Stink Bug Scream by Steve Roberson

Steve Roberson is a CPA with a talent for painting. Lately, he has used talent to create a piece from an artistic masterpiece, “The Scream” by Eduard Munch.

With  tongue in cheek, his art comments on the classic with a Roanoke Valley  twist. He calls the piece, “Stink Bug Scream.”

The painting is 16″x20″ oil on canvas inspired by what he called, “Our little stinky friends.”

Roberson said, “I’ll be unveiling it on Friday night at an art open house I’m having at Plantagenet Rose Interiors in the West Villiage Shopping Center in SW Roanoke from 4-8pm. It will be open to the public. I’ll be there with limited edition prints and postcards. The prints will be signed and numbered by me.”

Should be popular and no doubt stink bugs may be in attendance.

Join us Sunday afternoons in October 1-5 PM for music, food, & fun. Each week featuring a different musician.

Sunday, October 10
Martha Day – Celtic, Bluegrass, & Classical Violin

Sunday, October 17
Robin Dobyns & Marian McConnell
Food Available from Eagle Rock Ruritans

Sunday, October 24
Jason Byrd – Acoustic Guitar

Sunday, October 31
Jim Martin – Waylon, Willie, and The Boys

No Charge.
Snacks Available
Leashed Dogs & Children welcome
No Outside Alcohol (ABC Regulations)
For more information:

www.blueridgevineyard.com;

blueridgevines@ntelos.net;  540–798-7642;

Facebook–facebook-blueridgevineyard

Courtesy of Barbara Kolb

Anyone who knows Debbie Simpson, knows that she has endured some major health problems but
has recently been diagnosed with congestive heart failure for the fifth time and cardiomythology which
will require a heart transplant. Debbie lives in Buchanan and is 54 years old and has two daughters and
two grandchildren. She will not be able to be placed on the transplant waiting list until she has raised
enough money to pay for the medicines that she will have to be on for the rest of her life. “I would love the
chance to see my grandchildren grow up and graduate.” Any donations are greatly appreciated. Donation
accounts have been set up at Bank of Fincastle and Bank of Botetourt.

A charity poker run, which will include some of the best, non professional off road drivers in the state, is now being held in Debbie’s honor. The event is expected to have 40 to 90 offroad vehicles attending and the route will include the rugged pott’s moutain jeep trail.

Registration begins at 9 a.m. at the Pines Campground in Craig County – division easy and medium.

Last vehicle out at noon.

Entry fee:
$15 per vehicle
$5 for additional hand

Prizes:
Best hand
Worst hand

Call (540)589-4610 for additional information.

Submitted by Lee Hipes

Roanoke Valley Astronomical Society worked with Journey students one evening at Greenfield Center for a night of stargazing in this file photo.

Botetourt County’s own John Goss of Fincastle is the president of the Virginia Astronomical Society, teaches Astronomy at Dabney S Lancaster Community College and writes a monthly column for the Roanoke Times. He sent  announcement for the following event on Saturday, October 9:

The Roanoke Valley Astronomical Society is pleased to announce the 2010 gathering of the Virginia Association of Astronomical Societies. This year’s meeting is co-sponsored by Roanoke College and will be held on October 9th in Roanoke College’s Colket Center (http://web.roanoke.edu/x1637.xml).

The event is to be 9 a.m -4:30 p.m.

We are fortunate to have as our headline speaker Dr. Steve Majewski of the University of Virginia. Dr. Majewski is a leading authority on galactic tidal interactions. In his talk, “Life Among the Cannibals: Observing and Exploiting the Entrails of the Hierarchical Formation of Galaxies,” he will discuss several programs using galactic entrails to search for and measure the shape of the dark matter distribution of the Milky Way.

Other engaging speakers that are scheduled include

Ted Forte, Back Bay Amateur Astronomers: “Planetary Nebulae Observing Program”

Dr. Jim Thieman, NASA: “Radio Jove Project”

Dr. Matt Fleenor, Roanoke College: “Large-scale Astronomical Environments and Their Influence on Star-formation”

and Dr. John Simonetti, Virginia Tech: “Astrophysical Searches for Extra Spatial Dimensions”

Refreshments will be provided throughout the day and a great lunch will be offered.

Yes, there will be door prizes! That portion of the day’s events will culminate with the presentation of a Celestron NexStar4 SE premium telescope to a lucky winner!

For those people interested in dark sky observing, there are several suitable overlooks on the Blue Ridge Parkway, such as Sunset Field, http://www.virtualblueridge.com/parkway_tour/overlooks/00079.asp (mp 79, 3472’). But remember, we astronomers have special powers over the weather!

Registration is now open. Early registration ends on Friday October 1 — so register now! (Yes, you may register at the door.)

Please see the VAAS 2010 page on the RVAS website (www.rvasclub.org), (http://www.rvasclub.org/vaas/index_files/Page299.htm).

Fincastle Garden Club Honors Long Time Members   Patsy Powell, president of the Fincastle Garden Club, presented long time membership honors to Jo Thomas Ottaway, Mary Bosserman, and Louise Gilbert September 28, 2010, at a club luncheon. Ottaway had to receive her pin in absentia due to illness. Shirley Mullins hosted the event at her home. Special guest Gary Osborne, day lily expert and Mullins’ neighbor, answered questions about day lilies and hostas.

