Centra held a ground breaking at Mayberry Hills in Bedford County for its cardiology clinic on Wednesday.

"We're going to compliment the fine work the physicians and internists are doing here in the community," said Skip Meador, vice president of Cardiovascular Services for Centra and its Stroobants Heart Center.

"If there are cardiovascular needs they need met, they can reach them here instead of traveling to Roanoke or Lynchburg."

The clinic is set to open in late October or early November. It will be staffed Monday through Friday for all types of cardiovascular testing.

Lib Walker, a resident of Mayberry Hills, said she's excited about the upcoming facility.

"You get tired of going to Lynchburg and Roanoke," she said. "With the population of Smith Mountain Lake, a lot of people need cardiologists."

Jeffrey Yentz, corporate architect for Centra, said the facility will take up half of a 9,500-square-foot building near the entrance to Mayberry Hills. It's being designed so that the clinic can expand into the extra space as the practice grows.

"We really do feel honored to be working with the caliber of folks from Centra," said George Aznavorian, Mayberry Hills developer. "As the baby boomer population continues to grow at the lake, their services will grow as well."

-- Laurie Edwards