Winston-Salem, NC – Aug 18th & 19th: This past weekend, Roanoke Star attended the pre-season Twin City Fall Classic with the U14B Elite, U13G, U14G, U15G, U16G, U17G and U18G Elite all in action. The event was an excellent tournament for our teams as the players stepped up pre-season preparations by getting some games under their belts. The U15G Elite, U17G Elite and U18G Elite ended up lifting the championship trophy as they went onto win in the final games.

In the Championship matches, the U15G Elite won 1-0 vs Jacksonville Area 96, the U17G Elite defeated NCUSA NC United 94 6-0 and the U18G Elite won 2-0 vs Burlington Soccer Club.

Assistant Director of Coaching, Martin Smith, who attended the tournament with the U17G Elite, had this to say about the event: “It was great to get the season underway and play in the Twin City pre-season tournament. The coaches and players were excited to be back in action after the summer and we all enjoyed alot of success on the fields. It was good for the coaches to have a look at new players, try different systems and certainly helped us with our pre-season preparations. The players had the chance to work on their match fitness and I was really pleased at how our teams performed and the style of play we incorporated this past weekend”.

Submitted by Martin Smith, Roanoke Star Soccer Club

Here are some photos from the Valley AFC U7 opening.

Submitted by Joanna

Mary Hamilton sends us these photos from the Little League World Series. Here is an update with some of the adventures that they had on the trip:

We saw the International championship between Japan and Panama.  Japan won the International division.  Then we saw the US championship between West (Petaluma, Ca) and Southeast (Goodlettsville, Tenn) divisions. (Roanoke County teams feed into the Southeast Division.) It was an unbelievable game!  California was down by 10 runs in the 6th inning and they scored 10 runs to stay alive!  The game went into an extra inning and the Southeast scored 9 runs and won the game.  It was so exciting.  Tickets are free to all the games.  We sat on the grassy terrace in the outfield and the view was great.

There is a family fun tent where there are games and baseball pins.  Jared Fogle from Subway was there signing autographs.  The boys loved trading pins.  There are some very serious traders and a lot of kids just trading for fun.  Our boys came home with pins from all of the United States plus Canada, Austria and Japan.

There was also a Little League Challenger game in the morning, which was very inspiring.

The boys in the pictures are Jason Hamilton, son of Gregory and Mary Hamilton, and Hayes Bartlett, son of Ed and Sara Bartlett.

You can share your photos at news@swo-co.com or use the “share” tool to upload 10 at a time.

Quigg Lawrence shares this photo taken off his back deck.

Thanks, Quigg!

Do you have photos from around South County? You can share at news@swo-co.com or use our “share” tool to upload 10 photos at a time.

On Sept. 9, you can once again take a step back in time to the tune of a free sock hop at Tanglewood Mall (held at the end of the mall near JC Penney) from 1 to 5 p.m. Roanoke County Parks, Recreation and Tourism, Richfield Retirement and Generation Solutions will transport grandparents and their families back to the 1950s and 1960s with our third-annual Grandparent’s Day celebration. Enjoy the music of that era provided by the “40 Years After” band and contests galore. New for this year is a very special performance by the Salem Senior Center Line Dancers. Be sure to make the day complete with a complimentary hot dog and a root beer float.

Whether you’re a Hula Hoop expert, an accomplished Twister, or a Jitterbug genius, everyone will find a contest to enter during the sock hop. Don’t forget to arrive in your poodle skirt or favorite leather jacket and have a chance to win our Most Authentic Sock Hop Outfit contest or come dressed a-like to enter our Most Authentic Twosome contest.

Bring your camera, your family and your fond memories as you embark on this journey to a simpler time. This Grandparent’s Day event is designed for family members of all ages but especially for grandparents who wish to share the richness of their lives with their grandchildren and to grow together as a family!

A hardworking and dedicated committee will be lending their support to this free event so we can promise you a day filled with beautiful and lasting memories. All activities are free thanks to the sponsorship of Generation Solutions, Richfield Retirement, and Roanoke County’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism. Root beer floats compliments of United Healthcare. Special thanks to our media sponsor WDBJ7. For more information, call the Roanoke County Parks, Recreation and Tourism Live, Learn and Play Line at (540) 772-7529 or visit www.RoanokeCountyParks.com.

