Lynchburg Business

In the News, January 2013

Issue: January 2013 by Lynchburg Business in In the News

B&W MPOWER™ REACTOR CONTROL ROOM SIMULATOR BEGINS OPERATIONS

The production-standard control room prototype for The Babcock & Wilcox Company’s (B&W) mPower™ small modular reactor (SMR) is now operational. This engineering simulator is a key milestone in the B&W mPower development program.

The B&W mPower control room prototype, located in Lynchburg, is built to the same production specifications as that which will control the two reactors in an actual B&W mPower SMR control room. The control room is connected to a plant engineering simulator to allow validation of the man-machine interfaces and operating controls architecture. Initially, the control room will help the B&W mPower design team to effectively incorporate lessons learned from real world operating experience, and discover any design issues early in the development cycle, reducing B&W mPower development risk and cost. As the B&W mPower program moves closer to deployment, the control room will be used to train future reactor operators.

“Completing the control room prototype at this stage of B&W mPower development program allows us to begin an intensive testing and development of the training program well in advance of deployment,” Christofer Mowry, President, Babcock & Wilcox mPower, Inc., said “Having the ability to train operators two to three years ahead of commercial operation will keep us on the critical path toward timely development and operation at our Clinch River project by 2021.”

The facility will be used by about two dozen engineers, creating new jobs in 2013.

ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS RECEIVES GRANT FROM LYNCH’S LANDING FOR HISTORIC THEATRE FAÇADE WORK

The Academy of Fine Arts has received a $25,000 grant from Lynch’s Landing to support the restoration of the historic Academy of Music Theatre’s façade. This grant will facilitate preparatory work to the full Academy of Music Theatre restoration.

“The Academy of Fine Arts has established itself as an anchor in the James River Arts & Culture District through quality arts education programming, exhibits and performances,” Anna Bentson, Executive Director of Lynch’s Landing, said. “As the last remaining theater on Main Street, the theater is an incredibly important historic and cultural landmark in our region. We believe that restoring this theater will serve as a magnet for continued economic development, serving as a stimulus in the development of downtown Lynchburg as a retail, residential and tourist destination. It is our goal that this leadership gift will establish confidence in this project and move quickly towards making a significant, visible and lasting improvement to Main Street.”

The funds from this grant will support critical components that will both enhance the visibility of the theater and improve the Main Street appearance from fabrication and installation of the historic canopy marquee to restoration of the blade sign and other facade improvements.

The historic 1905 Academy of Music Theatre has lain dormant since 1958. Restoration on the theatre’s foundation and fly-tower was completed in 2010 with a plan to create a downtown fine arts complex, including the restoration of the historic theatre.

In the coming months, the Academy of Fine Arts will launch the campaign to complete the restoration of the historic Academy of Music Theatre as a state-of-the-art performance center.

NINTH ANNUAL LYNCHBURG LOFT TOUR ON FEBRUARY 23

The 9^th Annual Loft tour benefitting the Free Clinic of Central Virginia is on Saturday, February 23, 2013 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., offering tour goers the chance to visit eight to 10 furnished loft apartments in downtown Lynchburg.  All ticket sales benefit the Free Clinic of Central Virginia.

Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 the day of the event.  Tickets may be purchased at these locations:

The Free Clinic of Central Virginia – 1016 Main Street, Lynchburg

The Silver Thistle – Boonsboro Shopping Center, Lynchburg

The Visitors Center – corner of Church and 12^th Street, Lynchburg

The Good Cherry – Forest Square, Route 221, Forest

Westminster Canterbury – 501 VES Road, Lynchburg

Lynch’s Landing – 1023 Commerce Street, Lynchburg

For further information, please contact Edie Light at specialevents@fccv.net or (434) 847-5866, ext. 23 or visit www.fccv.net.

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR 2013 VOICE OF THE ARTS & HUMANITIES AWARDS

The James River Council for the Arts and Humanities is seeking nominations for their 2013 Voice of the Arts & Humanities Awards. The purpose of the awards is to recognize exceptionally creative, innovative and inquisitive individuals and organizations whose achievement in the arts and/or humanities have distinguished them and enriched the lives of the citizens of Central Virginia.

Awards will be presented in the categories of Cultural Organization, Arts and Humanities Volunteers, Arts Education, Corporate/Business and Promotion of the Arts and Humanities. A Lifetime Achievement Award may go to an individual whose single contributions to the cultural community stand out above all others and bring distinction to Central Virginia. Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on Thursday evening, February 21, at the Academy of Fine Arts.

Any individual or organization may submit nominations from the James River Council service area that includes the Cities of Lynchburg and Bedford and the counties of Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford and Campbell. Deadline for Nominations is January 25, 2013. Forms are available online at www.jamesriverarts.org or by email request to director@jamesriverarts.org

CENTRA CANCER CARE SERVICES EARNS THREE-YEAR FULL ACCREDITATION

Centra Cancer Care Services has earned a three-year full accreditation with commendation as a comprehensive community cancer program from the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons. Only 25 percent of cancer care programs in the United States receive this recognition.

The Commission on Cancer accreditation recognizes the quality of comprehensive cancer care available at a facility and means that patients have access to the full scope of services required to diagnose, treat, rehabilitate and support patients with cancer and their families.

“It is always nice to be recognized as a top comprehensive community cancer center by an organization that counts 1,500 cancer centers in their membership across the United States,” Matthew Foster, M.D., associate medical director, Cancer Care Services, said. “We believe true validation of our efforts is in the experience we can bring to the bedside or examination room when we care for the patients we serve every day.”

Only facilities that have voluntarily committed to provide the best in diagnosis and treatment of cancers receive approval from the Commission on Cancer. A rigorous evaluation process and performance review by the commission is necessary every three years to achieve and maintain accreditation.

POPLAR FOREST NOW RECRUITING NEW VOLUNTEERS

Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest in Bedford County is currently recruiting passionate, committed people to join the volunteer corps, which includes a team of archaeologists, craftsmen, preservationists and museum professionals.

Volunteers give their time to welcome visitors, staff the museum shop, work in the hands-on-history center, present tours of the house and grounds to visitors and assist with special events.

Poplar Forest seeks volunteers interested in history, archaeology and historic preservation and those who enjoy working with both adults and children. Volunteers work as tour docents, museum shop assistants and hands-on-history docents.

Those interested in becoming a volunteer at Poplar Forest must complete a training program, consisting of four three-hour training classes supported by comprehensive training materials, and be willing to commit to a minimum of nine hours per month during the tour season (March 15 through December 15).

“We are proud of the fact that more than 77 percent of our volunteers have been serving at Poplar Forest for five years or more,” Dianne Kinney, Manager of Visitor Services and Volunteers, said.

Training will take place in January and February 2013. For more information and to download a copy of the volunteer application and job descriptions, please email Dianne@poplarforest.org or visit www.poplarforest.org/support/volunteering.