Navy Seaman Nathan Wright, a 2012 graduate of James River High School, recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill.

During the eight-week program, Wright completed a variety of training, which included classroom study and practical instruction on naval customs, first aid, firefighting, water safety and survival, and shipboard and aircraft safety. An emphasis was also placed on physical fitness.

The capstone event of boot camp is “Battle Stations.” This exercise gives recruits the skills and confidence they need to succeed in the fleet. “Battle Stations” is designed to galvanize the basic warrior attributes of sacrifice, dedication, teamwork and endurance in each recruit through the practical application of basic Navy skills and the core values of honor, courage and commitment. Its distinctly ”Navy” flavor was designed to take into account what it means to be a sailor.

– Submitted by Navy Public Affairs Support Element

What’s the best summer camp for kids in Botetourt County?

That’s one of the eight new categories we’ve added to this year’s 5th annual Best of Botetourt Reader Poll.

Feel free to chat up your nominations in the comment field below, just remember to actually cast a vote!

You can find the ballot here (or in the “best of” banner at the top of the page.) If you’re reading us on a mobile device, you may need to click through to the “full site” for it to display.

The voting ends at midnight on Sunday, March 10 and we’ll publish the results on April 19.

Want to promote your business or civic group? You can download free promotional materials at roanoke.com/bestof.

Don’t see a category that fits what you want to vote for? You can always cast a vote in “best thing not on this list!”

Here’s who won in 2012 and 2011 and 2010 and 2009.

Got friends in other places? We also have “best of” reader polls going on in Salem, Southwest Roanoke County and the New River Valley.

Here’s some news about Martin Henderlite, a Lord Botetourt grad who’s now on the baseball team at Lynchburg College:

Lynchburg sophomore right-hander Martin Henderlite was named to the d3baseball.com National Team of the Week for his efforts this past week against York College (PA).
Henderlite was dominant Sunday in the Hornets’ second game of the doubleheader against York (PA). He threw a complete-game two-hit shutout, walking just two batters with nine strikeouts.  Henderlite retired the final 16 batters of the game following the last Spartans’ hit, which came with two outs in the fourth.
It was the second win of the season for Henderlite, who has a 0.98 ERA in three starts.
Henderlite was one of three pitchers in all of Division III named to the team this week.
The link to the team of the week can be found here:
http://d3baseball.com/awards/team-of-the-week/2013/week02
Lynchburg (4-4) travels to North Carolina Wesleyan College for a non-conference game Wednesday at 3 p.m.

Submitted by Rebecca Evans

Thomas Kennedy will play college football for the Liberty University Flames.

A formidable football career in high school will carry on to the next level. Lord Botetourt’s Thomas Kennedy a premier defensive player, inked a letter of intent on Tuesday Feb. 26 to play at Liberty University. Kennedy will  leave the Cavaliers to play for the Flames next year. He expressed  thanks to his teammates and family before signing to make college football part of his future. Besides his coaches and administrators, Kennedy  sat at the table with his parents Jeff and Sara Kennedy and his sister Elizabeth who stood watch over her brother’s big moment.

Jill Sluss Executive Director of Event Zone at the new site of Party in the Parkat the Dalevile Town Center..

Party in the Park comes to Daleville Town Center

Kent Martin of Director of SRO in Roanoke and Jill Sluss Executive Director of Event Zone are excited about Party in the Park coming to the Daleville Town Center (DTC). With Roanoke’s Elmwood Park under construction, the popular event needed a new home. According to Martin, the Daleville Town Center said, “Welcome to Botetourt!” Martin is a  Botetourt resident and has spent 32 years in the business of finding quality entertainment for venues around the valley and beyond. Sluss of Event Zone in Salem also lives there and is excited as well about the possibilities of the new venue. The group will  handle the kick- off to the Botetourt -Bedford Wine Trail concert series on May 11 at the DTC.

The Party in the Park event has featured music and dancing in Downtown Roanoke for about a decade. Beach music, oldies and just plain fun have been the hallmarks of the event. DTC is putting in a 40 x 50 dance floor in front of the stage.  “Party in the Park” will feature weekly Thursday events May 16- Sept. 12,  except for the  4^th of July. It’s a bring your own chair and pop-up tent for the relaxing time of friends, family, music, dancing and fun. The cost is a mere $6 per person each week! Food and drink are a available at the venue.

Sponsorships are being sought as well.

