Members of the P3 Crime Investigation Club carefully examine some evidence

With the practice of homeschooling on the rise, many families are searching for the perfect fit in a homeschool group in which to participate. There are several local co-ops in the Roanoke-Salem area with varying philosophies, visions and styles.

P3 Homeschool Co-op is one such group with a unique focus designed to join together like-minded families. P3, which stands for Proverbs 3, is a Christian co-op for children in pre-school through 8^th grade. “The upcoming year will be our 3^rd year in operation” says Jill Shelton of Salem, director of P3. “We plan to grow each year with our oldest kids, eventually serving high school aged children as well.” For now, the older siblings are happy to help with the teaching as well as participation in service projects that the group actively and consistently invests in.

Jennifer Snider of Cloverdale, co-director, explains what makes P3 a unique opportunity: “P3 is an enrichment co-op with a focus on Science, Service, Socializing and Supplements! P3 asked families what is the one subject that gets the most neglected in a homeschool. Moms almost unanimously answered ‘Science’ and kids answered ‘experiments.’ At P3 we agree so we have lots of fun chemistry experiments planned to pack the year full of science!”

P3 also is a service-focused co-op, encouraging families to serve others together. Next year, P3 will be serving Straight Street Ministries in downtown Roanoke. Co-op families also enjoy P3′s unique Character Talks each week as they discuss love and compassion in action.

The socializing aspect of a co-op is obvious. P3 takes it up a notch by seeking to build strong, lasting relationships. “Memory-making is key to building friendships” says Shelton. “So, with that in mind, we plan several fun field trips each year as well as family days and out of town adventure weekends. We hope to build a community of families who learn and grow together and support one another throughout the years.”

The supplements are Clubs! Each week P3 children participate in fun, interest based clubs. The middle schoolers will also begin Photography and Yearbook clubs in the Fall.

P3 Homeschool Co-op meets at centrally located New Century Community Church on Melrose Avenue, Roanoke.

For more information about P3 or to attend an open house, please see the website: www.p3homeschool.webs.com .

Submitted by Jill Shelton

Charlotte Fraser is crowned Miss Apple Blossom Festival 2011.

Charlotte Fraser ’12 won the local title of Miss Apple Blossom Festival 2011 qualifying her for the Miss Virginia Pageant in June

Roanoke College junior Charlotte Fraser was crowned “Miss Apple Blossom Festival 2011” last fall. Fraser, from Charlottesville, will host The Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival in April and compete for the title of Miss Virginia at the Roanoke Civic Center June 23-25.

At the pageant, Fraser’s platform will be hazing prevention and awareness. She was recently awarded the Robert Bickel Scholarship to the 2011 Novak Institute for Hazing Prevention. The scholarship, named in honor of Institute namesake Kimberly Novak’s mentor, Robert Bickel, a professor at the Stetson College of Law, covers registration and housing for an undergraduate or graduate student at the Institute.

“I believe that Charlotte has the dedication, passion and desire to encourage positive dialogue regarding this important issue,” said Roanoke College Greek Life Coordinator, Lindsay Faulstick. Fraser plans to use her title in the Miss America Organization to speak to groups of all ages and demographics about hazing prevention.

Fraser has competed in pageants with the dream of making it to the Miss Virginia pageant since her sophomore year at Albemarle High School in Charlottesville. In order to qualify for Miss Virginia, Fraser first had to win a local title. “I entered 11 local pageants before winning Miss Apple Blossom,” Fraser said. “After being named first runner-up four times, finally winning was surreal.” Her hard work and perseverance landed her a $3,000 academic scholarship funded by The Miss America Organization, the world’s largest source of scholarship assistance for young woman.

Submitted by Roanoke College.

Read on for more information about the Miss Virginia Pageant.

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Roanoke County is offering two kayak trips on Mother’s Day weekend. From the website:

Spend Mothers Day doing what you really want… paddling on a scenic stretch of the New River with one of our experienced guides. Enjoy class I/ II rapids on an individual sit-on-top kayak. No experience necessary. Must be a competent swimmer and capable of prolonged physical activity. Transportation, equipment and guides included. Ages 14 and up are welcome. Registration is limited to 12 participants. Trips run from 9am to 6pm on your choice of Saturday OR Sunday. Departs from Kessler Mill Road in Salem.

Click here to register

Join us on a tour of 11 historic homes throughout the Roanoke Valley on May 7-8! Many of the sites will feature special events, like a wagon ride at the Jeter Homeplace and a Civil War Re-enactment at Jubal Early Homeplace. Learn a bit of history at every home and see area of your hometown not generally open to the public.

Submitted by Roanoke County Parks, Recreation and Tourism.

J.R. Shelor shares these photos from Faith Wesleyan Church in Salem’s Easter Egg Hunt Saturday, April 23.

The City of Salem Schools sponsors a program where elementary and middle school students receive free violin lessons after school at East Salem and GW Carver elementary and Andrew Lewis Middle.

The students had 2 recitals in March: One at the Taubman Museum in downtown Roanoke. It was well attended, sounded great and the art was a fantastic backdrop.  A family day to be sure.

The String Instructor for City of Salem is Geronimo Oyenard of the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra.

Tuesday, March 29, there was  a recital including Roanoke County, Salem City and the Roanoke Youth Symphony String Ensemble at the Burton Center for Arts and Technology.  The after-school program kids got to play with the RYSSE and it was amazing.  This program was initiated in January 2009 and is a collaborative effort of Salem City Schools and the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra (RSO).

