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Two students and a teacher from Hokkaido Chitose High School in Chitose, Japan  are visiting James River High School for the next few days. Takishi Onishi is staying with Mike Avery, a foreign language teacher who went  to Japan last month on the exchange to Japan. Each year for over a decade now, Dynax Corporation has sponsored the student exchange at both county high schools. This year Maggie Moniot and Caitlin Ward were the two students to travel to Chitose.

"it took 14 1/2 hours in the air alone to get there," said Ward. Moniot had taken her student to Green Bank West Virginia on a field trip to the National Radio Astronomy Observatory with Physics class so they were absent from the interview. The Japanese students had pocket electronic translators with them to help with the  English definitions. Chihiro Wada is staying with Ward.

"I liked the stromboli, today." said Wada of the lunch offering at the school. Over the weekend they plan to go to the JRHS football game on Friday night, Ward's soccer game on Saturday morning, shopping, walk around downtown Roanoke, visit a dance exhibition at the Taubman Art Museum, the Roanoke Star, the Safari Park in Rockbridge to name a few things they have on the agenda.

Onishi said one thing that surprised him is the size of the student parking lot. Students cannot drive to school in Chitose. He described the high school there as having 1,200 students.  All agreed that the cultures are so different. "People in Japan are extremely polite," said Avery.  Chitose is in northern Japan on the island of Hokkaido. When they left the city on Tuesday a light snow was falling and in the northern most part of the  island they had about  6 inches snow.

Ward noted that one place they stayed in Tokyo had a roller coaster in the hotel and Avery said they had a dolphin show like at Sea World as well. The Japanese like the American style cathedral, though primarily a Buddhist nation, the Japanese build cathedrals to get married in a western style ceremony. While there in Japan, Avery participated in a Tea Ceremony and drank form a tea cup valued at $11,000. He also visited a temple and shrine, a Bonsai tree show. Caitlin traveled with her host family and also got to do some shopping a teen age past ime no matter where in the world!

He will take Onishi to Montecello today and over the weekend to Williamsburg.

Onishi described Chitose as an industrial city with some local military bases both Army and Air Force. Wada said. "The steering wheel is on the wrong side of the car and so is the driving." A round of laughter accompanied that remark as the Americans felt the same in Japan. Japanese cars have the driver on the right and drive on the left side of the road.

It was a wonderful experience said Ward. Avery seconded the view. He said, "We thank Dynax for their continued support of the exchange even in a difficult economy." On Monday the students and teachers in the exchange will go to Dynax on US 220 alternate in the East Park Industrial park to meet with leaders of the company. Dynax America is headquartered in Botetourt County and the world head quarters is located in Chitose, Hokkaido, Japan.

JTEKT Auto, the Botetourt County auto parts manufacturer announced this summer it will phase down operations in October and be closed by February. Today, the U.S. Department of Labor announced those workers will qualify for federal assistance.

Here's the full release from the Labor Department: Read more »

337 Cosmetology students came to Botetourt for the Annual Hair Show. These students came from Cosmetology programs at Gibboney Tech Center, Burton Center , Bedford Tech Center, Pulaski County High School, Blacksburg High School, Giles Technology Center, Tazewell Career Center, and from Botetourt Technical Education Center. Smart Styles/Regis provided the educators for this event. They were Sean Kenney from Washington DC and Gary Longo from Boston, Massachusetts - full time national and international educators for Regis. All pre-show color and cuts were done by the educators in the Cosmetology lab at BTEC and students from BTEC were used as models. Students had the opportunity to win door prizes provided by the participating Cosmetology teachers and from Smart Styles. This was a great opportunity for the students to observe cut and color techniques as well as hear Sean and Gary talk about their journey from school to educator and about professional ethics in their career choices.

Daleville Town Center was center stage last night at the Chamber of Commerce After Hours and  meet the candidates, but all paled in comparison to the beautiful earth friendly building.

Energy efficient with gorgeous views-- really not a bad view in the house, showcase the brainchild of  CEO Karen Wladron of Fralin and Waldron, the developer for the Town Center. The building is about 90 percent complete said Andy Kelderhouse, president of Fralin and Waldron.  F & W will house their main offices on the second floor of the building which has 26,000 square feet of retail and business space. "Fralin and Waldron hope to occupy their space by November 20," said Kelderhouse.

The windows are operable in the building as well as the use of polished concrete floors with scatter rugs, the chosen color scheme blends with the natural setting surrounding the Town Center building, Kelderhouse noted that Karen Waldron specifically chose the color scheme for that reason. "Cloud" lighting fixtures and windows that display some of the best views of Botetourt County highlight the construction. The grounds are beautifully landscaped and the rock work and sidewalks add to the natural feel of the building.

So far along with F&W,  Williams Supply Company (and a board of supervisors on Tuesday October 27 approval for the medical center) and 20,000 medical imaging center to be built in the Town Center are the fleet of flagship businesses for the site.

Said Steve Claytor, director of development, This is not just the building but the whole project that reflects the efforts of the entire Town Center and TND concept the F&W team has put together."

