www.roanoke.com

Thistledown Puppets provided lots of laughter and an entertaining performance to the classes at L'il Scholars Preschool on Thursday morning, November 19. Philip Hatter is both the creator and puppeteer of Thistledown puppets. The preschool is located in Fincastle Baptist Church and Jennifer Aylor is the director.

The children filed into the room excitedly noting the puppet stand in the front which contained a lion, a couple of goats, a one eyed frog, a monkey, a scruffy calico cat, a bull, a pig, a rooster, and Ebenezer Scrooge.

Hatter described how his Bull puppet show has now traveled to England and he is making puppets for people all over the world. "We actually went to Europe this year," he said about the travels with his puppets. He is making 11 more puppet Bull shows to be played in Europe. He has a comic style book published  called a "Bunch of Bull." Its all about a bull who wants to be an intellectual in a city and leave the farm far behind. Thus the puppet show follows the travails of the Bull in his quest to be an intellectual.

He did a brief story line with each of his puppets even displaying the foam he formed for a new puppet. The favorites seemed to be Ebenezer Scrooge and the "goat" of Jacob Marley. The children were delighted. The Rooster sang a morning song to the tune of "Ode to Joy" and ended with a big "Cock -A-Doodle Do!'

Each child had the chance to try on a puppet. "The monkey puppet was my first puppet-my brother and I each had one growing up and used to play with them," said Hatter. He also showed the children a book about the late Jim Henson maker of the Muppets, who was an inspiration to him.

For more information on Thistledown puppets go to thistledownpuppets.com

Christmas is coming!

Virginia Mountain Vineyards Holiday Open House
Saturday, Dec 4 & Sunday Dec 5; 1-5PM
Live Holiday Music
Hors d'oeuvres
Grape vine wreath making
Great Holiday wine and gift accessories
540-473-2979
www.vmvines.com

Fincastle - Can emergency responders find you? It's much easier if your house numbers are clearly posted.
It has been 10 years since Botetourt County implemented Enhanced 911 service. In addition to installing highly specialized telephone and mapping equipment in the Emergency Communications Center, most County addresses were changed to a more effective, distance-based address system in order to make it easier for Fire, Rescue and Law Enforcement responders to quickly locate the scene of emergencies.
The system continues to work extremely well, but responders are often frustrated by the failure of some residents and businesses to properly post their street addresses.
"The numbering system generally works really well to help get us to the scene", remarked Jason Ferguson, Captain of the County's paid response staff. "You'd be surprised though, at the minutes we can shave off of a response time if numbers are clearly posted". Darryl Johns, Chief of the Eagle Rock Volunteer Fire Department, echoes the concern. "While responses to structure fires are sometimes easy to see from the road, most are not. The point is to put the fire out long before it gets big enough to see. If we are wasting time trying to turn a 32 foot truck around because the numbers weren't clearly posted, that fire has time to grow".
Assistant to the County Administrator, Spencer Suter, who originally helped implement the 911 program reminds residents that the correct posting of numbers is required by County code and offers the following advice:
"First, commit to posting your numbers properly. If they are not posted, you should make the time to do it as soon as possible. Even if your numbers are already posted, inspect them and ensure that they are fulfilling the intended purpose of guiding emergency service responders to your home or business, during both day and night, and in all weather conditions. Residential numbers should be at least 3 inches in height and businesses, 4 to 8 inches. Ideally, the numbers should be reflective and should be
EMERGENCY SERVICES
205 N. Roanoke Street, Suite 1
Fincastle, Virginia 24090
Phone: (540) 473-2098
Fax: (540) 473-8288
www.botetourt.org
posted so that the entrance to the structure can be clearly seen from an approach in either direction".
The applicable County code section can be viewed online at: http://www.botetourt.org/government/documents/mc/ch002.pdf (Municipal Code section 2 - Administration, Article IX, Div. 2)
Reflective numbers are inexpensive and can be purchased at most hardware stores. Chief Johns sums up the behest to residents by saying, "You never know when you'll need assistance from our crews. Please help us help you by posting your numbers properly."

--submitted by Spencer Suter

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.

The Central Academy Robo Patriots placed first in their Division in regional Competition.

The CAMS/4H team at the Lynchburg Regional where they placed first in their division.

MacKenzie Tyree digs the ball for CNU

MacKenzie Tyree in her 1st season of collegiate volleyball at Div.II Carson Newman College, as the Eagles were selected Sunday night November 15 as one of the 64 teams to play in the Division 2 Championship.

