Blood drive tomorrow in Fincastle
Editor:
Just a reminder that our next blood drive is tomorrow, Thursday, Oct. 17, at the Fincastle United Methodist Family Life Center from 12 noon until 6 p.m. Please help us out by coming to the drive and donating blood. Only you can fill the #Missing Types! Please bring a friend to help us raise our level of donations. Don’t forget you could win a $500 gift card!
You can streamline your donation experience. Visit RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass and save up to 15 minutes by completing your pre-donation reading and health history. Hope to see you there! Thank you for your support.
Sam Saunders
Fincastle Coordinator
Leffel has School Board experience as member, chairman
Editor:
This letter is a first for me. I was in local law enforcement for the past 40 elections and I never thought it was proper to state my political preferences in print, but since my retirement in the Spring, I feel free to do so.
As a lifelong resident of the Fincastle District, I feel this year’s School Board election is very important for the continued success of our fine school system. I am putting my support behind Beth Leffel. I have known the Leffel family for at least half my life. They are a fine local family and have lived, worked and grown up here and attended Botetourt County Public Schools. I knew all three of Jack and Mary Lynne’s girls when they were very young.
I reconnected with Beth in her adult life about five years ago when Jack wanted me to come down to the family farm and bring my beagles to take his grandson rabbit hunting for Christmas. I talked with Beth and was very impressed with her young son and what she has accomplished in her life and with her extensive education. Since they moved back several years ago, we have talked on countless occasions and I am very impressed with her knowledge, education and her previous experience serving on another school board in Virginia as well as serving as chairman of that board.
I know she will be fiscally responsible with our tax dollars while moving the school system forward. I think this is why she stands out to me. With at least two new board members that will be elected this fall, her previous School Board experience and working knowledge will allow her to really hit the ground running. She will not have the learning curve that others would. This will better allow the School Board and school administration to continue to keep Botetourt schools strong leaders in the region. I ask that you please take a strong look at Beth’s education and experience and join me in supporting her on Election Day.
Delbert Dudding
Troutville
Lyles has the time to invest as School Board member
Editor:
I’m writing this letter in support of my husband, Aaron Lyles, who is running for the Valley District seat on the Botetourt County School Board. Aaron has dedicated his life to serving his community, and has shown this over the course of his career. Whether it’s been showing compassion to grieving families while working in the funeral service industry, or helping people find affordable supplemental insurance options to protect them from financial devastation in the event of a serious illness, or his service to our church, Aaron has always had a service before self attitude.
I believe Aaron is uniquely qualified to serve on the School Board because of the time he is able to invest. I believe that you should be able to depend on your School Board member to answer their phone, and show up when needed. We didn’t decide to run for School Board lightly. We prayed about it, and discussed what a campaign would look like, and what service on the board would entail.
When asked why Aaron is running without having children in the school system, our answer is always the same. We have two nieces who we love very much who will attend Botetourt Schools, and we want to make sure that they will have every opportunity to achieve a great education, and be ready for a changing economy.
I can tell you with confidence that Aaron will be ready on day one, and will serve our community. I’ve lived in Botetourt County my entire life, and am a proud graduate of Lord Botetourt High School. The people of the Valley District deserve someone who will work to ensure that our students are safe, will work to make sure that our schools are getting regular maintenance, and someone who will always remember that the taxpayers deserve someone who will be responsible with their tax dollars. I’m asking you to join me in supporting my husband, and vote for Aaron Lyles to represent the Valley District on the School Board on November 5.
Charlene Lyles
National Support Your Local Chamber of Commerce Day
Editor:
Did you know that October 16 is National Support Your Local Chamber of Commerce Day? Observed annually on the third Wednesday of October, National Support Your Local Chamber of Commerce Day celebrates the invaluable work being done by chambers of commerce nationwide to strengthen the economy, business community, and local enterprises of all sizes.
Since its beginnings in 1945, the Botetourt County Chamber of Commerce has grown along with Botetourt County and today plays a significant role in the promotion and development of the county. Originally the Chamber was started as a membership organization comprised primarily of Botetourt County citizens and a few county businesses. The composition of the organization has evolved over the years to its present makeup, which is primarily businesses throughout Botetourt and the Roanoke Valley. Current membership in the Chamber is over 300 businesses and individuals.
The Chamber essentially focuses on three areas. First, providing services and programs to its members. This includes keeping its membership informed of local, regional and national issues of importance to the county, representing the interests of the membership on these issues, and sponsoring various programs for members, such as business seminars and workshops, political forums and networking events. The Chamber also offers its services and resources to new business members by assisting with the promotion of the businesses in any way possible.
The second area involves the promotion of tourism throughout the county, in addition to providing information to prospective residents. The Chamber serves as a resource for information by publishing and distributing material that promotes the county. Botetourt Living, a high-quality, magazine-format, full-color publication serves as Botetourt’s primary marketing and welcoming tool for incoming businesses, tourists and residents.
Finally, the Botetourt County Chamber of Commerce plays a major role in Botetourt County, working with county officials as well as the office of Economic Development to continue to expand and enhance its services and programs to respond to the needs of its members, citizens of the county and surrounding communities.
How can you support your Botetourt County Chamber of Commerce? First, join! Second, get involved in networking opportunities, such as our upcoming Halloween Party, Young Professionals activities, Circle of Business Influence networking groups and more (check our events page). You can also support us by being on a committee that helps to plan the great functions that we host. Finally, we can always use the assistance of volunteers. We can use storytellers (writers), office assistance, help at events and ambassadors.
Please visit our website, BotetourtChamber.com and learn more! And if you happen to be a future member, hit that “Join” button at the top and help us all grow together!
Grant Holmes, Executive Director
Botetourt Chamber of Commerce
