The Botetourt Education Association Political Action Committee is pleased to announce our recommended candidates for the upcoming Board of Supervisors election. We support Jack Leffel for the Fincastle seat and Sam Foster for the Blue Ridge seat. Both candidates have been strong advocates for public education and have served in Botetourt County Schools in different capacities for many years. Jack Leffel has served on the School Board for 12 years.  He has a working knowledge of the school budget, which is the largest percentage of the total budget. Sam Foster recently retired from Botetourt County Schools with more than 35 years of service.  He has been a teacher, Supervisor of Special Education, and Supervisor of Budget.

Both candidates understand the unique challenges that public schools are facing in this difficult financial environment.  They are committed to maintaining the high standards of Botetourt County schools despite the uncertainty of state and federal funding levels.  They both want to return to the teamwork concept of management by focusing on the business of the county and not on partisan politics.

The BEA PAC recommendation process began when we asked candidates to answer a questionnaire. Those candidates who returned their questionnaires were interviewed by our committee.  According to Sally Sizer, chair of the PAC, “The questionnaire, interview, and past record convinced our PAC members that Jack Leffel and Sam Foster are the best candidates and deserve our support.”

Submitted by Sally Sizer, BEA Co-President

The James River homecoming parade — scheduled for 5 p.m. today in Buchanan — has been cancelled due to bad weather.

Tailgating activities will take place at 5:45 p.m. inside the gym lobby.

Drug free at Greenfield Elemenary School

The students at Greenfield Elementary had signs along Catawba Road and in the school a special Red Ribbon Week activity to help animals: Pawsitively Drug Free. They took up pet food donations as well.

What is Red Ribbon week? It is an Anti Drug campaign awareness that began after the kidnapping, torture and brutal murder of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena in 1985. Agent Camarena had been working undercover in Guadalajara, Mexico for over four years. His efforts led to a tip that resulted in the discovery of a multimillion dollar narcotics manufacturing operation in Chihuahua, Mexico. (RRW website)

What have other schools been doing? Send us your photos

news@botetourtview.com

Cathy Benson tells us it’s 45 degrees and sleet is coming down.

If you have photos, you can share at news@botetourtview.com.

For more weather news, see Kevin Myatt’s Weather Journal.

On Thursday Oct. 27 at Lord Botetourt High School free lollipops at lunch threw a high beam on  Disabilities Awareness Month. The school has offered  a month of events  highlighting different aspects of disabilities especially in school aged individuals and how many opportunities to enjoy life are available including fly fishing, pet therapy  and therapeutic horseback  riding.

Matin Asghari a sophomore and Jacquelyn Bridgman  manned the  lollipop and sucker table at first lunch. Shawn Gardner came along to help go table to table to distribute the free  treats and to say a little abpout the activities. Said Bridgeman, ” I helped last year. It’s a great opportunity  to help kids in need. It has made me more aware.”

She and Asghari developed a power point presentation for school use. Botetourt Buddies is a LBHS club that brings students from special education programs and the general ed population together for fun, friendship and fellowship. It has been very successful at the school and the students have made helped with spreading awareness during the month.

Debbie Mooty sent this to the Botetourt View:

A  “wrap up” with a little summary of our activities for Disability Awareness Month.

A local therapeutic dog programs came. It was wonderful to see the display and the interaction with the dogs.  They brought 3 dogs and one the students could pet and this was a great bonus! One of our former students came with her service dog and I’m sure that impacted our students. I heard many of them walking to lunch talking about the dogs and I overheard one young man say he and his family were going to train a puppy for one of the local programs!

Several of the teachers have been so kind as to include disability awareness through lesson plans and we are so appreciative of each! Mr. Ingram invited a young vet who had lost his arm due to a motorcycle accident to come speak to 2 of his English classes. Josh was very inspirational and brought along his fly fishing equipment and we were able to go out on the front lawn and show the students how hard this is (with both arms!) and how he has overcome this disability to become really skilled at this sport! Mr. Benson’s group were able to join us and each student had the opportunity to meet Josh and try fly fishing.

Susan Powers and Lydia Powell were so kind as to head up the sucker give-away and the Botetourt View came and interviewed the Botetourt Buddies members who assisted with this during our 3 lunches. Lydia did some great posters and Susan lined up the Botetourt Buddies members to help. Several of the special education students helped us set everything up before lst lunch today so this has been a wonderful activity with a little sweet treat! I want to thank ALL of the special education teachers for bringing in your donations of suckers. We have such a caring faculty!

We will wrap up the month with a Therapuetic Riding Display on Monday Oct. 31, again, during all 3 lunches. I also have some treats to share with the student body since it will be Halloween!  I will also have lots of pictures from the riding program that I use to operate.

–Debby Mooty, LBHS Special Education Chair

The annual Fincastle Preschool Halloween two day Trick or Treat of Fincastle business and county offices took place on Oct27-28. Arrayed in cute costumes,  the little folk charmed people  every where they went! This event is several decades old–kind of a Fincastle history in itself.

Got Halloween pics? Send them to us news@botetourtview.com

Answering the cry, “There is nothing to do in Botetourt County especially for young people,” Francine and Ken Bray took the giant leap into developing an indoor, black- lit glow in the dark mini golf called, Glow-A-Rama. It is located on 19818 Main Street in the Town of Buchanan. You can’t miss the front windows!  It will be open after the Homecoming game Oct. 28 until 11 p.m.

