The Current is a twice monthly informative and literary publication for Smith Mountain Lake and Southwestern VA. It is designed as a gentle read to make you smile, introduce you to people and places in the community, and encourage you to create a life you love. We are a reader-supported e-magazine.
Planning a party can be stressful. But being able to source several of the key components all from one place will have you well on your way to hosting a beautifully decorated, low-stress occasion!
Backdrop Bedford is an event rental business owned by Brooke and Will Gray and created, practically, out of necessity! When planning their own nuptials in 2022, the couple was surprised to find a local hole in this industry. Having just moved back from Charlotte, NC (Brooke is a Lynchburg native), they were unable to find several of the elements they had hoped to include as a part of their big day. Because the pair are collectively both inventive and handy, they made a plan and decided to execute it themselves - all the while thinking about how they might be able to help other area couples (and party-throwers in general!) not have to go through the same sourcing hassle that they did.
A few months after they tied the knot, the Grays launched Backdrop Bedford. Their business provides balloon garlands, towers, and arches; feature walls (as simple or as elaborate as you wish), and backdrops of all shapes and sizes - think: doors, rings, champagne displays, marquee lights, etc.. Oh! I can't forget their latest addition: two white inflatable bounce houses.
Because each celebration is unique, the Grays would love to talk with you about creating a custom package that perfectly suits your event. Just think of not having to worry one bit about decor or entertainment. A few well-placed elements quickly take any space from plain to festive! The backdrops also create amazing photo opportunities for your soiree. Planning a weekend or even week-long event? Never fear. The balloon installations can last in excess of a month if kept indoors and out of extreme temperatures.
One thing Brooke and Will want to be clear about is pricing. You'll find up-front costs for basic rentals right on their website, so you'll know what might fit best within your party budget. Here are just a few of the occasions to which Background Bedford is able add their special touch: birthdays, anniversaries, showers, graduations, weddings, holiday gatherings like Memorial Day, Labor Day, July 4th, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Halloween, and New Year's Eve… They serve all your decor needs from small grab-and-go balloon bouquets to large-scale corporate events.
Did the white bounce houses I mentioned earlier pique your interest? The White Bounce House, is the first and only franchise of the company in Virginia and fits seamlessly into Backdrop Bedford's offerings. Renting high-quality inflatables that do not consist of the typical primary colors allows you to perfectly blend your entertainment with your decor theme. There are sizes appropriate for both adults and children and the houses can even be set up indoors. Of course, the company is fully insured. This interactive touch of whimsy is sure to be a hit with your guests of all ages!
The Grays are full-time residents of Bedford, VA and own property at Smith Mountain Lake as well. Each week they put in their time at individual 9-5s and then can't wait for the opportunity to go to work for their BB clients on the weekends, which, Brooke admits, is way more fun! They provide set up and tear down service with all of their rentals, and will travel throughout Bedford, Lynchburg, and Smith Mountain Lake to help make your next gathering a memorable one.
If you're interested in learning more about all that Backdrop Bedford offers, check out their website where you'll find an easy inquiry form, or give Brooke a call at:
“We will be more successful in all our endeavors if we can let go of the habit of running all the time, and take little pauses to relax and re-center ourselves. And we’ll also have a lot more joy in living.”
-Thich Nhat Hanh
Image by: Larry Coltrain
Bringing the Chicken
to the People!
If you haven't recently found yourself traveling down 122 on a Wednesday, at lunchtime, you may have missed the latest food truck that has come to the lake. Chick-fil-A Bonsack has been sending out a limited-menu trailer to serve the SML area every Wednesday from 11am-2pm in the Capps parking lot near Westlake. I've heard they can sell out, thanks to the enthusiastic community response, so get there early if you want to snag your favorite! At the time of publication, no end date has been set. The week I stopped by, they were offering regular and spicy chicken sandwiches, a grilled wrap, and a couple of different salads: market and spicy southwest. Whatever your choice, don't forget the Chick-fil-A sauce!
Image by: Kristy Albert
Habitat for Humanity
- FRANKLIN COUNTY -
Helping families build strength, stability, and self-reliance through shelter.
Chances are, you have long known the name “Habitat for Humanity”. But perhaps you, like me, are less familiar with all that the organization does for the community beyond their signature home building endeavors.
