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Dee Sheffer, Nancy Womack and Joyce Mandeville, three Relay For Life of Botetourt Committee Members took part in an American Cancer Society Relay Leadership Conference on Saturday, November 7th at Lewis Gale Hospital.

The conference was designed to foster enthusiasm and garner ideas.  Participants attended workshops on topics as varied as marketing, team recruitment, volunteer recruitment and year round fundraising.  The general sessions included guest speakers such as Pediatric Oncologist, Dr. Joan Fischer and many Cancer Survivors and Family Members.

In 2009, the Relay For Life of Botetourt raised $ 88,779.00.  The conference attendees are shown here with the American Cancer Society Staff Partner and Botetourt County Relayer, Andrea Britt.  Andrea helped to organize the conference as well along with her co-workers within the Roanoke, Lynchburg and Martinsville American Cancer Society offices.

The 2010 Relay For Life of Botetourt is scheduled for May 21-22, 2010.  If you are interested in forming a team to participate in this event or have questions, please feel free to contact Tammy Wilson, Event Chair at (540) 473-1158.  You may also contact Andrea Britt, Community Manager at (540) 774-2716.

Submitted by Andrea Britt, Community Manager, American Cancer Society.

Shirley and Wayne Niday

Shirley Niday of Troutville continues her struggle against recurrent breast cancer. A musical benefit will take place for her on Saturday November 28 at LBHS auditorium. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. they can be purchased at the old Mill in Fincastle.

Junior Sisk and his band headline the show .

Girl Scout Troop 114 of Botetourt service unit created, constructed and ran two games for children at the Buchanan Children’s Fishing Carnival.  In doing so, the girls have earned the Silver Award, the highest award a Girl Scout Cadette can achieve.

Receiving the award are Danielle Brewer, Kylie Gray, Berean Hull, Mackenzie Lingle, Elizabeth Nelson, Kaila Poff, Bethany Tarbutton and Olivia White. Mackenzie, Elizabeth, Kaila, Bethany and Olivia are ninth graders at Lord Botetourt High School in Daleville.  Danielle, Kylie and Berean are eighth graders at Read Mountain Middle School in Cloverdale.

The girls divided into two groups to develop and draw construction plans for their carnival games.  The two games they created were Octo-Toss, a bean bag toss game, and a fishing game where the participant tosses over a fishing line and a prize is attached.
The games were then constructed by the girls using plywood and screws.  To complete the construction, the girls learned how to use a power sander, power saw, drill, band saw, and power screwdriver.

After construction was complete, the girls painted their games and sewed bean bags for the Octo-Toss.  To complete their project, the troop members made hats to wear at the carnival.

With the Silver Award, the project is just one facet of the comprehensive achievement program.  The girls recently completed all requirements for the prestigious award.

The Girl Scout Silver Award represents a girl's accomplishments in Girl Scouting and her community as she grows and works to improve her life and the lives of others.  The first four requirements of the Silver Award help girls build skills, explore careers, gain leadership skills, and make a commitment to self-improvement.  A girl must be 11 or going into sixth grade to begin work on these initial steps.  When the first four requirements are completed, a girl who is 12 years old or going into the seventh grade may undertake the Silver Award project.  She must complete her project by age 14 or before the start of tenth grade.

Danielle, 13, is the daughter of Cheryl and Hershel Brewer of Troutville.  Kylie, 14, is the daughter of Tamara and Jeffrey Gray of Blue Ridge.  Berean, 14, is the daughter of Lorraine and Richard Hull of Roanoke.  Mackenzie, 14, is the daughter of Sandra and Ray Lingle of Roanoke.  Elizabeth, 14 is the daughter of Debbie and David Nelson of Roanoke.  Kaila, 14, is the daughter of Dawn Poff of Roanoke.  Bethany, 14, is the daughter of Lisa and Chip Tarbutton of Fincastle.  Olivia, 14, is the daughter of Tracy and Edwin White of Fincastle.

Their advisors for the project are Debbie and David Nelson of Roanoke and Sandra Lingle of Roanoke.  Debbie Nelson and Sandra Lingle also serve as leaders of the troop.

Girl Scouts of Virginia Skyline Council is a leadership program for girls that develops life skills in business, science, and technology; provides adventures and challenges in sports, the environment, and the great outdoors; and encourages girls to give back to their communities through service projects conducted locally, across the United States, and internationally.
Contacts:

Cherie Hall, Director of Development and Communications, Girl Scouts of Virginia Skyline Council, 540-777-5113

Submitted by Cyndi Young-Preston, Public Relations & Production Manager, Girl Scouts of Virginia Skyline Council.