From 5:30- 7:30 the building hosted the curious and movers and shakers of Botetourt County in the Chamber of Commerce After Hours and meet the candidates night. If the Town Center looks out at Botetourt beauty all day,  it becomes the crown jewel of the night sky in Daleville at night. Food by Schaals Catering and a chance to meet and greet the candidates for  Tuesday November 3 local and state elections  provided a good opportunity for networking and fellowship.

The Child ID program by Catawba Lodge continued at the Greenfield Fall Festival

Catawba Lodge #342, A.F. & A.M., Fincastle, held a Child ID event during the Greenfield Elementary School Festival on Oct. 24. The event provided free identification materials to the parents of 69 children. The service includes fingerprints, pictures, video with voice on a CD and a DNA swab kit. The hardcopy and CD information is compatible with Amber Alert, and, if needed, could provide useful information to Public Safety Officials. The entire process takes about 10 minutes. Fingerprints are taken with a thermal imaging device which does not require any ink. All information is returned to the parents; the Lodge does not retain any information about the children. The volunteers providing the service are members of the Free Masons, their spouses and Eastern Star sisters. The computer equipment is provided and shared by Lodges from Roanoke, Craig and Botetourt counties.

Masonic volunteers run the program.

submitted by Dick Vinal

Dan Naff of the Botetourt Chamber of Commerce and Sonny Berry as Naff draws the winner of race tickets.

Allstate and Berry  Insurance had a recent drawing for two tickets to the Tum's 500 race down in Martinsville on Friday 10/16. The drawing was sponsored by Sonny Berry, Exclusive Allstate Agent. The new Allstate office is in Blue Ridge, located at 4542 Blue Ridge Blvd, the old Blue Ridge Post office building on eastbound 460, 1 mile from the parkway Congratulations to Shelia Shirah of Radford who was the lucky winner of the tickets. Berry is already sponsoring his next drawing for a $100.00 gift card Look around town for the boxes at local retailers or stop by the office to fill out an entry form. Drawing is Dec. 15th

submitted by Tina Walters

Jean Craft has retired from the Bank of Fincastle

The Bank of Fincastle celebrated Mrs. Jean Craft's retirement at the end of September with a dinner party at the Natural Bridge Hotel. In attendance were employees, directors and Jean's family members. Mr. Harry Mac Williamson, Chairman of the Board, reminisced about many stories of his years of working together with Jean. He related that the banks first computer, which was the size of a refrigerator, would never have worked without Jean's commitment.
Mr. John Kilby, President and CEO of the bank, recognized Jean as his key assistant and spoke of her vast knowledge in all areas of the banking industry. He stated that while he would miss her immensely, he along with all of the attendants wished her and husband Collins many retirement years of health and happiness.

submitted by Nikki Cook, the Bank of Fincastle

Happy ghosts in front of the Jones at the old Baptist Church in Fincastle.

It's Terrific Tuesday again. How's everything in your neck of the woods?

No you are not wrong. I never got one up last Tuesday. I just didn't feel terrific because of the latest news about another student at Virginia Tech and LBHS graduate to boot. Morgan Harrington must be found, but the fervent hope is that she will be alive. I watched her father on television and well it just broke my heart. Sadly a real nightmare before Halloween just like the pair killed in August at Caldwell Fields off Rt. 621 in Montgomery County. Saw those parents on TV last night as well. May the good Lord assuage their grief and help them find a way a head of the despair. Let's hope law enforcement finds the sicko/s who did both as well and may they get exactly what they deserve!

Speaking of horror I covered the CAMS Ghost Walk on this past Saturday night and the ghosties and goblins of Botetourt will be out and about on Saturday night for a bit Halloween fun. Truly, Halloween was always one of my favorite days of the year when I was a child.

Over at Breckinridge we used to sing, "Witches, pumpkin heads, black cats, scary spooks, Oh! Its Halloween!" I am so sorry you can't hear me sing it.

Would you like to hear a scary story? Why sure you would.

Back in 2004 a friend of mine went to Saipan on business. A ton of soldiers from both sides were killed there during WWII. He landed at the airport in the daylight, rented a car and went to his hotel. He spent several days there on business before he took his leave to go home to the USA.

The weather was cold and dreary and a fog had seeped in over the road. He had to drive very slowly as the airport was far away from where he had been staying. He got in a dark and dare I say it, spooky spot of road. In his headlights he suddenly saw a line of soldiers walking very slowly in front of him. He slammed on the brakes and they were gone just as quickly as he had seen them. Nothing but fog remained! He said to me in an email, "My heart was in my throat. They looked so real until they disappeared!" Way cool!

Upon arrival back in the USA, he looked up the uniforms as they were walking away from him. He also read about the fierce fighting there during the war. "On the night of July 7, 1943 3,000 Japanese charged in the largest suicide rush of the war. Stunned, the Americans fell back, but quickly recovered and wiped out the Japanese in an all-night fight. All but 1,000 of the Japanese military were dead." --WWII database online.

He believes they were lost souls of Japanese soldiers killed in the fighting, still wandering Saipan on foggy nights even 60 years later!

