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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.

Join us as we celebrate 50 Grr-eat Years this Sunday, Nov. 8th!

Order of events:
1:30pm ~ HVMS Eagle Band arrives for pre-parade entertainment

1:45pm ~ students assemble near the Gym for parade.

2:00pm ~ Parade begins

2:20pm ~ assemble in the Gym for special recognition and video montage'.

3:10pm ~ reunions "Through the Decades" in various classrooms (5th grade hall)

Light refreshments will be served in the 50's Cafe' until 4:00pm.

How exciting that Oak Grove's 50th Anniversary occurs during this school year and our children get to be part of the celebrations.   Mrs. Howell has been diligently working with all the students on songs that she has written especially for this special event.

Get dressed up in Black and Gold, wear a Tiger costume, tiger ears and tail, or simply carry your beloved stuffed Tiger....just come out and join in the fun! ...and what a beautiful day we're going to have, with a projected high of 69 degrees!

Please have your young Tiger at school no later than 1:45 this Sunday, and we will assemble them by grade level with their teachers escorting them during the parade.  The outdoor festivities will begin with our very own, Ella Hodson singing The Star Spangled Banner.

The Roanoke County Police Dept. will block off the parade route, which will begin in the bus parking lot and travel down to the main parking lot. Come early for best parking options, as the road will be blocked in front of the school at 1:45pm.

The HVMS Eagle Band will provide pre-parade entertainment beginning at 1:30pm.

After the parade, we will assemble in the Gym for a video montage of former and current staff and teachers as they recount their days when they served at Oak Grove.  There will be some special recognition, with a song performed by 4th and 5th graders entitled Possibilities, and a song performed by K-3 entitled I like School.  Thank you Mrs. Howell!
Special Thanks to:

* Mrs. Howell for writing and directing 2 special songs
* HVMS Eagle Band members and band director Mr. Elliott
* Boy Scouts for setting up chairs
* singer Ella Hodson
* Blue Ridge Copiers for the donated banner.
* Petal Pushers Florist
*  Sam's Club for a $25 donation
* Rke Co. Police Dept for ensuring a safe event
* Gwen and Peter Vieth for their numerous hours of hard work!
* Everyone who helped make this event a success!
* Teachers and Staff of Oak Grove for making this a great place to be!

Submitted by:  Stephanie Farmer, PTA President

Roanoke County Public Library system
November Events

In celebration of Thanksgiving, all Roanoke County Public Libraries will close at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 25, and reopen at their regular time (9:00 a.m.) on Saturday, November 28.

Book Clubs for Adults

Reading Adventurers (Adult Book Club)
Hollins Library
Tuesday (November 3), 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
6624 Peters Creek Rd.  Call 561-8024 for more information.

Vinton Book Club
Vinton Library
Thursday (December 3), 2:30 pm
The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
800 E. Washington Ave.  Call 857-5043 for more information.
Read more »

Courtesy of Brian Quakenbush

The Cave Spring high school bands conducted by Brian Quakenbush, will be presenting their Fall Concert performance titled “An American Music” concert on Monday, November 16th.  Both the Concert and Symphonic bands will be playing in the Cave Spring auditorium at 7pm and admission is free.

Pieces being performed are by American composers or arrangers.  Selections will include;

The Light Eternal                                                        James Swearingen

American Riversongs                                                         Pierre La Plante

Hymnsong Variant                                                                 Robert W. Smith

Celebration and Song                                                            Robert Sheldon

America the Beautiful                                          Samuel Ward arr. Carmen Dragon

Liturgical Dances                                                                   David Holsinger

an American Elegy                                                        Frank Tichelli

Bayou Breakdown                                                         Brant Larrick

In the Temple of Zion                                                           Steven Reinike

Hunter Kopczynski is a student intern from Virginia Tech and he will be conducting a few of these selections on the concert.

The fall concert is being given to bring attention to needs of the school’s bands for instruments and refurbishment of older instruments being used by the performers.  Many students share instruments from Concert to Symphonic band.  Often many are not able to practice at home due to shortage of school owned instruments.  So, a lot of time is spent in class to perfect individual musical responsibilities.  Donations will be accepted for these purposes.

Submitted by Brian Quakenbush

November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month and hospices across the country are reaching out to raise awareness about important care issues for people coping with life-limiting illness.

“Every year, more than 1.4 million people living with a life-limiting illness receive care from hospice and palliative care providers in this country,” said J. Donald Schumacher, president and CEO of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. “These highly-trained professionals don’t only provide quality medical care. They work to make sure patients and families find dignity, respect, and love during life’s most difficult journey.

Hospice is more than traditional healthcare. Hospice and palliative care programs provide pain management, symptom control, psychosocial support, and spiritual care to patients and their families when a cure is not possible. Hospice and palliative care combines the highest level of quality medical care with the emotional and spiritual support that families need most when facing the end of life.

