“A Child is Born”, a Christmas Musical & Drama will be presented at Colonial Baptist Church in Blue Ridge on December 12 & 13th. Ministry performances are at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12th, and 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 13th. Free tickets are available by calling the church office at 977-5683. A nursery will be provided for both ministry performances. We hope you will join us for this inspirational music and drama! Colonial Baptist Church is located at 221 Hillcrest St. in Blue Ridge just off Rt. 460W and Mountain Pass Rd. www.colonialbapt.org”

Submitted by Colonial Baptist Church

December 14th at 5 pm

Service of Nine Lessons and Carols
The Church Choir and a Brass Quintet, Readers and Soloists

Fincastle Presbyterian Church
108 Back Street, Fincastle VA
(540) 473-2042

Are your Christmas lights up yet? Linda Blessard of Cloverdale has hers up. She’s the first person from Botetourt to put her holiday light display on the map — specifically, our annual online map of big light spectaculars.

You can find the map here. We have info on how to add your light display here.

Here’s what Linda’s entry says:

Display owner: Linda M Blessard
Address: 144 Byrant Rd , Roanoke , VA 24019
What visitors will see: We have a display of lights with a something for everyone to see
Display times: Lights will be on every night from 5pm to 11pm starting Nov 24

Don’t be confused when it shows Linda’s address as Roanoke. Her mailing address may be Roanoke, but she’s definitely on the Botetourt side of the line.

Alas, one big light display in Botetourt won’t be burning this year. The Timmermans, who always had a big show on Stoney Battery Road in Troutville, are moving to Ohio. We have more about them here.

Whether it’s touch football in the backyard, or the traditional family gathering around the turkey, you can share your Thanksgiving photos at news@botetourtview.com.

Just let us know who’s who in the photo!

John Goss, a noted amateur astronomer from Botetourt County, shares these two photos of the space station and space shuttle Atlantis passing overhead tonight.

John tells us: “Here are two shots of tonight’s passing of the International Space Station and Space Shuttle Atlantis at about 6:20 p.m. The brighter streak is the International Space Station and the other is the Shuttle Atlantis following it by 7 seconds. The other streaks are airplanes.”

He adds: “Both are 15 second time exposures. In one picture, you can see the “w” of the constellation Cassiopeia. The other picture includes wispy clouds in the east just before both objects went into the Earth’s shadow.”

There’ll be another chance to witness this sight on Friday, weather permitting. We have details on how to see the space station passing overhead here.

Rec league basketball is underway for some age groups and we have our first set of hoops photos.

These come from Stephanie Hufton and show the Blue Ridge Cavaliers vs. Blue Ridge Hornets.

You can view her photos in the slideshow above or in this gallery format.

Do you have photos involving teams or players from Botetourt? If so, you can share at news@botetourtview.com.

10-Year-old Stuart Wickham with his first deer 8 Point buck. Gun used – Sako 243.

Submitted by Donnie Wickham, Blue Ridge.

Blue Ridge Vineyard Barn is a year round treat!

Join us for our Annual Soup ‘n Sips on Sunday,
November 29 and Sunday, December 6;
2:00 – 5:00 PM.
We’ll have freshly made breads, soups, snacks, sample Michelle’s Red Velvet Cheese Cake, Star City Coffee, and mulled wine.
A complimentary ‘Thanks’ to all of our friends and customers of 2009.

Enjoy the music and the season- snow or shine-in the barn.
Hope to see you!

PS Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Years Day.

submitted by Barb Kolb

The November 14 commonwealth games gymnastics met in the 6-8 year old category, Caroline Gross of Botetourt County came in first all-around, Aimee Rothschild of Roanoke came in 2nd, Katelyn Harris also of Botetourt was 3rd all around…second pic (arms raised in salute) shows individual winners for floor exercise event – Caroline 1st, Katelyn 2nd, Aimee 3rd.

Submitted by Pam Melton.

Troutville Elementary School wrapped up a fun filled Red Ribbon Week with a ride for the RRW poster entrants to the school on 2 Troutville Fire trucks.  Many of the entrants went on to win valley wide recognition by RAYSAC.   From left to right the students are Hanna Davis, Maranda Switzer, Mikayla Palmer, Tyler Davis, Anna Beth Bowman, Lee Bowman, Samantha Switzer, Hannah Harris, and Caroline McCabe.

Submitted by Sheila Feltis, Troutville Elementary School PTA Treasurer.