I don't write ‘em, I just repeat ‘em, folks. Happy Halloween! See you next week!

Jim Wall is the day manager of Galloway's Blue Berry Hill.

Rachel Unruh of Troutville has opened a diner in the old Fried Pickle site called Galloway' Blue Berry Hill. The fifties style diner has loads of fast food on the lunch and dinner menu like burgers, fries, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, shakes, but it specializes in Cincinnati style meat sauce that serves as chili, sloppy joe or sauce over spaghetti noodles. The later being very tasty.

Galloway's is named after a friend of the family, David Galloway, who is a food critic and lawyer in Florida. He opened the original Galloway's back in 1952 in the state of Florida. The local one located next to the BAC on Sommers Way opened on October 12. The hours of operation are breakfast through dinner and you can order breakfast all day long. The business opens at 6 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m. seven days per week. Prices run from sides around $2 all the way up to steak over $10. Many of the breakfast specials are under $5.

Jim Wall, a very jovial fellow and a former Coast Guard member, Florida State football player and a gent with years in food service is the day manager of the diner. He floats from table to table greeting customers.

Homestead ice cream will be served along with homemade pies and cakes by Amanda Patten.

Galloway's plans to have special nights for schools like Troutville, Read Mountain and Lord Botetourt where the families can eat and a portion of the take is returned to the school. On Friday nights, they will also have live music.

Take out is available at 992-3888.

Around 70 concerned citizens from numerous Blue Ridge and Read Mountain/Cloverdale subdivisions served by Aqua Virginia came out Monday night October 26 to hear the battle plan to fight the proposed 69% water increase the company has pending in the Virginia State Corporation Commission. The group assembled in Rainbow Forest Baptist Church. The proposed increase is 3.2 million dollars. Delegate Lacey Putney came to speak to the matter as well.

Blue Ridge Supervisor Billy Martin has spearheaded a campaign in the past month to oppose the rate increase which he has called "outrageous" and "ridiculous." In 2005 the rates were raised about 60% when Aqua Virginia acquired the water company serving the area. Martin has been joined in the effort by Board Chairman and Valley Supervisor Don Assaid who also has constituents served by Aqua Virginia in Apple Tree Village, Steeple Chase, Highland Manor and Cypress Court.Others affected in the increase are Cobblestone, Mountain View, Rainbow Forest, Blue Ridge Heights, Oakwood /Parkview, Stratford Place and White Oak.

"In Blue Ridge, Aqua made about 1.3 million in improvements said Martin. They have made 44 million in improvements state wide. The company serves over 13,000 water customers in Virginia and 2,400 of those are in Blue Ridge alone. They also have about 7,000 waste water customers he noted making Virginia's customers around 20,000. The bulk of the customer base is in upper central and Northern Virginia according to the company website. He also noted the 2008 parent company Aqua America profit of 98 million dollars. Martin noted with the rate increase of $218 per year per customer in Botetourt County, that the 3.2 million would be collected in about two years. "It just seems ridiculous that one area where approximately 3% of the 44 million dollars was spent would end up paying most of it. Doesn't Aqua Virginia have a Capital Improvement fund?" A resident pointed out in May the ocmpany went from billg every three months to every two months at the same rate.

Many in the audience voiced similar views. Resident Dave Price had been to the SCC and studied the case and came with an interesting graph of projections the company has proposed to the SCC. "You must get your Board of Supervisors on fillings like Caroline and other counties have done to fight the rate increase," he said. "Other wise showing isn't going to do any good; you need your county attorney involved."

On Tuesday, Oct. 27, at the monthly supervisor's meeting, Assaid and Martin brought the matter to the board. Last month the board tabled the matter to await more information. Unfortunately by doing so, the date to file as a respondent as Price  suggested, ended on Oct. 16, according to the county attorney. The best effort left is just to go on record with comments and to offer an amicable support to Caroline and Frederick counties, which did file as respondents.

Petitions were passed out for each of the affected subdivisions. Cobblestone has already passed a petition and 100% of the residents there signed it, said Martin. Members in the crowd passed a hat to raise cash to produce some signs and flyers for voting precincts and area business to get the word out. They plan to have a media frenzy at the next meeting, too. Martin planned to call Greg Odell the Aqua Virginia CEO today to confirm that he will come to a second town hall meeting planned in two weeks.

Putney addressed the assembly particularly about the SCC. "I know taxpayers are weary of increases in anything. Water companies should have reasonable rates for their customers. The General Assembly appoints the three judges on the commission. If you do not like the rate increases the SCC keeps granting, it seems to me that the place to start is in the legislature. this is the most way citizens meet and conduct self government, get your friends and neighbors out to the next meeting. You can count on me to fight unreasonable rate increases." Putney received a round of applause from the crowd.

After the meeting Tamara Gray who lives on Woodlawn brought up several of her water bills. One for $100 for last month and another an August bill for $1,097 due to a leak in her system. She has gotten some of that back. "When I came here in 2007, my water bill was $20 or $30, now look at it. I couldn't get customer service when I had the leak which I had to pay to have fixed. It just seems to me they just keep asking for more and we get less."