 24551 and 24572 area codes. Amherst County Schools was the first school district to adopt large scale recycling,” Scott said. “In January 2010, Recycle Easy converted all customers to the 96-gallon toter and every-other-week pickup service. The dramatic increase in the size of the toter not only allowed customers to place a larger amount of recycling in one rolling container, it also eliminated the need for weekly pickup service. … We can now accommodate five times the amount of recyclable material in one container.”

While customers may see an increase in price, they ultimately are seeing an increase in better service provided by Recycle Easy—service that they hope to continue for years to come.

Enter social media.

Blogs, Twitter, Facebook and all those other online mediums that have funny names have flooded our day-to-day. From President Obama and his Twitter account to stay-at-home moms running blogs with hundreds to thousands of followers, online media has put the lives of others right on our computer screen. So how does this benefit brick and mortar retailers? The best way to answer that is by asking those who put social media into action.

If you live in the area, chances are you’ve heard of Sam Stroud Photography (SSP). Stroud, who was voted 2009’s “Best Local Photographer” by the readers of Lynchburg Living magazine, is known for his breathtaking photography as well as his use of social media to showcase his work and get his “followers” involved in contests to win items such as a Macbook.

“Creating a blog for me as a photographer was a great way to update my portfolio as each week went on,” Stroud explained. “It keeps your work dynamic, where as a portfolio site most likely stays fairly static throughout the year. I also want people to know that we are in fact shooting—a lot. We update two to four times a week, sometimes every day. I want people to know that. We are constantly doing things. Part of the experience of SSP is bringing people along with us when we do something exciting. This is a way we can do that.”

With approximately 1,500 unique views per week, Stroud says his technique is working.

“I think alongside with other relevant social mediums, it works in bringing in new business. We have grown over 300 percent as a business since we decided to integrate social media into SSP. I think the key is using those mediums (blog, Twitter, etc.) to tell a story that people want to hear, or something worthwhile. I would venture to guess if you have nothing to say, you may want to re-evaluate where you are at in your business,” he said.

Updating your blog and other forms of social media is imperative when keeping your followers engaged. One way to do this is by hosting contests, which promotes interaction between you and your potential customers.

“We use contests to bring in awareness about something new we are doing or something new we are pushing,” Stroud said. “Most people or consumers care about the product but care more about winning something or getting something in return. I could spend $1,500 a month on print and web advertising or I could double that using Twitter, Facebook and our blog to promote something, and in six weeks, see more of a return. Contests, when done consistently, also provide staying power. I would venture to guess half of the people who are checking in daily to SSP don’t care about the art. They want a Macbook. And to be quite honest, I totally understand that. Who wouldn’t?”

Of course, it isn’t just Stroud who is making waves in the local blogging scene. Other well-known local photographers keep up entertaining and visually beautiful blogs as well, from Adam Barnes to Stone Blue Productions and Kellan Studios. Then there is The Farm Basket, which regularly posts event happenings and food-related opinions on their blog. Forest-based event destination, West Manor, keeps followers updated on happenings at both West Manor and City View Skytop Lounge, both owned by the Lester family.

“We launched the blog last year in honor of our upcoming 10-year anniversary this year,” Katie Lester, General Manager of West Manor, said. “We wanted to show clients and prospective clients all the events we do in a quicker, more accessible fashion. The blog allows us to show things immediately … things that happened this weekend, ideas we have and get it directly into the hands of our followers.”

Lester also says that their blog not only showcases West Manor’s own abilities, but the abilities of other businesses in town, making it a win-win for all involved.

“Because we work with so many vendors, it’s also nice to be able to showcase their work with us so that brides can see their level of excellence as well,” she said.

When it comes to staying relevant in an ever-changing society, blogging keeps readers involved in your day-to-day business life and encourages them to become a part of it. Consider starting one for your company today, if you have not already, and watch your online fan base expand with a click of the mouse.

The majority of the time, those restless feelings are unnecessary and most people find themselves leaving the dentist with freshly polished teeth and a clean bill of dental health. When the prognosis isn’t so relieving, however, offices like Mountainview Oral Surgery and Implant Center in Lynchburg step in.

