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This lovely pair were for sale last year at the St. Mark's craft fair.

St. Mark's United Methodist Church in Daleville will host their 33rd Annual Christmas Fair on Saturday, December 5, at Lord Botetourt High School cafeteria from 8 am - 2 pm.
The church and more than 35 local crafters will offer many quality crafts, decorations, wreaths, jewelry, a silent auction, and much, much more. Always delicious Whaley's Pecans will be available packaged in 1-pound bags in both halves and chopped.
An extensive Bakery area will offer a large assortment of special goodies for the Holidays ready to be eaten or frozen. Be sure to look for many home-canned items including pepper jelly, apple butter and "Donna's Pickles".
A large menu of delicious Breakfast, Snack and Lunch foods will be served throughout the day.
Church members have created a beautiful handmade queen-size Jacob's Ladder Quilt. Donation tickets of $1.00 for the Quilt will be sold at the door. The drawing for the Quilt and several door prizes will be held at 2 pm.
Monies raised will support many mission projects.

--submitted by Ramona Tolley

Jake Shook and Abby Austin prepare meals for Stop Hunger Now at St. Marks United Methodist Church

St. Mark's United Methodist Church in Daleville observed harvest season this year in a decidedly different way than in the past. On October 31, a day usually focused on the distribution of candy, the church's year-round hunger ministry, "That All Might Eat" (TAME), joined forces with the food-relief organization Stop Hunger Now to help feed 10,000 hungry people. With the assistance of Operation Sharehouse, an initiative of Stop Hunger Now, 62 volunteers were able to scoop, measure, pack, and box the high-protein, fortified, dehydrated mix in just an hour's time. Church members from 6 to 83 years old stuffed and sealed meal packets together; each packet serves six individual portions. The meals will be shipped in January to the South American nation of Ecuador to offset food shortages in the Andean region.

TAME was formed in Fall 2008 when a handful of church members discerned that St. Mark's the Holy Spirit was calling the church to do more to address hunger at home and abroad. Despite the bleak financial circumstances of that season, at a time when many businesses and organizations were not thinking about growth, TAME stepped out in faith and committed to work with Operation Sharehouse as its first initiative. $2,500 was needed to host a meal-packing event in April 2009; the team reckoned six months would probably be enough time to raise the needed funds. Yet it took just one month to gather the money - without even a fundraiser! In fact, enough was raised in the following months to hold not only a spring Stop Hunger Now event, but a second meal-packing event in October. In addition, the funds received allowed TAME to provide support to local organizations that feed the poor, including the Botetourt Food Bank and the Roanoke Rescue Mission, through several other initiatives this year.

Stop Hunger Now is an organization that works with volunteers to feed some of the one billion people around the world who suffer the devastating effects of hunger. To find out more about Stop Hunger Now or hosting an event, visit their website at www.stophungernow.org.

An Evening with Cast ‘N Brass
Sunday, December 20, 2009
7:00 p.m.
St. Mark's United Methodist Church
T.A.M.E. (That All Might Eat) will be collecting canned food items at the door to help those in need during the holiday season and beyond.

submitted by Floyd Boone

Some of last year's participants on a 4H float.

The Fincastle annual Christmas parade is around the corner on Saturday, December 5 and the town is seeking applicants for the parade!
General Rules of Parade:
1. Get copy of line up and park
2. Line up starts at 1:00 p.m.
3. Register upon arriving: Breckinridge Elementary School in Fincastle
4. Parade will start promptly at 2:00 p.m.
5. All floats must be "homemade".
6. Floats must not be so high as to hit overhead wires.
7. Floats must not be so long as to not make the corner turns easily.
8. Return to baseball field at the school after the parade.
9. Floats will be judged on ORIGINALITY, THEME, BEAUTY, and EFFORT.
10. Horses will be allowed if they have diapers or some cleaning up behind them .
11. Only the Santa Claus float will be allowed to through candy. You can have someone walking beside and give the candy to children.

ATTENTION CLUBS, ORGANIZATIONS, ETC
You are cordially invited to participate in the Fincastle Christmas Parade to be held on Saturday, December 5, 2009. Rain date , Sunday, December 6, 2009. The Town of Fincastle sponsors this Thirty-sixth annual parade.
Cash awards will be given to the best entries in traditional and religious float categories. Bands will receive honorarium. Bands will not be judged.

The parade will form at 1:00 p.m. at Breckinridge Elementary School in Fincastle and will begin at 2:00 p.m. sharp! The parade route is as follows: Back Street, Main Street, Academy Street, Roanoke Street, and Main Street ending back at Breckinridge Elementary School. (This year we are having a rain date of Sunday, December 7, 2008 at 2:00 p.m.)
Contact the Town Office at 473-2200 for a parade application due by November 28.

