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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

The G.F.W.C. Bent Mountain Woman's Club will host a candidate debate tonight at Bent Mountain Elementary School at 7 p.m.

House of Delegates, 8th District Morgan H. Griffith (R) and Carter Turner (D) and Roanoke County Board of Superviosr, Windsor Hills District Eddie (Ed) Elswick (R) and Sarah Goodman (D) will go head to head.

Hollani Davis, news anchor for WDBJ-7 will serve as moderator.

Bent Mountain Elementary School is located at 10148 Tinsley Lane on Bent Mountain.

The Local Office on Aging Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion Programs are partnering with Beta Chi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority to sponsor another “Soup for Seniors” Make a Difference Day Project.

In 2007 the “Soup for Seniors” community effort fed several thousand seniors with bags of soup and crackers. The 2008 goal is to collect 35,000 cans of soup and 5,000 boxes of crackers to feed as many low-income older persons as possible. Each recipient will receive approximately 12 cans of soup and a large box of crackers for use during the winter months. This food assistance will then give the seniors the opportunity to put the amount they would have spent on the food bag toward their heating or medication bills.

Although we are experiencing a tight economy, the LOA is hoping the entire community will get involved with this project and be as generous as last year to get food to the seniors who really need it. Items will be accepted beginning October 1 and continuing through October 23. Starting the week of October 12, program staff and volunteers will begin distribution of “Soup for Seniors” bags to qualifying individuals, with completion by National Make a Difference Day, October 24.

If you are part of an organization that would like to assist LOA with donations of soup and/or crackers or would like to donate individually, contact the FGP/SCP office at 540-985-9600. LOA is a 501(c)3 organization, so all donations to the “Soup for Seniors” project are tax deductible and a receipt will be provided.

Those wishing to make a monetary donation can send checks, made payable to: LOA -Soup for Seniors and mailed to LOA, P.O. Box 6357, Roanoke, Virginia 24017. Donations of items may be dropped off at the LOA Office located in Melrose Towers, 3038 Melrose Avenue NW, Roanoke, local Bank of American branches and Enterprise Rent A Car locations. For additional information about “Soup for Seniors,” or for other drop off locations, please contact FGP/SCP staff at 540-985-9600.

Submitted by: Linda Harshbarger

The Annual Fall Chicken Barbecue held October 3rd at the Cave Spring Rescue Squad was a success. Over 1100 chickens dinners were served within a 3 hour period. This money making project is sponsored by the members of the Cave Spring Rescue Squad Auxiliary. The 14 members of the Auxiliary along with rescue squad members, family and friends spent a long day in preparation. The majority of the meals, which consist of 1/2 barbecued chicken, green beans, cole slaw and a roll are served through the drive thru service but several hundred enjoyed eating in the Crew's meeting room.

Many of the customer's have become friends over the years and some even travel from out of town to enjoy the meal and to pick up their special order desserts. Even with the BBQ activities the crew responded to numerous calls throughout the day.

Recently the Auxiliary paid for the installion of a new digital sign in front of the crew hall and they feel that this has helped with the success of our recent projects. The sign also provides information to the public of upcoming classes and events sponsored by the crew.

-Sharon Campbell, Cave Spring Auxiliary

Garden Club members from all over the area gathered on Wednesday, September 30, at 11:30 a.m. at the Garden Club Center to have lunch together and enjoy a fashion show. The event is an annual fundraiser for the Sugar Loaf Garden Club.

The money raised will be used to award a scholarship to a Virginia Western Community college horticulture student and donate the Arboretum, upgrading and maintaining their award-winning butterfly garden at Oak Grove Elementary School, present a program at a local nursing home, supporting Valley Beautiful and Clean Valley Council, VA Hospital Veteran's cookie plates at Christmas, support Friends of the Blue Ridge parkway and Scenic Virignia - planting trees, and support of Southwester Virginia Second Harvest Food Bank.

Garden Club member, Lydia Celin said that this is the fourth annual and  largest fundraiser that the Sugar Loaf Garden Club does. She also said that the scholarship has been increasing every year. 80 tickets were

The afternoon began with a welcome and a luncheon and the fashion show by Henri Kessler Furs and Second Hand Rose. A silent auction was also going on during the event.

Door Prizes were also given out and there was a raffle drawing. The door prizes and raffles were created by donors which include, gotekgo.com (Susan Lucas), William Adkins CLU-ChFC with Nationwide Ins., Maria Lin Jewelry, Lavender Dreams, Colors & You, Plantagenet Rose, White Oak Tavern, Townside Gardens, Cindy's Greenery, VA Greenhouse, Showtimers, Mulch 'n More, Doreen's Gourmet, Virginia Western Arboretum, Sanctuary Spa, Taubman Museum of Art, Wine Gourmet, Toad'ly Kids, Petal Pushers, Glebe Gardens, Hallmark, Chocolate Paper, Willow Grove, and Star City Playhouse.

The Pleasants Masonic Lodge, #63 held another Child I.D. program at Tanglewood Mall on Saturday, Oct. 3. The first program was held last April and the response was so huge, that Master Duffy Ferguson helped to coordinate another.

The line was out the door as parents and their children awaited to get the process started.

The process is done entirely on a digital system set up on a a glorified laptop. The parent or guardian of the child will fill out a questionnaire about their child which will then be typed into the computer by a volunteer. Digital fingerprints, a still photo, and even a 10 to 15second video will be made of the child and all the information burned onto a CD.

This information is important to police and family members, if a child goes missing. The CD contains everything that the police might would need to find a child.

For more on the program, visit our previous articles:

*Sept. 2: Child I.D. Program to be held at Tanglewood mall on Saturday, Oct. 3

*Feb. 23: Pleasants Masonic Lodge #63 to host Child ID Program at Tanglewood Mall