Carrie J. Sidener, The News & Advance Journalist Profile

Articles

Lynchburg's Chauncey Spencer was born to fly

3 days ago | newsadvance.com | Carrie J. Sidener

Chauncey Spencer and Dale White navigated a rickety plane halfway across the country to prove a point — black pilots should be allowed to take to the skies in service of their country. By the time that historic flight led to changes in the U.S. Army Air Force, Spencer was too old to serve. Vincent W. ‘Squeek’ Burnett The son of Harlem Renaissance poet Anne Spencer became enamored with flight the moment he first saw a plane soaring over his home on Pierce Street in 1917.
Lynchburg's Pierre Daura had a passion of painting

6 days ago | newsadvance.com | Carrie J. Sidener

The tale of how Pierre Daura ended up in Lynchburg is one of love and war. The Spanish ex-patriot came to Virginia in 1939 with his wife and daughter but could not return to France before the tensions in Europe erupted into World War II. Instead, he became a naturalized U.S. citizen and began teaching art, first at Lynchburg College and then at Randolph-Macon Woman’s College.
Miriam's House gets a Day of Caring spring cleaning

2 weeks ago | newsadvance.com | Carrie J. Sidener

A network of organizations work every day to help people in the Lynchburg community who find themselves in need — often devoting all their resources to programming while other needs go unmet. So each year, for a single day in May, an army of volunteers descend on these nonprofits to help the helpers.
A guide to Garden Day in Lynchburg VA

2 months ago | newsadvance.com | Carrie J. Sidener

Each year, a handful of Lynchburg residents open up their homes and gardens for tours as part of Lynchburg’s annual Garden Day. Part of Virginia’s Historic Garden Week, the Hill City’s tour features four homes in the Rivermont Historic District, ranging from a 1929 French Provincial-style home to a 1931 Federal-style brick house. Lynchburg’s Garden Day will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 29.
The News & Advance is thankful for your patience

Feb 23, 2025 | newsadvance.com | Carrie J. Sidener

Most newspaper readers have a can’t-miss feature or section they start with each morning. Some people turn to Sports for the latest Scoreboard. Others look forward to the Wednesday Break page with its tasty recipes or the latest good reads featured in Sunday’s edition. Many start Sunday morning with the Local & State section or look forward to the spirited debates on the Opinion page. When that favorite feature is missing from the paper, it’s frustrating.
Cyber attack hampers newspaper production

Feb 9, 2025 | newsadvance.com | Carrie J. Sidener

Early last week, The News & Advance team, along with our sisters across the state and nation were confronted with an unprecedented technical issue that prevented us from producing complete printed newspapers and e-editions. Some of you have expressed understandable frustrations as well as empathy upon learning of our technical challenges. For many, it’s a morning ritual to enjoy a cup of coffee while catching up on what is going on in Lynchburg and across the nation.
January is National Blood Donor Month

Jan 26, 2025 | newsadvance.com | Carrie J. Sidener

When I was still a student in college, my mother pulled me aside and asked if I would be willing to help a stranger. She read in The Roanoke Times about a serious blood shortage affecting the region and noticed there was a particular need for A negative donors, which just happened to be the blood type we both shared. My father volunteered to drive us to the American Red Cross donation center and the three of us headed off to do our good deed. It didn’t quite work out as planned.
Bellringing for Lynchburg's Salvation Army

Dec 7, 2024 | newsadvance.com | Carrie J. Sidener

It’s one of those scenes of the holiday season — cheerful volunteers standing outside local stores next to a red kettle ringing a bell. The Salvation Army’s, well, army of bellringers can be found outside area retailers. Armed with a healthy dose of Christmas cheer, these volunteers brave winter’s chill to raise money for the nonprofit that provides those in our community in the greatest need with shelter and food.
SIDEBAR: Jumble makes its return

Nov 1, 2024 | newsadvance.com | Carrie J. Sidener

We heard you. We’re thrilled today to announce the return of Jumble to The News & Advance. You’ll find the scrambled word game, which has been challenging and entertaining generations of players since 1954, on Page B6 of today’s edition, as well as in our E-edition at newsadvance.com/eedition. Also head over to our website to find new games. Access to our digital content is included in your subscription.
SIDEBAR: The impact of our words: Remembering N&A columnist Darrell Laurant

Oct 14, 2024 | newsadvance.com | Carrie J. Sidener

For almost four decades Darrell Laurant wrote about life in and around Lynchburg with a keen eye and a sense of humor. The year I began my tenure at the paper, Darrell celebrated 25 years of writing about the personalities that give this community its character. I remember him as the writer I wanted to be. I mean, he had the best gig — writing about anything and everything that interested him, free to give his opinion, but never having to take a hard stance.