A group of students under the direction of Professor Diane Zahm in Virginia Tech’s Urban Affairs and Planning Program, is working on a Visual Preference Survey for the Town of Fincastle. After going through and looking at the current development and existing buildings in Town, the students developed a listing of lot features, existing lot configurations, building types and other structural features. This listing was used to create the Visual Preference Survey. The survey lists features such as lot sizes, lot density, building positioning, parking, landscaping, lighting, signage and specific building and architectural features.

On Tuesday, April 3rd, the Fincastle Planning Commission will be holding a public meeting to discuss, take input from citizens and work on the survey compiled by the students. At the meeting, the Commission, members of Town Council and other citizens will have the opportunity to rank the features in order of importance and preference. The students will then compile the information. This would result in data that could be used to draft specific design guidelines for improvements to existing structures and future development, possibly incorporated into the existing or a new Zoning Ordinance and subdivision standards.

Summation: A community-based visioning technique will be forming a consensus for the future building environment of historic Fincastle, Virginia.

Follow-up session date and location to be announced.

Results will be shared with the public and applied directly for the revision and creation of appropriate regulation for implementation.

The visual survey will be complemented by a written community survey.

LOCATION: Fincastle Library, in the Meeting Room

DATE: 4/03/12

TIME: 7pm

Conducted by undergraduate students of the Urban Affairs and Planning Department at Virginia Tech.

Submitted by David R Tickner, AICP, Fincastle Town Manager

Jack Leffel in January 2012 at the joint Board budget input meeting at JRHS

Fincastle District Supervisor Jack Leffel has released the following:

At the public input meeting at Lord Botetourt I was reminded of why my heart is so deep in Botetourt County. The people of Botetourt truly do come together to make tomorrow a better place. Opinions on a variety of concerns were shared, and sometimes there was disagreement on the way to make us better. At the end of the day, though, there was a common desire to come together as a community. I cannot thank everyone enough who came out to participate in democracy at its very base. We did listen and you did make a difference. You clearly demonstrated there is no room left for pettiness and acrimony, its echoes found no place from which to bounce.
To each of you who contacted me with phone calls and emails, it is much appreciated and helpful. Please continue doing so.
I am truly honored to serve on the present Board of Supervisors. Steve Clinton, Terry Austin, and Billy Martin have welcomed Mac Scothorn and me with sincerity, respect, and patience. Mac and I hope to contribute to their vision to make Botetourt even better tomorrow than it is today.
Sincerely,
Jack Leffel
Supervisor Fincastle District

MORE ON BOTETOURT’S BUDGET SITUATION:
* March 22: School board weighs closing elementary school, cutting sports
* March 23: Parks and rec urges citizens to attend meeting
* March 23: Botetourt’s tax rate lowered twice since 1999
* March 24: Supervisor Jack Leffel opposes school closings
* March 26: Librarians talk about the budget impact on their programs
* March 27: Packed house at budget meeting; many call for tax increase to maintain services
* March 28: Board of supervisors budget committee meets
* March 29: School board passes what Alderson calls “an apparition of a budget,” school closure, no athletics still on table

Save the Date! The Lord Botetourt High School Class of ’62 will hold its 50th reunion on September 1, 2012. Email gladyshughston@yahoo.com to update the class email list or phone (540) 320-9965. More information coming soon.

– Submitted by Rita Foster of Blue Ridge

Heritage Day Celebration On the Ceremonial opening of trout season, on Saturday April, 07 2012 from 8 am to 2pm the Ladies Friendship Circle at Jennings Creek Gospel Church will serve breakfast and lunch for all fisherman, neighbors and friends. Jennings Creek Gospel Church is located at 5486 Jennings Creek Road in Buchanan. Families of all ages are welcome. Prices vary. For more information, call 540-254-1236.

Submitted by Jeanne Clark

Carilion Clinic and Oakey’s Funeral Service will co-host the Hospice Foundation of America’s (HFA) 19th annual “Living with Grief” teleconference on Tuesday, April 24 from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Oakey’s Funeral Services – East Chapel on Cloverdale Road in Roanoke. Caregivers, family members and the public are invited to attend this free educational program.