“Uncork the Cure,” is the name of the May 11  Wine Trail Series event. Seven wineries will be represented this year in the Botetourt –Bedford Wine Trail. They are Blue Ridge Vineyard, Fincastle Vineyard and Winery, Hickory Hill Vineyards and Winery, Peaks of Otter winery, Savoy-Hill winery, Virginia Mountain Vineyard, And White Rock Vineyards. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 on the day of the vent, $10 for non-tasters. Children under 12 admitted for free. 25 % of the admission will go to benefit the Blue Ridge Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Event Zone/SRO is  handling the May 11 kickoff for the Wine Trail concert series.  “The bands will be SOL Revolt, Stone Canyon Band and hopefully, The Fat Daddy Band,” said Martin.

“DTC and Fralin and Waldron have been exceptional,” said Martin. “ It is easy to get here. Botetourt is not on the other side of the planet, but is very accessible.” For instance Salem is only 9 miles away and a straight shot down I81 north to Exit 150.  The beautiful surroundings, easy parking and safe environment can only add to the venue.  “The facilities are second to none.” Sluss mentioned, “Fralin and Waldron has a dressing room for the bands which is incredible compared to the old site.”

Steve Claytor, VP of Development at Fralin and Waldron said, ” We are delighted to have them and host the Party in the Park season. We hope to work with Event Zone on additional events in the future.  Great for Botetourt, wonderful for the DTC. We are really looking forward to it.”

For more information on the events or sponsorship, contact Sluss at 540-389-1232 ext 249 or Martin at 540-342-0400.

Here is the Schedule for the 2013 season.

Party in the Park entertainment line- up 2013:

May 16     Ken Knox and Company  (Formerly Chairmen of the Board)
May 23     Jim Quick and Coastline
May 30     The Tams
June 6     Craig Woolard Band
June 13    Legacy  /   Motown Review
June 20    Right to Party  (Formerly The Fabulous Kays)
June 27    The Embers
July 11    Domino
July 18    Jim Quick and Coastline
July 25    Atlantic Groove
Aug. 1     The Tams
Aug. 8     Ken Knox and Company  (Formery Chairmen of the Board)
Aug. 15    Mark Roberts and Breeze
Aug. 22    Voltage Brothers and Project 4
Aug. 29    Super Hold
Sept. 5    Craig Woolard Band
Sept. 12   The Embers

Mr. Jamie Talbott, Principal at James River High School turns “50″ -   the students, faculty and staff decorated his office and the halls of JRHS with signs, posters wishing Mr. Talbott “Happy birthday.”

Submitted by Martha Alphin, secretary, JRHS

Botetourt County Recreation Day is Saturday, March 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Dick’s Sporting Goods in Roanoke. Receive great savings on all your baseball and softball needs.

Please print out the baseball/softball coupons at app.dcsg.com/couponsheet/?s=717120 – these coupons are good any time starting now and throughout the rest of the season.

Bring the attached 15 percent off coupon/flyer to combine on March 16 and you will get an additional 15 percent off your baseball or softball merchandise (offers combined will be more than 20 percent off).

– Submitted by Pete Peters

Green Tea Massage & Wellness Center (greenteamassagetherapy.com) in Daleville, VA is doing a fundraiser for Angels of Assisi. We are taking donations of dog/cat food and will be donating $1.00 to the organization for every new Like on our Facebook page.

Submitted by Carrie Nolan

Auction for Missions
Bonsack United Methodist Church
Saturday, March 16, 2013
5:00 Dinner:  Homemade Barbecue & Hot Dog Dinner
6:00 Auction for Missions Begins

Submitted by Donna Price

New growing season will merge two farmer’s markets to one site at the Daleville Town Center.

LOCAL FARMERS’ MARKETS MERGE AND ANNOUNCE NEW SITE

Daleville, VA – Troutville Farmers’ Market and Botetourt Family Farms Market at Ikenberry’s are proud to announce they have joined together to create the Botetourt Farmers Market, a single seasonal all inclusive market to better serve Botetourt County.

The Botetourt Farmers Market will be held at the Daleville Town Center, each Saturday, from May through October. Time is TBD. In addition to vendors, the farmers’ market will host a variety of special events each market day, ranging from children’s activities to wine tastings.

Botetourt Family Farms and Troutville Farmers Market have both experienced great success in the past few years but both knew the people of Botetourt County wanted something more. The Botetourt Farmers market hopes to become more accessible to the greater community offering a unified outlet for vendors and customers, and to showcase what local means in Botetourt, all while preserving our unique agricultural heritage.

Be sure to look out for more information regarding vendors and events in the coming weeks. For any questions, contact Jessica Mowles, Market Manager.

–submitted by Jessica Mowles

UPDATED: Headline changed to correct location.