--submitted by Parade committee

A community Thanksgiving Service will be held at Daleville Church of the Brethren on Tuesday, November 24th, at 7pm.  The Rev. Dave Rochford of St. Mark’s United Methodist Church will be preaching.  Providing leadership in worship will be the Rev.’s Glenn McCrickard and Karen Cassell of Cloverdale Church of the Brethren, Stuart Kelly of Trinity Church of the Brethren, and Mary Cline Detrick of Daleville Church of the Brethren.  Worship will close with Holy Communion.  Daleville Church of the Brethren is located at 1540 Valley Road, Daleville.  All are welcome.

Thank you.  If you have any questions, please contact Mary Cline Detrick at 992-2042 or 966-4718.

Submitted by Mary Cline Detrick, Daleville Church of the Brethren.

A Christmas Bazaar will be held at Mill Creek Baptist Church on Saturday, Dec. 6, from 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 pm.  Breakfast and lunch will be available.  There will be a Santa’s Workshop where children will be able to purchase gifts for under $5.00 and wrap them for their other family members.  The children can also visit with Santa Claus from 10 a.m. – 12 noon and have an opportunity to have their pictures made with him.  There will be Christmas wreaths, baked goods, and “White Elephant” treasures.   The proceeds from the bazaar will go to Weekday Religious Education and the Lottie Moon Christmas offering.  Everyone is welcome.

Submitted by Pat Shotwell

Social Services says, "Help is needed for Botetourt families this holiday season."

Mary Lou Mullis, Director of Social Services, sent this letter to the Botetourt View:

Dear Friends:

The Botetourt County Department of Social Services helps individuals and families during times of financial difficulties. A particularly difficult time for many is the Christmas Season-a time that should be filled with joy; however, many families do not have money to provide Christmas for their children. They cannot afford to purchase toys, the additional cost of food for Christmas dinner, or the additional cost of fuel needed in the winter. These problems can be compounded if an unexpected illness occurs in the family.

We are once again asking individuals and local businesses for donations to the Botetourt County Christmas Fund so that we can continue helping those in need at this time of the year. Any resources that are left over we will use to help pay for medicines and other necessities for families that may need help throughout the year.

For the Botetourt County Christmas Fund in 2008, local citizens and businesses contributed over $12,500 that was spent for food and gifts to assist approximately 300 families. In addition, individuals, local businesses, churches and civic organizations sponsored approximately 350 "Angels" by purchasing clothing/toys for these individuals.

If you would like to make a donation to Botetourt County's Christmas Fund, please send a check payable to the Botetourt County Department of Social Services (BCDSS) and mail to:

Botetourt County Department of Social Services m

Christmas Fund

P. O. Box 160

Fincastle, VA 24090

Thank you for helping us help others at this very special time of the year. If you have any questions about the Christmas Fund, you may contact Tina Childress at 473-8210.

A first annual home tour (gallery) is coming to Troutville! In their energized quest to make a strategic plan for the Town of Troutville, the Friends of the Troutville Park have organized a Christmas tour for homes, businesses and a church on Sunday, December 6 from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. Tickets are $7 each and may be purchased at any of the homes.

The tour begins at Everything Art at Mill Creek which used to be Mill Creek Garage, then flows along Lee Highway to the Rader home at 8910 called Cave Spring Farm and home to Jack Rader.  The Rauscher House at 5559 Lee Highway built around 1908 is also featured. The Town Park Caboose numbered X544 circa the mid  20th century, Southern Past Times a small country and decor business in a one floor plan home typical of the 1940s. Cave Hill Dairy Farm is located at 87 Henderson Way off Catawba Road (west of Daleville) which has a Troutville address. The Henderson home is one of 9 Dairy Farms left in Botetourt County and home to Jerry and Donna Henderson, "The Pickle Lady." The tour ends at Troutville Church of the Brethern  on Lee Highway in the center of town, with a reception.

Photos courtesy of Kathy Conner, Shutterbug photography.

