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Girl Scout Troop 5 of Salem Skyline service unit, part of Girl Scouts of Virginia Skyline Council, collected supplies for the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in Topsail Beach, North Carolina.  In doing so, the troop members have earned their Silver Awards, the highest award a Girl Scout Cadette can achieve.

Receiving the award are Elena Macdonald, Erin Widener, and Samantha Yates, all residents of Salem, and Haley Burgess of Roanoke.

The girls began their collection drive for the “Turtle Hospital” by sending out emails to other troops asking them to bring donations to Thinking Day, a day in which girls participate in global-themed activities and programs to honor fellow Girl Scouts and Girl Guides around the world.

At the Thinking Day event, the troop members set up visual displays about the turtles as well as an activity for girls to enjoy.

The troop then went out to the community, making informational posters and a scrapbook page, along with decorated collection boxes, which were placed in the Hollins Library. The girls also solicited donations from members of the community such as the pharmacy at Lewis Gale Medical Center, which donated medical supplies.

When all the items were collected and organized, the troop members used some of the troop’s profits from the annual cookie sale to travel to Topsail Beach to deliver the items to the hospital.  While there, the girls visited the hospital and met with the volunteers.

In addition to collecting the needed supplies, Troop 5 members also made hand-made greeting cards, bead animals and bracelets for the hospital’s gift shop.

With the Silver Award, the project is just one facet of the comprehensive achievement program.  Girl Scout Troop 5 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.

Haley, 14, a ninth grader at Northside High School in Roanoke, is the daughter of Catherine and Paul Burgess of Roanoke.  Elena, 14, a ninth grader at Salem High School, is the daughter of Patricia and Neal Macdonald of Salem.  Erin, 14, a ninth grader at Glenvar High School in Salem, is the daughter of Gayle and Jerry Widener of Salem.  Samantha, 14, also a ninth grader at Glenvar High School, is the daughter of Faye and Terry Yates of Salem.

Their project advisors and troop leaders are Nancy Miller and Gayle Widener, both of Salem.

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.

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

This is a photo of the Salem Sabres U-11 Maroon soccer team after they won the Piedmont Shootout in Martinsville the weekend of November 14 & 15, 2009.

Pictured from left to right -- front row: Hannah W., Mallory E., Kyleigh D., Lily B., Claire L., Evyn M., and Kelci H.; middle: Olivia F., Kendra C., Morgan B., Isabel D., Hannah M., Mariana S., and Brynne M.; back: Coach Rich Drew and Assistant Coach Mike Wills.

Submitted by Krystal Coleman.

Business writer Jenny Boone has details on her retail blog, The Storefront. If you've been there, let us know what you think! You can leave a comment below.

St. Lucia Holiday Concert and Festival of Light
Tuesday, December 15, 2009, 7:30 pm
St. Andrew’s Catholic Church

This is our sixth annual ecumenical celebration.

Featuring the choirs and musicians from:

St Andrew’s Catholic Church * St. Paul’s Episcopal Church * Salem Presbyterian Church

Admission is free.
One or two non-perishable goods are appreciated and
a free will offering will help benefit local charities.

There will be a reception following the concert in the parish hall featuring Swedish treats.

Submitted by Rose Ann Burgess.

Do you have news or photos involving your church in Salem or western Roanoke County? You can share at news@sosalem.com.

Mill Mountain Theatre has announced the complete cast of "Annie Jr.," a production of the beloved musical with the familiar roles filled by 35 students, ranging ages 6 to 18, from schools all over the Roanoke and New River valleys. The play will be performed Dec. 10-13 and Dec. 17-20 on the Trinkle Main Stage in Center in the Square. Tickets $10-$12.

Cast members from the Salem and Glenvar area are: Kelly Devens (Glenvar Middle School), Kyle Fauber (West Salem Elementary), Phillip Rogers (Salem High School), Hallie Newcomer (Salem High School).

Arts writer Mike Allen has more details, and the full cast list, on his Arts & Extras blog.

Morgan Becker having fun in the leaves at Papa and Gg's house.

Submitted by Paul Hicks.

Brownie Girl Scouts of Troop 965 and Daisy Girl Scouts of Troop 1179 in Salem helped out at the Rescue Mission by stamping Christmas cards. Community service starts early and is always lots of fun.

Submitted by Judy Thompson.

NRV Prison Outreach ("NRVPO") was birthed in 2006 when Prison Fellowship Angel Tree made the decision to not serve the regional, local jails and detention centers so that they could be more effective in state prisons. When NRV Prison Outreach began in 2006, we started out with the New River Valley Regional Jail in Dublin. Last year we added the Montgomery County Jail and this year added the new Western Virginia Regional Jail in Salem. In adding Western Virginia Regional we ventured into new territory, Franklin County, Roanoke and Salem and are trying to get the word out about this ministry. Last year there were 291 children who received gifts through this ministry and this year we have 543 children signed up to receive gifts from their incarcerated parent. Each child receives two (2) gifts $15 - $20 each, a fun gift and a clothing gift. If you or your church would like to sponsor a child or children, please contact Sharon at (540) 599-5160 or the church office at (540) 674-4729. Thank you for your support.

Submitted by Sharon Webb.

Roanoke College's Margaret Sue Copenhaver Institute for Teaching and Learning will begin accepting applications on December 1 for its tenth annual three-day residential institute for teachers, to be held on June 21-23, 2010. The institute's theme is "Arts and Standards: Raising Student Achievement."

Participating educators will attend a three-day summer professional development program with keynote presentations, practice-based workshops, technology sessions and round-table discussions. Attendees will develop curriculum and instructional plans for implementation in their respective schools. They will be invited to present their implemented projects and/or publish their results.

The fee to participate in the institute is $100 to be paid upon acceptance and includes all sessions, breakfasts, lunches, receptions and two nights lodging at Roanoke College.

There are four keynote speakers at this year's conference. Phillip Yenawine and Tom Crockett are artists and teachers, skilled in using the arts to enhance student literacy, creativity and thinking and communications skills. Cindy Petersen and Katherine Devine are both involved with Young Audiences of Virginia. Petersen's focus is educational outreach and Devine's is teaching the arts. All are passionate about using the arts to build high-achieving schools dedicated to teacher and student success.

Admission to the institute is competitive. The number of participants is kept low to encourage individuals to develop learning communities among their peers and to provide opportunities to engage guest speakers in meaningful conversations. Admission decisions are made to ensure a varied representation across schools, grade levels and subject areas. Applicants will be notified of acceptance status in March.

The Margaret Sue Copenhaver Institute for Teaching and Learning was established through an endowed gift from Helen C. Hanes of Winston-Salem, N.C. in honor of her sister, Margaret Sue Copenhaver, a retired public school educator from Richmond.