Ken Bray took the BV on a pleasant trip of the establishment on a Tuesday morning in late October. He calls it, “The ultimate black light golf exerience.” The  Artwork is superb in the golf and party areas. Several  local young artists from Lord Botetourt Kara Beckner and Rachael Inzinna and James River’s Sierra Clonch, Savannah Falls, Kendyl Kelly  and Adam Ferguson students painted some of the glow paintings in Art class last year as well as a professional painter. The theme is different Eras of Earth’s history and runs the gamut from Dinosaurs to Pirates to Space Travel. There’s even a little “haunted” hole on the 18 hole course!

Bray said “I first saw a similar 18 hole black light golf in upstate New York.”  They have  invested a great deal of money in the venture which also features individual birthday party rooms, a Bowl Golf Game he developed himself and video gaming machines downstairs. He has worked out a deal with a couple of  local business to bring in orders of sandwiches, pizza for the  patrons as well.

“It could be a great way for a family to spend an afternoon in Buchanan,” said Bray.

Each game is $7 for  students and $8 for adults.  James River seniors Michael Lancenese, Dylan Coleman and Zach Ewen played golf as part of their friendship local business support night last weekend and are working with Bray to set up a Teen Club. The building has an area for business or family banquets and also a dance floor that are in the plans.

“We want to help out in the community as well.”  Bray said he is  happy to help with schools and clubs.

For more information: www.glowarama.com or Facebook or You Tube the name!

Here are the details:

.18 Hole Blacklight Miniature Golf (Upstairs)

. Blacklight Game Room (Upstairs)

. Party/Meeting Rooms (Upstairs)

. Full Arcade (Dowstairs)

Address: 19818 Main Street, Buchanan, VA 24066 · Get Directions

Phone: 1 540.254.3183

Hours:

Fri – Sat: 12:00 pm-8:00 pm
(JRHS Homecoming football game night til 11 p.m.)

Sun: 12:00 pm-5:00 pm

It was spirit week and well the winners showed an artistic,theatric appearance for the photo in Disney related costumes

Art by the James is an annual art show for Mountain Magic. The event is an arts and crafts festival in the Town of  Buchanan held the first Saturday of October. The winners of the show this year from James River High School  are  as follows.

Best in Show: Lauren Berra – Charcoal, “Willy Wonka”

Best Use of Medium: Savannah Falls – Mixed Media, “The Adventures of Estavan”

People’s Choice: Adam Ferguson – Oil Painting, “The James”

Honorable Mention

Adam Ferguson- “Lost” Adam Ferguson- “Samaritan”

Sierra Clonch-“Me & My Sister” Sierra Clonch-“Kneeling Angel”

Casie Hill-“Pearl” Casie Hill-“Sibley Bear”

Chase Haynes-“Old Weird Fraiser” Collette Ward-“Self Portrait”

Emily Spangler-“Terror of D.C.”

Olivia Garman-“Kana’s Coffee”

Heather Dunbar-“Don’t Go to Sleep”

Heidi Ward-“Boat”

Hunter Wolfe-“Raccoon”

Ian McLaughlin-“The Sentinels”

Isaac Jones-“Dr. Pepper”

Megan Meadows-“A Singer”

Morgan Hufford-“Tessellation”

Ashley Gray-“Tiger’s Face”

Public Recognition:

Amanda Bell, Bradley Noel, Darren Odum, Gabby Kessler, Hannah McAllister, Jennifer Smith, Jon Perry, Lindsay Fenster, Rachel Moss,Rebecca Hix, Rosemarie Flanary, Shannon Lorton,Taylor England. Tess Drzymala and Zeb Camper

Sponsorships of Awards:

!st Saturday in October

Best in Show:  Award given by Bank of Botetourt  (Art by the James series)

Best Use of Medium:  Award given by the Buchanan Special Events Committee

People’s Choice Award:  Award given  by James River High School

Art teacher Dorothy Etzler Barnett  happily provided the information.

PTSA President Robin Steffey with Cassidy lauridsen, Principal Janet Womack andRed Cross workers Helen Perkins and Robert Kellis

The American Red Cross came to LBHS on Oct. 27 Lord Botetourt’s FCCLA had a busy week. First they organized Red Ribbon week and then, a blood drive. Cassidy Lauridsen of the FCCLA was very excited. It has been years since the school held a drive. We have filled all  of the slots today and we are very happy. The American Red Cross had to be excited as well. The old gym was full of tables with donors. PTSA President Robin Steffey said it had been a while since she made a donation of blood.  After the event she strode out to her car no worse for the wear.

The Senior Dalmations

It was Disney Day at JRHS for Spirit week.  Oct 27 is Homecoming for the Knights. Family and Consumer Sciences teacher Amanda Marshall is pictured with  22 Dalmations. She is Cruella Deville.

1^st row:

Racheal Greene , Ashley Cummings, Maribeth Kern, Sarah Huff, Kay Woods, Clara Theimer, Tyler Kern

2^nd row:

Conner Sprinkle, Taylor Fields, Kayla Beckner, Chloe Swoope, Shane Hill, Sherri Waters

3^rd row:

Kaleb Cahoon, Lauren Berra, Cheyanne Markham, Mrs. Marshall, Rene Smith, Rosemarie Flanary, Emily Spangler, Heather Reynolds, Chelsea Fridley, Haily Cook

Amanda and her Senior Dalmatians (22)

Amanda Marshall as Cruella DeVille

submitted by Martha Alphin