🌱 Community First Bank Opens + New Southern Chicken & Waffles Spot

Hello all. Sean Peek here with your Friday edition of the Lynchburg Patch newsletter, filled with everything you need to know about what's happening locally.

But first, your local weather:

• Friday: Near-record temperatures. High: 88 Low: 59.
• Saturday: Heavy rain and a thunderstorm. High: 68 Low: 44.

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Here are the top three stories today in Lynchburg:

1. This past Thursday, Freedom First opened its doors in the Lynchburg community with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and grand opening festivities. As a Community Development Financial Institution, Freedom First works to serve those who do not have access to most banks and focuses on financing local businesses to build up the community. This location on Langhorne Road is the first in the area as two more locations are expected to open soon on Timberlake Road and in Forest. (WSET)
2. The Hill City received a new Southern food stop with Cosmo's Chicken and Waffles grand opening this past Wednesday. Owned by Sean Bailey, the restaurant thrives from its creative menu to amplify its delicious food with things you never thought of to satisfy your taste buds. Cosmo's Chicken and Waffles is located in downtown Lynchburg on 12th and Church Street and operates Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (WSET)
3. The Lynchburg Police and Fire Department medics responded to a parking lot in the 300 block of Beverly Hills Circle after reports of a pedestrian being hit by a vehicle around 7 p.m. on Tuesday. Upon arriving at the scene, it was identified that the victim was a 3-year-old child who later died from their injuries. The Lynchburg Police Department's Traffic Safety Unit is currently working on the investigation. (Franklin News Post)

Today and tomorrow in and around Lynchburg:

Friday, April 21

• Miscast Broadway Cabaret - Tresca On 8th (6:30 PM)
• Nick Johnson Live - Apocalypse Ale Works & Beer Garden, Forest (7:00 PM)

Saturday, April 22

• Saturday Market - Lynchburg Community Market (8:00 AM)
• Earth Day Celebration – Timbrook Library (10:00 AM)
• The Music Man - Liberty University, Tower Theater (7:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• The Lynchburg Police Department will partner with Horizon Behavioral Health to participate in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day to break the cycle of overdose and addiction. There will be prescription drug drop-off, free Narcan, and Narcan training on Saturday, Apr. 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Lynchburg Police Department via Facebook)
• The Lynchburg Wine & Music Festival will take place at Riverfront Park this Saturday from 12-7 p.m., rain or shine! You can purchase your ticket right now at $25 or at the gate for $30, and enjoy wine and music, and have fun with your friends. (Visit Lynchburg, Virginia via Facebook)
• Several organizations and schools in Lynchburg are partnering up to combat urban heat in the area around R.S. Payne Elementary School – they even planted an urban food forest on the campus. The official planting day was this past Wednesday and the kids were overly thrilled to learn about the process of planting fruits while enjoying the outdoors. (City of Lynchburg, Virginia Government via Facebook)

You're officially in the loop for today. See you all soon for another update!

— Sean Peek

About me: Sean Peek is a writer and entrepreneur with a degree in English Literature from Weber State University. Over the years, he has worked as a copywriter, editor, SEO specialist, and marketing director for various digital media companies. He currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.