The September 2025 issue of Surry Living brings readers a season of change and renewal, with stories that celebrate resilience, heritage, and community. The cover feature spotlights the Super Human Institute of Technology, exploring advanced therapies that redefine aging and encourage readers to live stronger, healthier lives right here in Surry County. Lifestyle pieces highlight both personal growth and local voices. In “Between Rounds with Kevin Pyles,” intention is framed as a powerful tool for success, while Fitness Rage with Kage shares the lasting physical and mental benefits of heavy weightlifting for all ages, especially women. Blake’s Take addresses challenges of stuttering in college with empathy and practical advice, and By Gosh, By Josh! uncovers the deep history of Dobson’s courthouse square. This edition also embraces reflection and memory. Eddie Lowe’s “Gone the Way of the Whippoorwill” recalls the beauty of sounds and traditions fading from daily life, while Derina Pyles writes on faith and resilience in “Navigating Life with a Horse, Faith, and Common Sense.” For home and garden readers, Joanna Radford offers practical advice in “Fall in Love with Bulbs,” encouraging planting now for spring color. Seasonal celebrations round out the issue. Carmen Long highlights the County Fair as a timeless tradition, filled with livestock, exhibits, and family fun. Larry VanHoose brings readers into the heart of Sparta for the 30th Annual Blue Ridge Mountain Heritage Festival, honoring three decades of music, craft, and Appalachian pride. With its blend of health, history, community, and inspiration, the September issue reminds us that Surry County thrives on both honoring its roots and embracing the future.
Browse Articles Below:
Featured
Are You Aging—or Optimizing?Super Human Longevity in Surry County
Sabrina L. Baker Author/Photographer For generations, aging has been seen as a slow decline: aches and pains, less energy, more sickness, and fewer good days than bad. But what if we have been looking at it all wrong? What if the choice is not simply between youth and old age, but between aging passively or…
Continue Reading Are You Aging—or Optimizing?Super Human Longevity in Surry County
Lifestyle
Fitness Rage with Kage
Kage Pyles Fitness Rage with Kage Unlocking Strength: The Lifelong Benefits of Heavy Weightlifting for Everyone, Especially Women. In a fitness world buzzing with cardio crazes, heavy weightlifting often sits in the shadows—yet it’s a game-changer for all ages. Far from being just for bodybuilders, lifting heavy (weights that challenge you in 6–12 reps) builds…
Gone the Way of the Whippoorwill
Eddie Lowe Just A Thought Have you ever enjoyed a place or a thing for a long period of time, only to look back one day and realize it was gone? The bird—and more so the song—of the whippoorwill used to be a favorite and familiar sound to me. These birds almost seemed magical, singing…
Home, Farm, & Garden
Navigating Life with a Horse, Faith, and Common Sense
Derina Pyles Horse Sense “Run, Seabiscuit! Run!” I yelled as I turned Traveler out into the pasture for the first time in a month. He had developed a nasty hoof abscess from the damp spring. Diligently treating it day after day is not the kind of glamorous life most people think comes with horse ownership.…
Continue Reading Navigating Life with a Horse, Faith, and Common Sense
Fall in Love with Bulbs: Plant Now for a Dazzling Spring Surprise
Joanna RadfordHome, Farm, & Garden There’s a certain thrill in the air when fall arrives—the crisp mornings, the crunch of leaves underfoot, and, for flower lovers, the irresistible call of the garden whispering, “Plant bulbs now for spring magic later!” November through December is prime time for planting spring-blooming bulbs in our region. Best of…
Continue Reading Fall in Love with Bulbs: Plant Now for a Dazzling Spring Surprise
Handcrafted Blue Ridge: Celebrating 30 Years of Mountain Tradition in Sparta, NC
Larry VanHouse This Little Light of Mine There is no place quite like Sparta in the fall. Tucked into the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the town seems to glow as the leaves change and the air turns crisp. It is during this season that Sparta shines most brightly, and there is no better…
Continue Reading Handcrafted Blue Ridge: Celebrating 30 Years of Mountain Tradition in Sparta, NC
Southern Taste
The County Fair: A Favorite Fall Tradition
Carmen LongSimply Delicious It is fair time! Growing up, the county fair was something we looked forward to each year. From the entertainment and animals to the exhibit building filled with home-canned products, giant vegetables, beautiful flowers, handmade quilts, paintings, and photography—fairs truly have something for everyone. They continue to highlight agriculture in the community…
Departments
Between Rounds with Kevin Pyles
Kevin Pyles, PT Between Rounds Harnessing the Power of Intention: Your Secret Weapon for Success In a world buzzing with distractions and endless to-do lists, the concept of intention might sound like New Age fluff. But dig deeper and you’ll discover it is a potent force that can transform your path to success. Intention is…
Blake’s Take
Dear Blake, Ever since I can remember, I have struggled with stuttering. I feel like I managed okay through grade school because my teachers and friends knew me. Now, I am a freshman at a large university, and I’m worried my stutter will hold me back both socially and academically. I am very anxious about…
By Gosh By Josh
Josh Snow, Author By Gosh, did you know that the quiet courthouse square in Dobson, North Carolina, once stood at the turbulent crossroads of Southern identity, war, and civic transformation? Nestled in the heart of Surry County, the Dobson courthouse square tells a story far richer than its present tranquility suggests. More than just the…
More to See
‘Fur’ever Friends
THANKFUL FOR OUR PETS Send us a photo of your pet and we may use it here. Email: info@surryliving.comSubject Line: Furever Friends