Courtesy of Richard P. Write

Sergeant M. T. Ward of Botetourt County Sheriff’s Department was honored on Tuesday September 28,  at the Virginia Regional MADD (Mother’s Against Drunk Driving) Law Enforcement Awards Dinner. This year’s event was held at the Vinton War Memorial and presented awards to outstanding law enforcement officers throughout Southwest Virginia. Over twenty five agencies with their top DUI (Driving Under the Influence) enforcers were represented, comprising 613 DUI arrests for 2009.

Sheriff R. N. Sprinkle added,  “Sgt. Ward takes great pride in his enforcement duties and his dedication to the safety of our citizens. This is evident in his work ethic and accomplishments.”

Sgt. Ward is a three time recipient of this award presented each year.

–submitted by Crime Prevention Specialist Lt. Jeff Stritesky, Botetourt County Sheriff’s Department

Steve Vaughn, the Democratic candidate for Fincastle District’s seat on the Botetourt County Board of Supervisors, drew an overflow crowd of more than 125 persons that filled the building at Blue Ridge Vineyard near Eagle Rock for a “Meet-and-Greet” event this past Sunday afternoon.

The event is one of an ongoing series of informal events in which Vaughn engages individuals in direct and personal exchanges.

Despite a daylong, chilly rain, the enthusiastic group came to chat with Vaughn and lingered for food prepared by Maw and Paw’s Diner and music by “Jim” (Jim Martin). The large converted barn that was the venue for the event is part of the vineyard operation owned by Jim Holaday and Barbara Kolb, two retired Botetourt County educators, on Shiloh Drive off Route 43.

The next major event at which Vaughn plans to continue his face-to-face campaign will be the Botetourt Democrats’ “Red, White and Blue Jeans Dinner” starting at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 12, at the Fincastle Fire House on US 220. Reservations may be made by contacting Lois Switzer at 473-3381 or Jim Fain at 473-3953. The deadline for reservations is October 5.

“These communication opportunities confirm for me that Botetourt County residents, in general, truly expect and appreciate direct and ongoing access with their elected officials. That is why I am pledging to continue my direct availability along with prompt and courteous responses,” Vaughn said.

“The most important thing that I’m hearing is that a significant and growing element of the public is concerned with the preservation of core ‘quality of life’ services. That is an ongoing challenge that will not be solved by slogans but must be addressed with careful, continuing, and cautious analysis,” Vaughn said.

Cutlines for photos:

submitted by Democratic Party of Botetourt County. Photos by Paul Fitzgerald

Two Masonic Lodges in Botetourt County, Catawba Lodge #342 in Fincastle and James Evans Lodge #72 in Buchanan, will be working together to provide Child ID services to the public during the Buchanan Mountain Magic festival on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2010. The Lodges will set up their computer equipment in the Buchanan Firehall and be in operation from 10 am to 4 pm. This free Child ID service will provide biographical information, fingerprints, pictures and video in hardcopy format and on CD to the parents. We also include a swab and information to help the parent make material available for DNA tests. All data is returned to the parent after the ID is completed. The process generally takes about 6-8 minutes to finish. Parents are requested to fill out a permission form to allow us to gather the information.

On the following weekend, Catawba Lodge will provide the free Child ID public service during the Fall Sale at the Fincastle United Methodist Church’s Family Life Center. The Child ID service starts on Oct. 8 from 6pm to 8pm and continues on Saturday, Oct. 9 from 9am to noon.

Botetourt Bobcats

The 14U Botetourt Bobcats won the Summer Swing Fest held in Christiansburg on 6/20 10.

Front row: Garrett Dorton, Ryan Fralin, Dax Hodges, Andrew Fralin, Mo McCoy, Bryce Thurman.

Back row: Logan Fletcher, coach Steve Fralin, Derrick Hall, Drew Lisk, Evan Owens, Coach Chuck Dorton, Coach Brian Thurman

Basketball registrations are coming to an end for youth ages 6-8 years old on Thursday September 30! Children must be 6 by October 1, 2010 to play Biddy basketball. Practice for 6-8 year olds will begin October 12 with games beginning the week of November 4.

Please call our office to register or go online at http://www.botetourt.org/recreation/recreation_news_events.php#online_reg. We accept Visa, American Express and Mastercard.

Registration will continue through the month of October for ages 9 and up. Practice for ages 9 & up begins November 6 with games beginning in mid January.

Attention teenagers 15-18 years old….are you looking for a really fun activity this winter???? Why not consider joining our 3 on 3 basketball league. We are hoping that each Booster club will have at least 1 squad per boy and girl division. For more information on this exciting activity, please call our office at 473-8326.

Booster Club Fees are as follows:

Blue Ridge- $50 per child, 2nd + $45, 3rd + $25

Buchanan- $35 per child, 2nd + $15, 3rd + $10

Cloverdale- $50 per child

Fincastle- $35 per child, 2nd + $20, 3rd + $15

Eagle Rock- $35 per child, 2nd + $20

Greenfield- $35 per child

Troutville/Daleville- $40 per child, 2nd + $30, 3rd + $20, 4th + $10

Speaking of Basketball….

Lord Botetourt Basketball Camp will be held November 6 from 9:00-11:00 AM in the LBHS gym for boys and girls ages 9 & up. Cost is $15 and includes a T Shirt. Please wear comfortable clothes, tennis shoes and bring a water bottle.

James River Basketball Camp will be held November 13 from 9:00-11:00 AM in the JRHS gym for boys and girls ages 9 & up. Cost is $15 and includes a T Shirt. Please wear comfortable clothes, tennis shoes and bring a water bottle.

Submitted by Botetourt County Parks and Rec