RSO String Instructor, Mr. Geronimo Oyenard, teaches Suzuki-based violin for elementary and middle school-aged children in weekly group classes that are held after-school.

The Roanoke Youth Symphony String Ensemble Conductor: Mrs. Joanne Steele Roanoke County After-School Strings Instructor, Mrs. Yi-wen Evans Salem City School After-School Violin Strings Instructor, Mr. Geronimo Oyenard.

Submitted by Stacey Danstrom

From left: Ryan Doroshenk, Walker Peterson, Matt Rosendahl, Cara Neikirk, Kendall Jenkins, Brooke Bennett, Nick Foley, Daniel Pinard, Alex Dunkenberger and Tyler Doroshenk.

A delegate in the Virginia General Assembly rose from his seat to offer yet another opinion on a long-running debate of a transportation bill. The bill’s patron recognized the wearing effect his colleague’s lengthy comments and repeated amendments were having on the governing body. Seeking to bring the debate to conclusion, he firmly refused to yield the floor. The remaining delegates applauded and a smattering of giggles spread across the House Chamber. Skillful use of parliamentary procedures was among many lessons learned during the session. Later the delegate was commended by his colleagues for having the courage to keep the debate focused.

This civilized approach to governing took place in Virginia’s capitol, not by  elected officials but by Alex Dunkenberger, representing Glenvar High School and the Roanoke Valley at the Model General Assembly delegation. The team and more than 200 high school students from across the state participated in the Virginia YMCA’s  annual event.

Submitted by Doloris Vest.

Read on for a full account of the Model General Assembly.

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Kinston, NC  – A monsoon arrived in the top of the ninth, allowing Salem’s 4-3 lead to stand as a final score in the series finale at Grainger Stadium. The victory improved the Red Sox to a Carolina League-best 14-5 on the season heading into a 10-game homestand at LewisGale Field that kicks off on Friday.

Dan Butler blasted the game-changing homer in the top of the fourth, a two-run blast off Kinston’s T.J. House that transformed a 3-2 deficit into a one-run lead that would not be relinquished. Butler’s jack, his fourth of the season, gave him a league-best 22 RBI and catapulted the Sox into the driver’s seat.

Salem starter Chris Balcom-Miller lasted four innings and did not receive a decision, but the Salem bullpen stymied the Indians the rest of the way. Anatanaer Batista earned the victory to improve to 3-0 on the season by tossing three scoreless innings, while Cesar Cabral earned his league-leading fifth save by tossing a scoreless eighth.

The top of the ninth began with Butler leading off, but in the midst of the at-bat, the skies opened and buckets of rain stampeded the infield. The umpires quickly cleared the field and the Kinston field crew attempted to unfurl the tarp, but the downpour was so voracious that the crew was unsuccessful. A large chunk of the first-base side of the infield remained uncovered and quickly became unplayable. The decision to call the game arrived promptly thereafter.

Peter Hissey delivered a double and a triple for the Sox, scoring a run and driving in a run from the second-spot in the order. Hissey scored on Kolbrin Vitek’s sac fly in the first to make it 1-0, and following Kinston’s three-run rally in the second, he drove in Vladimir Frias from second base in the third to get the Sox back within a run.

In the fourth, Butler, who went 2-3, hammered the long ball that surged Salem ahead. The Sox managed just two hits the rest of the way, but prevailed because of the dominant bullpen.

Abner Abreu led the Indians offense with two hits, including a two-run homer off Balcom-Miller in the second-inning. Balcom-Miller allowed three runs on six hits over four frames, the first time in four starts this year he did not pitch five innings and earn a win. Balcom-Miller did record a season-high seven strikeouts.

House suffered the loss for Kinston, falling to 0-3 on the year. House struck out six in five innings, but also yielded four runs on five hits.

With a  game and a half lead over Myrtle Beach in the Southern Division, the Sox are back in the Valley for the next ten games, beginning with a weekend series against Potomac. Salem sends Pete Ruiz to the mound in the opener on Friday night opposite Marcos Frias for the Nationals. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05.

Submitted by Evan Lepler, Radio Broadcaster for Salem Red Sox Professional Baseball

As of noon Thursday, April 28, four schools are leading the Roanoke Area Youth Substance Abuse Coalition‘s Facebook challenge “Drop the Pills Before they Kill”: James River, Lord Botetourt, North Cross, and Cave Spring.

The challenge continues through this Saturday, April 30, and the winning school will be announced Monday morning, May 2.

Each participating school has a post on the page each day. The school with the most “likes,” calculated proportionately based on enrollment, wins $500.

Additionally, kids that leave comments about prescription drug abuse are entered in daily contests for gift cards and other prizes.

Salem and Glenvar, Lord Botetourt and James River, Cave Spring and Hidden Valley, Community School, Patrick Henry and William Fleming, Faith Christian, Roanoke Valley Christian, North Cross, Roanoke Catholic School, and Parkway Christian Academy high schools are all participating.

***This Saturday, April 30 is the DEA’s National Drug Take Back day.

Safe disposal of prescription medication is offered from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Salem Police Department, The Roanoke Civic Center, the Tanglewood Kroger, and at the Daleville Kroger. Click here for more information