David Austin and Friends

David Austin & Friends
Announce Christmas Concerts

David Austin & Friends will perform three Christmas concerts this year, two in Botetourt County and one in Roanoke County. The ten-member band will bring their various musical styles to St. John Lutheran in Roanoke on Friday, Dec. 4 at 7:30 PM; to Trinity United Methodist in Buchanan on Saturday, Dec. 5 at 7:30 PM; and to the D. Geraldine Lawson Performing Arts Center (Attic Theater) in Fincastle on Sunday, Dec. 6 at 4:00 PM.
The group will feature many original and traditional favorites including a special look at the classic Christmas pop songs. Also featured this year will be special performances from the youthful voices of Taylor Leonard, Morgan Rakes, and Hannah Austin.
Band members include David Austin, Keith Wood, Leslie Dunbar, Lee Dunbar, Heather Morrow, Paul Boone, Marty Crow, Tommy Coburn, Curt Baker, and Greg Honeycutt.
Admission is free. A love offering will be received at each concert. For more information call 540-254-2696 or 540-520-5701.
PRESS RELEASE:
David Austin & Friends
Band Members: Lee Dunbar, Curt Baker, Heather Morrow, Paul Boone,
Greg Honeycutt, David Austin, Leslie Dunbar, Keith Wood, Tommy Coburn,
and Marty Crow
Variety of Christmas Music - Acoustic
Free Admission - Love Offering Received
Fri. Dec. 4th, St. John Lutheran, Roanoke - 7:30 pm
Sat. Dec. 5h, Trinity United Methodist Church, Buchanan - 7:30 pm
Sun. Dec. 6th, Attic Theater, Fincastle - 4:00 pm

These young folks had a day off from school and volunteered to unload the Second Harvest truck for the Botetourt Food Pantry.

"The increase in clientele is huge. We are seeing a lot of younger families now," said Kathy McClung who along with Martha Rodgers, is co-leading the pantry. Two years ago the Botetourt Food Pantry in Fincastle, located St. Mark's Episcopal Church, served over 100 community members per month. In November 2009, the BFP is serving as many as 435 people per month.

Last November, for the first time the Botetourt Food Pantry had to turn to Second Harvest Food Bank in Roanoke and filled the shelves. The need has continued. On Monday November 2, they once again took advantage of a school day off to have students come to the BFP to volunteer and to unload the Second Harvest truck. "We have families now whose main bread winner has been laid off. It's a different group." said Rodgers.

The Botetourt Food Pantry needs donations. Any sorts of canned vegetable and pasta goods still in date, as well as boxes of macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, canned milk, canned meat, and so forth are sought to fill the increased need. Volunteer Lois Switzer told us that on a recent Saturday as a child left with parents, the child inquired of his mother, "Does that mean we can eat more than one meal per day now?" McClung told of an older gentleman who declined cereal because he couldn't afford milk. They are now getting in dried milk from Second Harvest. The BFP will also accept monetary donations to help with the cost of the food that does not get donated.

Right here in Botetourt County hunger does exist.

The Botetourt Food Pantry is also holding a drive for foods to go along with the Thanksgiving turkey-ingredients to make side dishes like mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, yams, canned pumpkin, cranberry sauce, vegetables. They have some churches volunteering to bring packed boxes, but they also expect a large number of people to come on November 14 and 21 to pick up the boxes. "We just hope to get enough to fill the need," said McClung.

She also noted that volunteer youth from North Botetourt County churches like Zion Hill, Mount Bethel and Forest Grove (all Baptist Churches) and Boy Scouts from Troop 207 have been helping on Saturdays. "And we really could not do with out Lois Switzer and her daughter, Heather Huffman, who are volunteering as well as parishioners from St. Mark's Episcopal congregation who come to help," stated McClung

Brownie Troop 432 worked on a service badge by bagging dry dog and cat food at the Botetourt Food Pantry.

Also on November 2, a visit of Brownies Troop 432 that meets at Fincastle United Methodist Church who came to pack gallon bags of dog and cat food donated by the Roanoke Valley SPCA. Christi Fox one of the troop leaders said, "They discovered at food pantries and Meals on Wheels, that clients were sharing their meager food supplies with their pets. That is why the SPCA is helping the local food pantries. BFP is the one chosen for this county. Each client gets one gallon of dried food per pet per month.

Food can be dropped off at the three county libraries as well as by contacting the St Mark's Episcopal Office at 473-2370, Monday through Thursday.

Brownie Troop 432:

McKayla, Stiltner, Jarrett Neese, Grace Davis, Sage Benningfield, K.J. DeHaven, Lauren Fox, Hanna Michael, Olivia Polumbo, Halla Roberts, Anna Scott, Lauren Stater, Kate Smith, Madeline smith, Leaders Christi Fox, Randy Neese, Mary DeHaven, Sheila Smith and Robin Stiltner.

Student volunteers that unloaded the truck and sorted and shelved:

Ben Downey, Madison Wren, Isaiah Wright, Tiffany McClung, Ella Wright, Jacob Hodges, Tyler Lester, Ian Wright and Josh Bonds.