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The Junior League of Roanoke Valley will kick off the holiday season with its signature fundraiser, the Stocked Market Holiday Bazaar, at the Roanoke Civic Center from November 12th through 15.  Last year, over $194,000 was raised to help fund projects and other community endeavors in the Roanoke Valley.

“The Stocked Market once again promises to be the true kickoff to the Holiday season in the Valley, with more than 140 merchants from around the country and three days of shopping,” said Beth Cross, President of the Junior League.  “The success of our signature fundraising event allows the JLRV to continue the tradition of serving our community partners and bringing trained volunteers to the forefront of community service in the Roanoke Valley,” added Cross.

Each merchant features exclusive merchandise such as gourmet foods, fashions, accessories, arts, antiques, home and garden décor and more.  A complete list of vendors may be found on the Stocked Market website at www.stockedmarketjlrv.org. Proceeds from this year’s event will benefit area community organizations enriching the lives of women and children in the Valley, including The Boys & Girls Club, Second Harvest Food Bank, Young Audiences of Virginia, TAP Head Start, Greenvale School, Presbyterian Community Center and the Salvation Army.

The Stocked Market begins with “Splurge,” a cocktail preview shopping party on the evening of Thursday, November 12.  This highly anticipated event gives shoppers the first opportunity to preview merchandise.  This year the “Splurge” theme is “High Class and Bluegrass.”  Splurge tickets are $45 per person or $80 per couple.  Friday, November 13th, the “Sneak Peek” Preview Coffee begins at 9am.  Tickets are $15.  Three-day general admission tickets can be purchased in advance for $8 each or $9 at the door.  General admission hours begin at 11:00am on Friday.   To purchase tickets or to find out more about the JLRV, log on to www.stockedmarketjlrv.org or contact the JLRV office at 540-343-3663.  Tickets can also be purchased from any JLRV member, at StellarOne Bank locations, and Amrhein’s in Roanoke or Salem.

Organized in 1927, the Junior League of Roanoke Valley, VA, is a volunteer organization for women committed to promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women and improving the community through effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.  The JLRV has adopted Childhood Health and Welfare as its community focus for the next five years, seeking to address the needs of children and their families in the Roanoke Valley.  The Junior League of Roanoke Valley, along with 294 Junior Leagues in four countries, is a member of the Association of Junior Leagues International.  The AJLI, Inc. reaches out to women of all races, religions and national origins, who demonstrate an interest in and commitment to volunteerism.

Submitted by Beth Cross, President.

John Gallagher sent us photos from Southwest County Cub Scout Pack 224 who recently spent some time at Camp Bethel in Fincastle and camped out at Spookoree 2009. Spookoree was held on Saturday, Oct. 18 and Sunday Oct. 19.

Do you have photos involving people or events around Southwest Roanoke County? If so, you can share at news@swo-co.com.

Cub Scout Pack 224 participate at the Roanoke County Civic League meeting on October 18 to present the colors.

The participants (L to R) were: Joseph Gallagher, Jacob Spiers, Alex File and Brandon Hatcher.

Submitted by John Gallagher

Beginning on Friday, Oct. 30 until Sunday, Nov. 1 the Blue Ridge Potters Guild (BRPG) will hold their 10th Anniversary Show and Sale featuring 50 area potters.

The show will begin with a reception on Friday, Oct. 30 at 6 p.m. During the reception each potter will bring a food item which will be displayed on a piece of pottery they have created. Sales and demonstrations will continue Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

Demonstrations will include pottery techniques including hand-thrown, hand-built and sculpted clay art, and some offer "hands on" activities for adults and children.

"We offer demos where kids can get their hands dirty and make something," Barbara Wise with the BRPG said.

There will also be a special exhibit featuring the theme, "Tea for Our Tenth". An juror will judge the pieces submitted into this category. A charity exhibit will include pottery that will be donated and then sold during the sale. Proceeds from that exhibit will benefit Military Families Support Center, a non-profit organization that supports families of those who are in the military.

