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I traveled down to the Patients Without Borders free health clinic in Wise, Va., over the weekend.  The turnout for the event astounded me.  Thousands of people, most of whom were underinsured or uninsured, traveled great distances to receive free medical, dental or vision treatment.  You hear numbers and statistics regarding Americans with little or no insurance all of the time but to see the crowds and hearing people's stories was eye-opening.  I'm grateful that I had the chance to document this cause.

-- John W. Adkisson

"One more battle, and I have to go home," 10-year-old David Woodford said.

And soon, the Great Plastic Light Saber Clash continued.

David joined a group of four neighborhood children, as they re-enacted an epic "Star Wars" battle in Southwest Roanoke on a recent Monday night.

Shouts from Damian Harmon, 6, overpowered the clacking of the plastic swords.

The battle climaxed to a faux execution of the eldest warrior, Keagan Harmon, 13.

Wielding two swords, Steven Caldwell delivered the finishing blows to Keagan, who fell to the ground laughing.

Shortly, the others smothered the fallen boy. But as if the laughter had revived Keagan, play resumed without missing a thrust.

While his parents are at work during the summer, Keagan said he and his brother and sister don't get to go outside much until later in the evening. The computer and television fill the daytime void.

"It was actually one of the highlights of the week," Keagan said.

--By John W. Adkisson

John W. Adkisson, a native of Charlotte, N.C., is an intern with The Roanoke Times. He attends the University of North Carolina.

Summer moments: A slice of life as seen through the lens of a Roanoke Times photographer. Summer Moments will publish each Monday through the end of August. Got an idea for the photo column? E-mail natalee.waters@roanoke.com.

Two arm wrestlers go hand to hand in the Commonwealth Games. A centenarian does push-ups, saying, "I think people who don't work 10 hours a day are sissies." Pinky the Chihuahua gets a talking-to before competing in a beauty contest.

It's the Week in Photos.  View past weeks.

PRICES FORK — Charlie O’Dell chuckles as he hands out pails from the back of an old white truck.

“Follow the trail down behind the evergreens and over to blueberry hill,”  he says.

On the hill, heads peek out over rows of bushes as hands of all ages drop freshly plucked berries into white buckets.

Crow’s Nest Farm, in Montgomery County began in 1970 when O’Dell and his wife Wilmoth started their first U-Pick  strawberry farm. O’Dell retired from selling strawberries in 2001, but the Prices Fork farm continues to offer raspberries, blackberries and blueberries.

“I’ve never met a berry I didn’t like,” says O’Dell, 74, who eats berries on his cereal all winter long.

Amelia Mohler, who has been coming to Crow’s Nest Farm since she was knee–high, offers these tips for picking blueberries:  “The bigger the better, avoid the black ones and the squishy ones aren’t good either.” Also, after picking berries it’s best to let them sit out for 24 hours to fully ripen.

If  customers feel guilty for eating too many berries while filling their bucket, O’Dell has a “sin box” hanging by his truck on the way out for contributions.

For Crow’s Nest Farm hours call  552-4195.

-- By Jeanna Duerscherl

Jeanna Duerscherl is a native of Minnesota who has been working at the Roanoke Times for three and a half  years.

Summer moments: A slice of life as seen through the lens of a Roanoke Times photographer. Summer Moments will publish each Monday through the end of August. Got an idea for the photo column? E-mail natalee.waters@roanoke.com.

A geese-chasing border collie.

It's the Week in Photos.  View past weeks.