Tyree, a 2009 graduate of LBHS and a Daleville resident, is a defensive specialist. She helped lead Carson Newman (22-8, 12-4 SAC) to a second place regular season finish in the South Atlantic Conference as well as runner-up in the tournament.

The Eagles are a number 4 seed in the Southeast Region and will play at Wingate University Friday Nov. 20th against Catawba College.

Tyree, on the right.

Tyree lead the Carson Newman team in serving percentages at 99% (365/370), 3rd in serving aces/gm, 2nd in serve receive percentage at 95%, and is 4th in digs/gm at 2.23.

Submitted by Tyree Family, photos by Rick Elliott

Advance Notice
Planning Commission & Board of Supervisors
Board of Zoning Appeals

December 2009

The following applications will be heard at the December 14, 2009 Planning Commission public hearing and the December 22, 2009 Board of Supervisors public hearing. There are currently no requests for the Board of Zoning Appeals.

Planning Commission/Board of Supervisors

Fincastle Magisterial District: Donald L. Meredith (Cingular Wireless/AT&T Wireless, lessees) requests a Special Exception Permit with possible conditions in an Agricultural, (A-1) Use District to construct and maintain a 195-foot telecommunications tower within a 10,000 square foot lease area, plus access road on a on a 97.0 acre parcel located off of West Wind Road (Route 635), approximately 0.27 miles southwest of its intersection with Mary Alice Road (Route 681), identified on the Real Property Identification Maps of Botetourt County as Section 48, Parcel 15.

Buchanan Magisterial District: Larry W. and Rebecca T. Thompson request to rezone 2.334 acres from Forest Conservation (FC) District to Rural Residential (RR) District and 2.265 acres from Agricultural-Rural Residential district to Rural Residential to create one new lot and to re-adjust the boundary lines of an existing lot. This property is located on State Route F054 (Purgatory Mountain Road), approximately 1.0 mile southwest of Interstate 81, Exit 168, identified on the Real Property Identification Maps of Botetourt County as Section 52, Parcels 25 and 32C.

Board of Supervisors

Amsterdam Magisterial District: Timberbrook Associates (Strauss Construction Corp.) requests to vacate an existing 20' waterline easement in Botetourt Commons. This site on Commons Parkway is located approximately 0.08 miles west of its intersection with US Route 220 (Roanoke Road), identified on the Real Property Identification Maps of Botetourt County as Section 101(14) Parcel 7.

VDOT has requested that the Board of Supervisors abandon those areas of Route 605 (Cougar Lane) that are no longer within the right-of-way of the reconstructed Route 605.

Board of Zoning Appeals

There are none.

submitted by Laura Goad, Planning and Zoning

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 .

Botetourt Gymnastics hosted the Commonwealth Games on Saturday Nov. 14th. Owner Susan Powers described the scene. "It was a ton of fun and we had a good turnout, especially from Botetourt. Creative Fitness from Buchanan and our gym both did very well. We also had Roanoke Academy, Galax Gainers and VA Techniques from Blacksburg." The list of results are included below.  "It was a first meet for several of the BGA girls girls and Creative Fitness girls and they did really well for their first meet," said Powers. Two of the BGA girls took Gold medals. This was the 11th year that Botetourt Gymnastics has held the meet here at their site.

Level 4-Age 6-8 Vault Bars Beam Floor All Around
Tyler Dawson 8.55-5th 8.70-4th 7.50-5th 8.00-4th 32.75-4th (Qualified for Sectionals)

Level 4-Age 9
Cora Blom 8.20 7.10 6.70 6.60 28.60

Level 4-Age 10-11
Hannah Burch 8.45-6th 7.70-5th 7.65-5th 7.70-5th 31.50-6th (Qualified for sectional)

Level 5-Age 9-10
Abby Spangler 8.70-8th 7.95-5th 8.575-5th 8.25 33.475-6th (Qualified for Sectional)

Level 5-Age 11
Gabby Mittelstetter 7.85-7th 7.675-4th 8.90-3rd 7.45-6th 31.875-5th (Qualified for Sectional)

Level 5-Age 12+
Alicia Ralston 8.50-3rd 7.00-1st 8.10-2nd 6.15-4th 29.750-2nd

Level 6-Age 7-11
Jaylen Reeves 9.10-1st 6.75-5th 8.15-4th 6.75-5th 30.75-5th