– Submitted by Wendi Schultz

AUGUST 2012 – One of the ways to protect yourself from the damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun is to seek shade, especially during the peak sun hours of 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  However, for many daycare centers, schools and recreational organizations, these hours are prime times for outdoor educational programs and recess.  To assist schools and organizations in creating sun-safe educational and play areas, the American Academy of Dermatology (Academy) provides grants for shade structures

The Academy recently announced the recipients of the 2012 AAD Shade Structure Program grants, which included OAK GROVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Roanoke, VA).   The organization was one of 18 grant recipients across the country.

“The Academy is pleased to award grants to these organizations which have outdoor areas in need of shade and that have demonstrated a commitment to sun safety,” said dermatologist Daniel M. Siegel, MD, FAAD, president of the Academy.
“Combined, these 18 shade structures will be used by more than 5,400 individuals every day.  The Academy is proud to work with these organizations to reinforce the importance of protecting the skin when outdoors.”

This is the 12th year that the Academy has offered its Shade Structure Program in which Academy members play an integral role by encouraging local organizations to apply for the grants and by writing letters of support, a requirement for consideration of applications.  The program is open to non-profit organizations or educational institutions serving children and teens under the age of 18, for permanent shade structures over outdoor locations which are not protected from the sun, such as playgrounds, pools, eating areas and other locations.  The Academy receives support for this program from its members.  Dr. Allison K. Divers, of the Art and Science of Dermatology, acted as Oak Grove’s sponsoring AAD member.   Dr. Divers said, “As a dermatologist I am very passionate about sun protection and the prevention of skin cancer.  It has been an honor to play a role in the process that resulted in the shade structure award to Oak Grove Elementary.  It is very exciting!

Frances Rogers, Oak Grove’s PTA President said, “We are thrilled with the AAD grant!  It allowed us to purchase not one, but two sun canopies for our main playground.  Now our children can play and get much needed exercise in the shade.  Oak Grove’s PTA is grateful to both Dr. Divers and School Nurse Emelie Moles for their support of our grant application.”

Since 2000, the Academy has awarded a total of 264 shade structure grants to organizations across the country. Taken together, these shade structures provide shade each day for nearly 563,955 individuals.

More than 3.5 million skin cancers in more than 2 million people are diagnosed annually.

Headquartered in Schaumburg, Ill., the American Academy of Dermatology (Academy), founded in 1938, is the largest, most influential, and most representative of all dermatologic associations. With a membership of more than 17,000 physicians worldwide, the Academy is committed to: advancing the diagnosis and medical, surgical and cosmetic treatment of the skin, hair and nails; advocating high standards in clinical practice, education, and research in dermatology; and supporting and enhancing patient care for a lifetime of healthier skin, hair and nails. For more information, contact the Academy at 1-888-462-DERM (3376) or www.aad.org.  Follow the Academy on Facebook (American Academy of Dermatology) or Twitter (@AADskin).

For more information, contact Frances Rogers, Oak Grove Elementary School PTA, fjrogers1@yahoo.com or 540-776-1834

Submitted by Frances Rogers

Post 3 athletic officer Norman Hudson (from left), Aaron Burton, Cory Smith, Craig Hoelzer and Post 3 Commander Douglas Heptinstall. Photo courtesy of Douglas Heptinstall

The three recipients of the 2012 Jeffrey Durham Memorial Scholarship, awarded by the American Legion Roanoke Post 3, are Aaron Burton, Cory Smith, and Craig Hoelzer. The scholarship is named in honor of Jeffrey Durham, a former Post 3 player who was struck by lightning while playing in 1983.

Burton is a Patrick Henry graduate who is now a student athlete at Roanoke College. Smith is a Hidden Valley graduate who is now a student athlete at Washington and Lee University. Hoelzer is a North Cross School graduate who is now a student athlete at Johns Hopkins University.

All three were 2011 graduates and play baseball at their respective schools. Burton and Smith were four-year players for the Post 3 senior team, while Hoelzer played three years and returned to coach this season.