*** In recognition of National Hospice Month, Good Samaritan Hospice will host information tables at TanglewoodNew River Valley malls throughout the month of November (every Tuesday from 9 a.m. – noon) to help people learn more about hospice and palliative care.  Representatives will available to answer questions about advance directives and other end-of-life issues.  Good Samaritan Hospice is committed to bringing important information to this area and will join with organizations across the nation hosting activities that celebrate this unique system of support.

Additional information about hospice, palliative care and advance care planning is available from Good Samaritan Hospice by calling 776-0198 (Roanoke), 381-3171 (New River Valley) or by visiting www.goodsamhospice.org.

Submitted by: Cindy Hagerman, Director of Community Relations

Christopher (CT) Talevi completes his Eagle Scout project which consists of a wooden shed build for Roanoke County Park and Recreation. Standing with CT in this photo is Mr. Jeff Balon with Roanoke County Parks and Rec.

Christoper (CT) Talevi had no problem coming up with a project for his Eagle Scout Project. He began his project in Dec. 2006 and completed it three years later in June 2009.

"I wanted to give back to a group organization that had given to me, and as a kid I played sports like rec. baseball and rec. soccer and I chose Roanoke County Park and Recreation," Talevi said.

Talevi went to the head of the department, Jeff Balon and asked him if there was anything they needed. At that point Talevi and Mr. Balon decided his project would involved building a wooden shed, with a tin roof, and a ramp to house an infield ground pro and utility tools.

Dec. 2006 was when the idea was born and discussed, but Talevi had to put together a proposal, which in turn had to approved. He was able to put hammer to nail in April 2009. The shed stands proudly at the Arnold R. Burton Technology Center near the softball fields.

The project took a lot of hard work and even presented some challenges.

"I didn't have any constructional background whatsoever," Talevi said.  "So, I was kind of feeling my way through building a massive project. That's a challenge within itself. I had help from my dad Steve and my neighbor across the street, Mr. Tim Clark, and Jeff Balon.

To pay for his project, Talevi held a car wash which raised around $400 and raised about $1700 from word of mouth. According to Talevi, Lowes gave him a 10 percent discount on all purchased and free delivery. He also received free delivery on the roofing from Diversified Industries.

"I like building and using my hands to actually do something productive. The thing I liked most was learning about construction because now for the rest of my life I'm going to know what to do when building any type of structure and I will be able to help people with other projects. I am currently helping a friend build a shed for their project."

Talvei said he was very thankful to all the help he received to accomplish his Eagle Scout rank.

"I'd like to thank my family and my scout master, who have been behind me the whole way and pushing me along even when I didn't want to get out of bed in the morning to work on the project. And also the people who helped me- my friends and my fellow scouts who took their time to achieve this goal."

Talevi is a senior at Cave Spring High School. He plans to attend Davidson College, near Charlotte where he hopes to wrestle at the college level. He isn't sure what he will major in yet, but is interested in Psychology or History.

On Friday, Oct. 30 the Angell family celebrated a great accomplishment. Lewis and Dorothy Angell celebrated their 74th wedding anniversary with their four children, Guy Angell, Joanne Kennedy, Connie Slone, and Joe Angell at Loyalton with cake and many memories.

"We were raised up together," Lewis said about how he met Dorothy. "She lived on one side of the railroad tracks and I on the other."

Both Lewis and Dorothy grew up in Boones Mill. They recalled beginning their courtship when they were 15 or 16-years-old. The two got married at age 19 in 1935.

Together they parented six children, four of which are still living today and still live in the Roanoke Area. They also have eight grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

Lewis worked as a bailiff at the Roanoke County Sheriffs Department and Dorothy stayed home to raise their children.

"They were great parents and we always respected them and we still respect them," Slone said.

"They both worked very hard and thought of us first," Guy said. "Mama used to make us pick out our switches and Daddy always kept our cars running."

Our paparazzi photo crew was at Tanglewood Mall for the mall's annual trick-or-treat event, and so were a lot of people from Southwest Roanoke County.

You can view all the photos in the slideshow above or in this gallery format.

Do you have photos from your Halloween trick-or-treating? If so, you can share at news@swto-co.com.

Our paparazzi photo crew was at Pumpkinfest in Salem on Saturday -- and so were Abby, Ryan, Dee-Dee, Alex Barry of Southwest Roanoke County.

You can see all the photos from Pumpkinfest in this gallery format.

So what did you do for Halloween? You can share your photos at news@swo-co.com.

We've got photos from the recent Blue Ridge Potters Guild Tenth Anniversary Show and Sale which was held Friday, Oct. 30 through Sunday, Nov. 1 at Cave Spring High School. This event marked their 10th Anniversary Show and Sale featuring 50 area potters.

According to Barbara Wise with the BRPG, the weekend was quite a success and Friday's reception was packed full of people.

View our photos above in a slideshow or click here for a more traditional view.