First opened in May of this year, Mountainview specializes in dental implants, wisdom teeth removal and general extractions, bone grafting, facial trauma and jaw surgery. While these procedures sound frightening, Mountainview is anything but. Walking through the double doors into the reception area, visitors are greeted with cool earth tones, inviting décor and a friendly staff.

“While this is a surgical facility, we didn’t want the building to look white and scary like most surgical rooms do,” Dr. Riva Magid, part of the husband-wife team that makes up Mountainview Oral Surgery and Implant Center, explained.

Riva and her husband, Dr. Mitch Magid, are quite the unique pair. Riva has her M.D. and Ph.D. in anesthesiology while Mitch has his D.M.D. in anesthesiology and oral surgery. Mitch received his dental degree from the University of Pennsylvania, and prior to beginning his practice in Lynchburg, he was an oral surgeon at the Colorado Oral Surgery Center in Denver, where he was also an Associate Clinical Professor at the University of Colorado School of Dentistry. Mitch has also served as Assistant Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Temple University. Together, Riva and Mitch make the perfect team for a well-oiled oral surgery facility.

For now, Mitch is the only one working as an anesthesiologist in the office, but once business picks up (and it’s steadily increasing by the day), Riva will begin working full-time as well. Not only is Mitch highly involved with his new practice, which is located on Graves Mill Road, he is also on-call with Centra Lynchburg General Hospital where he performs more intensive, invasive surgeries such as facial reconstruction.

“Extractions are our practice’s bread and butter but our mainstay is wisdom tooth removal,” Mitch said.

Mountainview Oral Surgery and Implant Center is truly state-of-the-art. Walking towards the back treatment rooms is like stepping into the future—a 3D CT Scan sits across the hallway from surgical rooms which feature fully sterilized equipment and recovery rooms which offer patients freshly warmed towels and flat screen TVs.

“You’re looking at the future because this is the future,” Riva explained as she detailed every piece of high-tech equipment in the office.

Mountainview is particularly proud of their 3D CT Scan, and with good reason. With the CT Scan, patients can not only see traditional CT views of their facial make-up, but they can also view 3D renderings of their cranium and cervical vertebrae. This allows Dr. Magid to view bone density to gauge dental implant size as well as view possible concerns, such as tumors.

“All CT Scans are sent off to a radiologist to be read, so a patient’s images are being viewed by two experienced doctors,” Mitch said.

The comfort and assurance of patients is the driving force behind Mountainview, even down to the temperature levels.

“You’ll notice there is a change in temperature when you come from the front of the office to the back. When patient’s are under anesthesia and once they’re in recovery, they tend to get cold easily so it’s warmer in the back,” Riva said.

It’s this attention to detail that already has general dentists referring numerous patients to Mountainview , even within its first few months of business.

“It’s really amazing,” Riva remarked. “We haven’t really done any advertising. … We’re not even in the phone book!”

It’s the word-of-mouth advertising that is a true testament to the quality and care that patients receive when they visit Mountainview. Though no one ever hopes to undergo oral surgery, one thing is certain—patients are well taken care of at Mountainview.

Patients must have a referral prior to making an appointment with Mountainview Oral Surgery and Implant Center but for more information on the practice, visit them online at LynchburgOralSurgery.com.

“I have two big dogs myself and I realized how much waste I was throwing away each week. I did a little bit of research and you can actually compost the waste and use it with other materials for non-edible plants,” Robinson explained.

In addition to discovering the startling statistic that approximately 5 percent of the waste that is in landfills comes from dogs, an idea sparked in Robinson.

“I looked on Forbes magazine’s site and found that there is a need for a service that picks up dog waste,” he said.

With that, a business idea was formed, and a short time later, Clean and Green K9 was in action. The business model is simple: Offer a service that no one enjoys doing—pick up waste once a week, every two weeks or once a month—and use the waste as compost for non-edible plant life.

Clean and Green really is the best of both worlds—it takes the daunting task of picking up after your pups off your back and helps Mother Earth at the same time. And with prices starting at just $11, anyone can have a waste-free lawn without the hassle of doing it themselves.

Of course, waste removal isn’t the only service Robinson offers.

“We also install underground dog fences,” he said. “Above ground fences don’t always work in a lawn, so we install underground, electric fences.”

