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Zach Lintner and Jack Croke enjoying their smores.

Teacher Tracy Lintner reading a story to the children in a tent.

In April, preschoolers at Wesleyan Preschool at First United Methodist Church celebrated camping day.

"They had so much fun singing campfire songs, making smores, listening to stories with flashlights glowing," said Jane Butto.

Submitted by Jane Butto.

Do you have vacation bible schools coming up? Do you have photos from kids and grownup kids having fun in and around Salem and Glenvar?

We'd love to publish them (and announce bible school dates, too) here on our blog and in an upcoming edition of So Salem. Just send them to news@sosalem.com.

Roanoke County police are at the scene of a wreck involving a tractor-trailer that was hit by a train.

The wreck happened this morning at a crossing on Garman Road in the Glenvar area of the county.

An officer at the scene said no one was injured.

We'll post updates here and on this breaking news item from the newsroom of The Roanoke Times.

Miriam Frazier of Salem is directing a show at the Jefferson Center.
The show is “Vintage Durang,” by Gamut Theatre, and features an evening of comic short pieces by Christopher Durang.
Performances will be Thursday, July 9, at 7:30 p.m., Friday, July 10 at 8pm, Saturday July 11th at 8 p.m, Thursday July 16th at 7:30 p.m. and closing performance on Friday, July 17th at 8 p.m.
Tickets are on sale at the Jefferson Center box office at 345-2550. Cost is $12 adults, $8 for students and Mill Mountain Theatre season ticket holders.

The full release from Gamut follows: Read more »

Rancho Viejo is coming to Salem -- at the site of the former Fast Freddy's on West Main Street. Business writer Jenny Boone has a few details on her retail blog, The Storefront.

So, what do you think of Rancho Viejo coming to Salem? You can leave your comments below.

The Masons Cove 10 & Under Girls Softball team capped their 12-0-2 season by winning the Roanoke Area Youth Softball Association 2009 End of Season Tournament Wednesday night, June 24, at Moyer Park.

Front row, left to right: Kirstin Smith, Sadi Gilbert, Jamie Dyer, Arianna Butzer, Danielle Bryant, Raleigh Brookshier; second row, Skyler Francisco, Kasey Jo Simpson, Jaime McNabb, Brook Shepard, Eisabella Nichols, Paris Small; Coaches Kim Simpson, Samantha Shepard and Matt Shepard.

Submitted by Katrina Butzer

If you have photos you'd like to share, send 'em to news@sosalem.com and we'll post 'em up here!

We are the grandparents of a student in the recent graduation ceremony of Salem High School. We want to compliment the principal John Hall & assistant principal Sandy Hadaway for the manner in which they handled the situation with the special needs child who was scared and too embarrassed to go up the steps to get her greatly desired diploma.

The principals took it upon themselves to leave the stage, go down the steps and give the young lady her diploma. Her eyes lit up, she gave a thumbs up sign and with a standing ovation from the whole assembly, that great moment in her life was made complete.

May God give a special blessing to Mr. Hall, the principal Ms. Hadaway, the assistant principal, the students of SHS and other faculty who comforted the young lady. It was very obvious that all of them love this child. We know her family and friends must be very proud of her.

Principal Hall isn't only a kind and thoughtful person in a school related situation, he is also in the outside world. Our son is disabled from an accident. Mr. Hall has befriended him many times at a local gym which has meant so much to our son and us. We will never forget his thoughtfulness.

-Bob and Nadine Euler

If you have someone in the community you'd like to thank, an issue you'd like to make a comment about, or just have some thought about Salem or Glenvar that you'd like to share, send it to news@sosalem.com and we can post it here as well as in a "your take" in an upcoming edition of So Salem.

Here are some events going on right in Salem's own civic center this summer. Keep reading for the Salem Red Sox games also! These are submitted by the Salem Civic Center.

July 2 - 12
22ND ANNUAL SALEM FAIR
July 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 - Gates opens 4 pm
July 4, 5, 11, 12 - Gates open 12:00 pm
Fair closes nightly at 11:00 pm
Free Gate Admission
Ride Tickets - 20 for $25.00 or 50 for $45.00 or $1.25 each
(Each ride takes between 3 & 5 tickets)
www.salemfair.com

More events below:
Read more »

The Roanoke County Master Gardeners will be presenting the following topics at the Salem Farmers Market during each Saturday in July. Each presentation will begin at 9 a.m. and last approximately 30 minutes. Materials covering each topic will be available.

July 4: "Companion Planting" with speaker Kathryn Debnar

July 11: "An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure" about food preservation with speaker Deb Chappell

July 18: "Now you see it, now you don't" about rain gardens and erosion prevention with speaker Steve Hyzer

July 25: "Clean up in aisle nine" about worm composting with speakers Connie Stone and Cindy Reynolds

For questions or for persons with disabilities that desires assistive devices, services or other accomodations, contact Sheri Dorn, Extension Agent, Agriculture at 772-7524 ext. 256.

How many high school rising sophomore lacrosse goalies can say that they've been shot on by an All-American college player?

Michael Hagar, a Salem High School student, can, and so can lots of other athletes in the ninth through adult league at the Salem Lacrosse Foundation's Summer League for four weeks during June and July. There are four different groups: ninth through adult leagues for both men and women, and a first grade through eighth grade for both girls and boys. They play a pick-up style (the coaches make sure experience and talent is evenly spread,) with referees to pace the game and keep it safe, Monday through Thursday evenings at the Spartan Stadium at Salem High School.

This year is the third year that the Salem Lacrosse Foundation's summer league has been valley wide, said organizer Mike Brightwell. There are a total of 121 players signed up for this year's games, including coaches and players from all over the Roanoke area - sometimes even Roanoke College players jump in the mix.

For more information about the Salem Lacrosse Foundation, visit their temporary site at www.laxsalem.com.

Nine high school girls basketball players from Salem High and 64 rising second and rising ninth graders convened in the West Salem Elementary school gym June 22 through 25 this summer to prepare the way for the future of Salem High School girls basketball.

Click here if you'd like to see a more traditional photo gallery of the slideshow above.

Do you have pictures of summer sports or other activities going on in the Salem or Glenvar area or involving Salem or Glenvar residents?

We'd love to show them off here if you want to share! Send them to news@sosalem.com and it'll be here on the Notebook.