The program titled “End-of-Life Ethics” will examine, using a case-study approach, the ethical issues and dilemmas that emerge at the end of life, principles of ethical decisionmaking, and the effects of these decisions on staff and families.

The teleconference will be moderated by Lynn Sherr, former ABC News correspondent. She will lead discussions with a distinguished panel experts including Timothy R. Arsenault, MA; Karen Bullock, Ph.D., LCSW; Eileen R. Chichin, Ph.D., R.N.; Kenneth J. Doka, Ph.D., MDiv; Bruce Jennings, MA; and Hank Willner, M.D.

Each year the HFA presents a nationally recognized distance learning program live via satellite and Webcast to more than 125,000 people in 2,000 communities. The program is instrumental in educating health care professionals and families on the hospice concept of care, providing an opportunity for a wide variety of professionals – including doctors, nurses, funeral directors, psychologists, educators, social workers and bereavement counselors – to share and exchange ideas.

The teleconference is produced by the HFA, a not-for-profit organization which acts as an advocate for the hospice concept of care through ongoing programs of professional education, public information and research on issues relating to illness, loss, grief and bereavement.

For more information or to register, please call Carilion Clinic at (540) 224-4753. Registration deadline is April 20.

– Submitted by Julie Smith

Maureen Neal (2011)
E. L. (Lisa) Freeman (2010)
Barbara Wells (2009)
Delores Smith (2008)
Michelle Thomson (2007)
Lee Switz (2006)
Jane V. Helfrich (2005)
Edward G. Kardos (2004)
Kathleen Burke Barrett (2003)
Peter Wyeth (2002)
Judy Lankford (2001)
Ned Moore (2000)
Michael Dowdy (1999)
Mary Ellen Stumpf (1998)
George M. Peters (1997)
Marlin E. Balsbaugh, Jr. (1996)
D. Chris Withers (1995)
Alex Smith (1994)
Lucy Boswell Negus (1993)
Cheryl Gonzales Yancey (1992)
H. Gerald Quigg (1991)

Submitted by Monica Hillery

We spotted this car at Lord Botetourt High School on Wednesday afternoon.

Irina Boothe. Photo courtesy of Donna Boothe

On March 25, 2012 Irina Boothe of Fincastle was inducted into the Alpha Lambda Delta National Honor Society by the Longwood University chapter.

Irina is a 2011 graduate of James River High School and is a freshman at Longwood University. She is currently pursuing a double major in criminal justice and Spanish.

Alpha Lambda Delta is an honor society for students who have achieved a 3.5 GPA or higher and are in the top 20% of their class during their first year or term of higher education.

Alpha Lambda Delta has chapters at 270 campuses in the United States. Members are invited to join by the local chapters, after the chapter has determined that the student has achieved a 3.5 or higher GPA in their first year or term of enrollment in an institution of higher education. The members of the local chapters are also considered to be members of the National organization.

– Submitted by Donna Boothe

Left to right: Haley Neal, Alyssa Woodward, Annie Barranco, Brittanie Frie, Taylor Gusler, Amanda Franklin, and Angel Wright

Seven cheerleaders from Botetourt High School and Read Mountain Middle School competed at the Cheer and Dance Extreme National Championships in Virginia Beach, on March 24th and 25th. This was a two-day competition that saw over 100 teams compete for titles in divisions from Mini Level 1 to Senior Level 6. These girls cheer along with both girl and boy cheerleaders from all over the Roanoke Area for Synergy Cheer under the direction of Coach Katie Kidd. They are Level 3 and Level 4 athletes. They competed against other squads from all over the state. These girls along with their teammates won Senior Level 3 Co-ed and Senior Level 4 Co-ed respectfully. Both teams have won the title of National Champions for the second year in a row. They received a Banner, Medals, and a National Champion Jacket. They work very hard all year and their next milestone is the U.S. Finals also to be held in Virginia Beach, Va. in May.

Submitted by Jerry and Karen Neal