Twilight In Buchanan Tree Lighting
Please, help us fill Main Street Buchanan on Saturday, November 28th at
7:00PM.
Join us as we kick off the Christmas Season by lighting the Buchanan
Town Christmas Tree.

Rediscover an old fashioned Christmas in Downtown Buchanan.
Saturday, November 28th at 7:00PM
Town of Buchanan Christmas Tree Lighting
Help us make this the best year to date.

FREE REFRESHMENTS
OFFERED BY THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES
THAT WILL REMAIN OPEN UNTIL 9:00PM!

“Rediscover an Olde Fashioned Christmas!” For more than six decades hundreds have returned to lined Buchanan’s Main Street cheering floats, marching units and bands as they announce the arrival of the Christmas Season. This year’s parade features the award winning James River High School Marching Band, a Scottish Bagpipe Band known as War Pipe, dozens of marching units and floats prepared by area churches and civic organizations as well as antique autos, clowns and horses and our most honored guest, old St. Nick. The Parade will begin its way down Main Street at 4PM. To enter call the Buchanan Downtown Revitalization Program at 254-1212.

The Junior League held its annual Stocked Market over the weekend. Our paparazzi photo crew was there -- and so were lots of people from Botetourt. Here are the ones who stepped onto the red carpet:

* Beth Cross
* Robin Vokus and Beth Cross
* Pamela Price
* Tiffany Lawson
* Diane Geller
* Becky and Corey Wright
* Amy Bramblett and Carrie Russell
* Kate Ellmann
* Liz Dillard

You can view all the photos in the slideshow above, or in this gallery format.

Do you have photos of holiday activities involving people from Botetourt? If so, you can share at news@botetourtview.com.

Tyler Harlow and Will Nicley

Tyler Harlow of Buchanan and Will Nicley of Daleville, area members of Roanoke Valley Demolay, helped get the lights up in Fincastle on Saturday, Nov. 14. The lights officially begin burning on Thanksgiving Night through New Year's.

These strong young students toted the cans to the truck. photo by Cathy Benson

For a small school the students at JRHS prove to be good at academics, sports and possess generous hearts. The school's FBLA ( Future Business Leaders of America) held a food drive for the past two weeks and  hoped that they could garner 500 cans per food pantry-- the Botetourt Resource Center in Buchanan and The Botetourt Food Pantry in Fincastle. The total of 1000 can was surpassed by the student body on Friday the 13th so not all bad things happen on that day.

The students tried  to help with the increased need seen at both during the trying economy and job loss scenario of Botetourt County. They collected 1201 cans of food. Each pantry either sent a pick up truck or came themselves for the food.

The contest for the class bringing in the most food ended this way:

Total cans Avery 191, King 186, Marshall 133, Sibley with 124! The winner of the Blue Collar Joe donuts is Mr. Avery's class.

FBLA Officers and sponsors: Mrs. N. Clarkson, FBLA sponsor, Dakota Kennedy, Patrick Bennett, Halee Simmons, Whitney Painter, Mrs. D. Hall, FBLA Sponsor. Photo by school

Travis Meadow and Warren Rhodes work the barbeque pit at LBHS

The Chicken  Barbeque pit at LBHS is getting a work out this fall. The pit was dismantled  up next to Lord Botetourt High School and a new more modern facility created down by the school's softball field. Already groups are using the barbecue pit to raise funds for projects.

On Saturday November 14, the Botetourt Young Farmers made chicken and presented a tasty meal to the  attendees and carry out to ticket holders from all of the county. The Young Farmers promote agriculture and farm activities in Botetourt County and are associated with Farm Bureau. In the photo above, Travis Meadow and Warren Rhodes along with many others fired the chicken halves all day long. The result-- tasty tender chicken all for a good cause!

Happy Thanksgiving from the Buchanan Moose lodge to area Senior citizens.

The Buchanan Moose Lodge is having a Senior Citizen's Thanksgiving Dinner on Sunday, November 22, 2009 at the Moose Lodge being at 1:00 p.m. All seniors are invited to attend.

This dinner began after the 1985 flood in Buchanan when many people had no home or place to go for Thanksgiving Dinner. The Ladies of the Buchanan Moose have kept this doing for all these year.

After the dinner there will be bingo for anyone who wants to stay.

submitted by Paige Ware

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