– Submitted by Doug Heptinstall, Commander, Roanoke Post 3

Roanoke Post 3 Commander Douglas Heptinstall (from left), Dept. of Virginia Commander Isaac Kelley, Hayden Smith and Dept. of Virginia Baseball Chairman Robert Netherland. Photo courtesy of Douglas Heptinstall

Hayden Smith of Roanoke Post 3 was announced recently as the winner of the American Legion Department of Virginia Baseball Scholarship. Smith was a 2012 graduate of Hidden Valley, and is now a freshman student athlete at Allegheny College in Pennsylvania. He was selected from more than 75 American Legion baseball teams in Virginia on the basis of academic and athletic achievement and community service. The announcement was made at the Virginia State Tournament where his Roanoke Post 3 team was competing after winning their District title with a 15-1 record this season. Smith is a three year member of the Post 3 senior team. As the Virginia winner, Smith was nominated for the Diamond Sports American Legion All-Academic Team, selected from all 50 state winners.

– Submitted by Doug Heptinstall, Commander, Roanoke Post 3

The Roanoke Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society announces two train excursions that will cover over 250 miles of the Great Valley of Virginia on Veterans Day weekend.

The first trip slated for Saturday, November 10 will travel 120 miles to the charming pre-Revolutionary town of Abingdon  where riders will have approximately three and a half hours to take in an array of historic attractions plus the new Artisan Gateway “Heartwood”. Passengers will have the choice to enjoy lunch at one of many restaurants in town or purchase a box lunch prepared by the Sweet Spot Cafe. Another option will be to remain on the train some 15 more miles to Bristol where the locomotives will swap ends with the passengers remaining on board before heading back to  Abingdon. Those remaining on the train are urged to purchase the box lunch or bring food from home as only drinks and light snacks are available on the train.

The trip slated for Sunday, November 11 will travel 134 miles through scenic, isolated sections of the Shenandoah Valley  often miles away from the interstate highway. The route will follow the peaceful James River for some 16 miles before reaching Natural Bridge Station and heading toward Buena Vista,Vesuvius,Stuarts Draft and Grottoes. Our destination , the lovely little town of Shenandoah is located in a narrow section of the valley sandwiched between the the Blue Ridge to the east and the Massanutten range to the west. Passengers may elect to order an optional pork  tenderloin dinner or order a box lunch. Some may elect to remain on the train to a siding  north of Luray known as Vaughn where the train will reverse directions. Those passengers are urged to order the box lunch or bring food from home. For those staying over in Shenandoah, the town will have a service honoring all veterans at 2 PM in a new Memorial Park near the station .

Both trips are Amtrak Charter operations with Amtrak diesel locomotives,comfortable,carpeted Amfleet coaches, with convenient rest room facilities and hosted by courteous and informative car hosts. We also offer two types of first class service featuring restored streamlined equipment from the post World War II era. Lounge service features the luxury of a rolling parlor car while the magnificent dome class cars provide a panoramic view in all directions. First class service includes a light breakfast , along with snacks and beverages throughout  the trip. Coach passengers may purchase light snacks and beverages with complete food service available at each destination.

The Abingdon (Bristol) trip will depart Roanoke at 8:00AM,arrive Abingdon at 11:45AM,  lv. Abingdon at 3:15PM,and return to Roanoke  by 7:00 PM.

The Shenandoah (Luray) trip will depart Roanoke at 8:00 AM ,arrive Shenandoah at 12:30 PM,lv. Shenandoah at 3:30 PM, and return to Roanoke by 7:30 PM.
All passengers riding  beyond Abingdon or Shenandoah must remain aboard when the train is turned at Bristol or Vaughn.

The cost of either trip is $150 for Adults  and $95 for children in coach. Dome Class is $275  and Lounge Class is $215.

HOWEVER;TO HONOR OUR VETERANS WHO HAVE SACRIFICED SO MUCH FROM PEARL HARBOR TO AFGHANISTAN WE ARE OFFERING A DISCOUNT OF 10 %. This offer also includes those now serving in the military.

Tickets for any class are available from Roanoke Chapter by calling (540) 774-0611 or see WWW.Roanoke NRHS.org.

Coach tickets are available from :
O.Winston Link Museum-(540) 982-5465
Virginia Museum of Transportation -(540) 342-5670
Norfolk and Western Historical Society – Internet Only www.nwhs.org

The Roanoke Chapter of the NRHS  is a not for profit 501(c)(3) organization,and proceeds from trips,if any, are used to restore historic rolling stock and structures in the Roanoke area.

Submitted by Dorr Tucker

Music writer Tad Dickens has the September music line-up at The Brambleton Deli in this post on his cut’n'scratch music blog.