In the past the show was held at Virginia Western, but according to Wise, the event outgrew that location and was moved to Cave Spring High School.

"Last year, we figured we had about 5,000 people come through," Wise said.

The BRPG is a non-profit organization that has about 75 to 80 members. Potters in the show must be BRPG members. Potters are from all over the Roanoke Valley, including Christiansburg, Lynchburg, Floyd, Clifford, New Castle, Moneta, Franklin Count, Montgomery Co., and Craig. Potter's in the show will receive a percentage of their sales.

The Blue Ridge Potters Guild mission is to promote community awareness, understanding and appreciation of pottery. To encourage professional growth and artist quality. To promote educational opportunities for members and the public interest in pottery, such as workshops, shows and exhibits.

"We are just thrilled with where we are going and what we are doing," Wise said.

To learn more about the Blue Ridge Potters Guild click here.

On Wednesday, October 7 the Sugar Loaf Garden Club hosted an October program featuring Billy Shepard from Twig & Berry off Peters Creek Road in Roanoke. The event was entitled, 'Fall Flowers for Special Occasions'.

During the meeting Shepard gave demonstartsons on how to create memorable center pieces for the holidays and other occasions. Shepard is an award winning floral designer and for 29 years has been creating memorable weddings and special events in the Roanoke area. He has been a contributing designer on the renowned HDTV series, Platinum Wedding. He has also created arrangements for events including New Years at the Tabman Museum and the Black & White Masque Ball and the Bridal Gala hosted by Brides House.

Also discussed during the meetings was a fundraiser called Plant it Pink for Susan G. Komen. With October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the National Garden Clubs have decided to sell ceramic birdhouses for $65 (plus shipping) made by Louisville Stoneware.

Virginia State Chairman for Plant it Pink, Rita Leiser said that this was the first year for selling the birdhouses.

The birdhouses can be purchased by contacting President Ellen Wade at 540-989-9840.

"We want to increase breast cancer awareness and to find a cure for it," Leiser said.

The event was held beginning at 10 a.m. on Wednesday at the Roanoke Council of Garden Clubs, 3640 Colonial Avenue.

Rotary club of Downtown Roanoke inducts new members.

The Rotary Club of Downtown Roanoke recently inducted two new members.  Inducted were Bruce Hunter, Advertising Executive with The Roanoke Times and Barry Wright, Publisher at RP Publishing in Salem.

The Rotary Club meets the first and third Wednesdays of the month at noon, at 202 Marketplace in Roanoke.

Pictured left to right are John Carlin Publicity Chair, Bruce Hunter, Barry Wright and Bill McChain, club President.

Submitted by John Carlin.

On Wednesday November 11, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. the Sugar Loaf Garden Club will celebrate it’s 50th anniversary at a reception open to friends and supporters. This is an opportunity to look back over the years and reminisce. Elene Combs, president of the Virginia Federation of Garden Clubs, will speak on the future of garden clubs. The celebration includes light refreshments. It will be held at the Roanoke Council of Garden Clubs, 3640 Colonial Avenue, Roanoke.

Sugar Loaf Garden Club was founded on Nov. 11, l959. In 50 years, fashions have changed, new plants have found their way to Roanoke gardens and even rules for floral designs have changed. Researching our history we have discovered, through written records and anecdotes from long time members, that the goals of our garden club have not changed and are still relevant.

We provide opportunities to study horticulture and techniques of artistic design through speakers, demonstrations and workshops. We participate in community activities including civic planting and we support organizations with similar goals.

The club's first civic project, in 1960-61, was the construction of a gravel path along Grandin Road Extension at Oak Grove Elementary School in cooperation with Roanoke County Schools.

In 1999-2000, we renewed our partnership with Oak Grove Elementary School. At the suggestion of Helen Terry, a current member, and Elaine Williams (president 1997-99), a butterfly garden was planned. Our longtime member and master judge, Marion Danco, designed the butterfly garden. Oak Grove PTA volunteers constructed the free-form berm from Marian's design and they supplied 12 tons of top soil. Sugar Loaf provided 93 perennial plants which our members planted. Our club members continue to maintain the garden, by planting, weeding and watering throughout the year.

