Recommends checking contractor
Editor:
I am writing this letter to advise everyone when obtaining an estimate for work in and around your home, especially if the cost is over $1,000, to please check the license of the individual prior to hiring.
Recently, I hired someone, based on a referral, to perform patio work, which ended up more than $1,000. The contractor asked for money upfront to buy the bricks. Another clue, if money upfront is requested, don’t hire them! Throughout the work, he kept asking for money until he had the full amount of the job, then started putting the work off. It has been a year and the work is still incomplete.
I would encourage everyone to contact www.dpor.virginia.gov (Department of Professional and Occupational Regulations) prior to hiring anyone to ensure proper licensing is on file, as not all trades require a DPOR license. In addition, I would check with your local Commissioner of Revenue and the commissioner of the county in which the contractor’s business is located to see if he has appropriate licensing.
Please do not pay in full until the work is completed to one’s satisfaction. It could end up saving you lots of money!
M.R. Smith
Troutville
Town, volunteers made for wonderful tour
Editor:
On June 10, members of Historic Fincastle Inc. (HFI) offered tours of Fincastle to the Mountain Valley Preservation Alliance (MVPA) and others.
Many HFI and MVPA Board members were part of this event. Members of HFI provided the trained tour guides, and those who gave the individual tours were Melodye Hollingsworth, Karen Beasley, Peggy Bolton, Marcia Neighbors, Cindy Bailey, Lyn Burton, Debbie Turner, and Lynne Bolton.
Preceding the tours, our Clerk of Court, Tommy Moore, gave a wonderful history lesson on Fincastle and the Botetourt Courthouse, and all were also able to visit our Botetourt County Museum because they graciously extended their hours for the day.
The homes of Ed Bordett and Becky Downs, Mitch and Bobbie Bowman and Sarah Meadows were opened for viewing. In addition, the Fincastle Presbyterian Church and two HFI sites, the Early Cabin and Wysong Blacksmith Shop were part of the tour.The Heritage Market prepared bag lunches for the group making this a true community event!
We want to extend a special thank you to James Higginbotham for not only providing the stones from which the Fincastle Gateway sign was fabricated, but also for his gracious gesture in seeing that the lot beside the Early Cabin was cleared and mowed.
Our whole town looked beautiful, and the many first time visitors to town enjoyed the gardens, flowers, and all of our wonderful historic buildings.
Thanks to all for making this a worthwhile event.
Lyn Burton & Lynne Bolton
Historic Fincastle Inc.
Appreciates support for tour of Fincastle
Editor:
On behalf of Mountain Valley Preservation Alliance Inc. (MVPA), we are writing to thank the many people who helped with the very successful June 10, event, “Evolving Landscapes of Historic Fincastle.”
First, we want to acknowledge the partnership with Historic Fincastle Inc. (HFI) whose members served as tour guides for the 80 attendees, organized the tour routes, coordinated the provision of bag lunches with Heritage Family Market, arranged for transportation for those participants who did not wish to walk the entire route, and carried out a variety of other tasks. Second, we are very grateful to Bank of Botetourt and its support of the event.
What would a tour of historic Fincastle be without the participation of Tommy Moore, Botetourt’s own Clerk of Court? In period dress and with a stellar performance, he welcomed the guests as Mr. John May, the county’s first Clerk of Court. Likewise, a “thank you” is extended to Tim Weaver and the crew of Heritage Family Market who arose early Saturday morning to bake bread for the sandwiches participants enjoyed during lunch on the tour.
As some attendees preferred not to walk the entire tour, transportation was available for these folks, compliments of both Mill Creek Baptist Church and The Glebe Retirement Community. And, to the town-at-large, the lovely flower baskets and beautiful yards added to the overall positive experience.
Visitors at this event represented the counties of Montgomery, Roanoke, Alleghany, Botetourt, Rockbridge and Augusta. The opportunity to draw interest from these areas was made possible in large part by the assistance of The Fincastle Herald, which supported pre-event articles in its weekly publications.
Last, but not least, we want to thank the owners of the homes and buildings that were opened and visited: HFI and the Wysong family (Wysong Blacksmith Shop); Mr. and Mrs. Mitch Bowman (The Price House Bed & Breakfast); The Early Cabin, (HFI/ 18th. Century log dwelling replica); Mr. and Mrs. Ed Bordett (The Godwin Cottage); Sarah Meadows, (The Peck Cottage); lunch hostesses at Fincastle Presbyterian Church, The Botetourt Historical Society (the Botetourt Museum): and Botetourt County, the Botetourt County Court House.
Our since appreciation is extended to all who participated and helped with the “Evolving Landscapes of Historic Fincastle” tour.
Board of Directors
Mountain Valley Preservation Alliance Inc.
Contributions to Daleville/Fincastle Lions go right back into community
Editor:
The Daleville/Fincastle Branch Lions Club would like to thank the residents of The Glebe as well as other attendees for donating money to our new Lions Club during the wonderful Carole Edwards & Friends Piano Concert on April 1 and 2.
Just know that every penny that was donated will go right back to the community to help provide eye exams and glasses, support programs to aid diabetes control and research, aid for the hearing impaired and for programs that benefit our local community.
Our new club wants to support our youth in our community, or inspire the next generation of volunteers by inviting Leos and other local youth to serve on projects with us. We want to help prevent future cases of blindness through vision screenings in preschools, daycare centers and public schools. We want to help protect and improve the environment to make our community a healthier place for everyone to live.
Feel free to join one of our meetings on the first and third Wednesday of each month at noon in the Blue Ridge Private Dining Room at The Glebe.
Daleville/Fincastle Lions Club