The first thing I learned when talking with John Wilson and Joe Ferrara of Habitat for Humanity Franklin County (president and vice president respectively), was that each HFH branch is actually its own unique entity, and as such, does not receive any direct funding or oversight from Habitat International.
When this local non-profit was originally founded in 1994, it operated fully dependent upon volunteers who completed the construction of roughly one home every twelve months. About five years ago, though, their board of directors went through a revitalization with the goal of being able to present a much more impactful presence that's making tangible strides toward solving the critical-level affordable housing crisis in our area.
This included developing a multi-year strategic plan and hiring key position players such as an Executive Director, a Resource Development Manager, and a Construction Project Manager to help propel HFHFC toward an ambitious future!
Their home building capacity increased, along with the ability to perform dozens of essential repairs for families in need. These families are chosen on an as-need/as-qualified basis. The homes are not provided free of charge, but instead, are part of a multi-layered hand-up process that includes participation in the building process and giving back to the community, education on financial management and home maintenance, as well as making mortgages more accessible to a variety of life situations that might otherwise struggle to obtain one.
Habitat also opened a Restore in Rocky Mount (located in the Schewels Shopping Center) as a means of helping to support the organization. You'll find a 10,000 sq ft showroom stocked with primarily donated merchandise that leans toward home remodeling and decor. Furniture, cabinetry, hardware, and paint are just some of what you will find for sale. They are always looking for gently used item donations (free pick-up is available - call to schedule) and volunteers to help run the store/process donations. Tip: follow their FACEBOOK PAGE to see previews of their new inventory as it comes in!
The Restore is located at:
1145 Franklin Street | Rocky Mount, Virginia 24151
Hours are:
Wednesday – Friday 10am-4pm and Saturday 9am-2pm
Relying heavily on charitable giving, corporate sponsors, and community volunteer involvement in order to carry out their mission, Habitat for Humanity Franklin County can't wait to share their vision for the future with you at their first-ever Friendraiser Luncheon.
Thursday, November 2nd
11:45am
Olde Towne Social House, Rocky Mount
This event is free to attend, but you must RSVP by October 27th to Sheila Overstreet, Executive Director, via phone: 540.483.8884
or email: sheila@habitatfcva.org
While this is not a fundraising luncheon, you'll learn about the myriad ways you can get involved with the wonderful work HFH is doing throughout our community including volunteering on a home building work crew, becoming a donation pick-up driver (they're looking for one of these presently, in fact), and more. RSVP today!
The Lighted Boat Parade is a Smith Mountain Lake holiday tradition. It somehow always manages to sneak up on me, so I wanted to make sure you all knew about it to mark your calendars accordingly for:
November 11th
Held early in the season in order to accommodate those who plan to winterize their boats, this flotilla of fancifully decked-out-decks is as much fun to participate in as it is to watch!
The pre-party begins at 5pm at Portside Grill and Bar, home of the Virginia Dare which acts as the stunning Grand Marshall of the parade. No registration is required to join in, but the marina is collecting toys, warm jackets, gloves, and hats for the community leading up to and during the night of the event.
The boats will weigh anchor at 7:00pm and start a slow cruise up to Bridgewater Plaza and back.
So, start plotting your decorating scheme or, if spectating is more your speed, make plans to gather along the parade route to usher in the season in our hometown's uniquely nautical way!
There have recently been several new names added to our mid and top tier member list! Thank you to all those who have joined, renewed, or increased their membership levels this year. ♥
On a personal note, I wanted to give a little shout out to Dr. Mark Nunez at Virtual Vet Care. He is one of our sponsors here at The Current, and thanks to his support, I was able to learn about the wonderful services VVC offers. Our primary vet is located in Salem, VA – quite a haul. So, when one of my furbabies came down with (what I thought might be) a UTI on a Sunday morning, I downloaded the Anipanion app, and was able to connect with Dr. Nunez very quickly. He asked a bunch of questions, and within an hour had a prescription ready for her at Westlake Kroger. We were SO grateful! Even more so because we had company visiting with a full day planned, and this type of situation happening on a weekend would have normally meant 6+ stressful hours spent at the Emergency Vet in Roanoke. Instead, we were able to get our girl feeling better right away, for a fraction of the cost, and with none of the stress that a trip to the EV incurs. If you have a pet, you need to check out Virtual Vet Care!
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