The butterfly garden won the following awards: Roanoke Council of Garden Clubs -- "Beauty Spot of the Month"; Blue Ridge District VFGC -- Landscape Award -- 1st place; the Virginia Federation of Garden Clubs -- Landscape Award -- 1st place; and the National Council of State Garden Clubs -- Landscape Award -- small club section -- 2nd place

The 1962-63 club project was a "progressive" flower show, held in homes of members. That year a fashion show was held at Oak Grove Elementary School to raise money for our club projects. In the last four years our flower shows, which are free to the public, have been held at the Roanoke Council of Garden Clubs building on Colonial Avenue. This year the show was on Wednesday, April 1.

In the fall of 2008, Sugar Loaf Garden Club sponsored Oak Grove students in grades three to five who participated in the Smokey Bear/Woodsy Owl Poster Contest offered by the National Council of Garden Clubs, Inc. and the U.S. Forest Service. Forty-eight students completed their posters and they were entered into the competition. On April 22, Earth Day, all the participants were recognized at an assembly at Oak Grove Elementary School. Lenah Addo, a fourth grade student, won the Virginia State first place award.

The l962-63 project was the sale of 460 dogwood trees sold in the neighborhood to beautify the area. If you have one of these trees on your property or you know where one is located, we would like to hear from you.

In 2007 our members decided to expand our fundraising for community projects in order to include a scholarship for a horticulture student at Virginia Western Community College. We chose to do a fall fashion show/luncheon. The success of the shows has allowed us to raise our contributions to community organizations and our projects. In addition, we were able to increase the amount of the scholarship award. This year’s show on September 30th was a success that we plan to continue.

Sugar Loaf Garden Club is a small club, with fewer than 25 members, but we are a very active club. We try to provide for every member's interests and we welcome new members. For further information on the anniversary reception or other club activities contact Ellen Wade, president, at 798-4869 or e-mail ellenwade@cox.net

Submitted by Diane Lowe and Lydia Celin

Back row: Edith Martin, Carolyn Taylor, Katie Arnold, Patsy Wingfield, Amy Bennett, Barbara Chase, Culver Bennett, Glenda Patsel and Vickie Arnold. Front Row: Sharon Campbell, Phyllis Martin, Edith Kelley, Angie Williams and Sallie Grubb -Sharon Campbell

On September 23rd through the 26th, several members of the Cave Spring Rescue Squad Auxiliary attended the Auxiliary to the Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squad convention which was held in Virginia Beach. During the conference Cave Spring was presented with a plaque honoring them for their work with the National EMS Memorial Service which had been held in Roanoke for the past 17 years. They also won 1st place with their scrapbook which chronicles their work with in the community

Sharon Campbell, Phyllis Martin, Edith Kelley, Angie Williams and Sallie Grubb Sarah Wingfield, Karla Sprouse and Maegan Sprouse attend the Saturday morning convention meeting. -Sharon Campbell

and their assistance to the volunteers of the Cave Spring Rescue Squad.

Also during the conference, Auxiliary member, Patsy Wingfield was elected to her second term as state Treasurer, Vickie Arnold was elected to the position of state Historian and Sharon Campbell was appointed as the state Secretary.

-Sharon Campbell

The Back Creek Civic League will be holding an event with the Candidates in the November General Election.

When: Monday, October 19 at 7 p.m.

Where: Back Creek Fire Station

Who: House of Delegates (8th House District) H. Morgan Griffith and Carter Turner

Roanoke County Board of Supervisors (Windsor Hills District) Sarah Goodman and Ed Elswick

Roanoke County School Board Drew Barrineau

-Submitted by: Linda Holt

Roanoke Council of Garden Clubs presents Holiday House: A Thanksgiving and Christmas Bazaar.

When: Saturday, Nov. 7 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Where: 3640 Colonial Avenue

What: arts & crafts, plants, year round gifts, white elephant, baked goods, Santa's Pack Drawing, lunches available, and silent auction.

Cost: Free