By installing fences from PetSafe, Clean and Green will help keep your dogs contained and out of your garden. According to their Web site, they have products for stubborn dogs such as Foxhounds, big dogs such as Great Danes or even smaller collars for Dachshunds. Clean and Green has the ability to design numerous containment systems to cater to your yard layout—working around pools, gardens and any other areas that aren’t so pet-friendly.

Of course, a job such as Robinson’s isn’t always easy. Entering a canine’s territory can often be hazardous.

“I was out doing some marketing one day and a woman let her dog out on me,” Robinson laughed. “I knocked on the door; no one answered and started making my way back to my SUV. As I came around the corner, the woman inside the house let her dog out the side door to chase after me! I ran back to my car and made it back safely. It wasn’t funny at the time, but looking back on it, it is.”

Most customers ensure their dogs are inside or secured elsewhere before Clean and Green comes in for clean-up, but one thing is for sure: This job isn’t for the faint at heart.

Whether he’s scooping waste, composting it, installing fences or being chased by irate dogs, it’s obvious that Robinson is passionate about his job and bettering the environment at the same time. A lesson can be learned here: Even the smallest, most abstract ideas can turn into a successful venture. Robinson saw an opportunity in Lynchburg; an opportunity that is already taking hold in our area.

For more information about Clean and Green K9, visit their Web site at www.CleanAndGreenK9.com.

ABS Technology Architects got its humble beginnings back in 1972 as American Business Systems. By providing electronic calculators, typewriters and word-processing solutions for their clients, ABS remained on the cutting edge to provide the most advanced technology solutions. Fast forward to present day and ABS Technology Architects still exists under that same mission statement: “To architects, implement and support the most advanced technology solutions for their clients, while providing unmatched customer service. ABS will always be committed to treating clients as partners, not customers.”

Headquartered in Virginia Beach, ABS was the first Virginia-based company to become Cisco IP Telephony certified and holds the longest Cisco voice partner certification in Virginia. As a certified partner of Cisco systems, ABS provides the design, installation and support for a comprehensive package of networking solutions, such as Wireless LAN and Routing & Switching. ABS is also a partner with big names such as Microsoft, Barracuda Networks, HP and IPCelerate.

“ABS has achieved the Cisco Channel Customer Satisfaction Excellence rating for eight consecutive years, from 2002 – 2010. The company was named Cisco’s  U.S. East Region State, Local Government and Education (SLED) Partner of the Year in 2009 and US & Canada East Regional Partner of the Year Award in 2010,” explained Robyn Showanes, Marketing Executive for ABS Technology Architects of Lynchburg.

So, what exactly does it mean to be a technology architect? ABS works to build innovative solutions such as Unified Communications, which is the integration of real-time communication services such as instant messaging, video conferencing and speech recognition. ABS also offers data storage, network security and more. Servicing businesses, government agencies and educational institutions ABS, in essence, supplies everything you need to make your business run smoother.

“We also offer a variety of managed services that help to maintain our client’s networks,” said Showanes.

Recognizing an opportunity for growth, ABS Technology Architects expanded to its fourth location—the Lynchburg area—in 2009 in order to support the growing number of potential clients within the Region 2000.

By bringing such inventive technology to our area, it was inevitable that ABS would be up for recognition—they just didn’t think it would happen so quickly.

In May of this year, ABS Technology Architects of Lynchburg was awarded the Virginia Region 2000 Technology Council’s Technology Company of the Year award. The Technology Company of the Year designation recognizes the technology company “that has proven itself as a leader in its field, a technology pillar in the community and an available resource to other technology companies,” Showanes said.

Such a high honor brought a flood of pride and enthusiasm to the team at ABS Technology Architects as they were selected by members of their community.

“ABS was thrilled to receive this award,” said Showanes. “It has special meaning to us because our employees work and love in the communities that we serve. The Lynchburg community is important to us and we were proud to be recognized by them.”

It is clear that our area is important to ABS Technology Architects of Lynchburg. Whether they’re providing top-of-the-line technology and support services to the Region 2000 area or are being recognized by their peers, ABS is quickly becoming a cornerstone in our community.

For more information about ABS Technology Architects, visit www.absnt.com. For more information on the Region 2000 Technology Council and the Technology Company of the Year award, visit www.region2000.org.