Supports Campbell for School Board
Editor:
I am writing in support of Brandy Campbell being a write-in candidate for Botetourt County School Board in the Buchanan School District. Brandy was a classmate of mine at James River High School; as time passed, we had reunited as supportive boy moms to our children playing sports in the rec department. She jumped in multiple times to help in anyway with these teams, including one year helping coach my son’s team.
Brandy, while working for Botetourt County Schools, had several times resolved problems with and for my children’s specific needs as I had boys attending two different schools.
Also as a parent with children currently attending Botetourt County schools, Brandy understands the struggles, frustrations, and difficulties when you are feeling you are not being heard! I have no doubt Brandy will stand with the majority of what Botetourt stands for, which is a conservative mindset as well as knowing parents know best what they want for their children. Brandy will not only hear you as parents but she will stand up for you and will be heard because she will not back down.
Let’s make a change back in the direction we as parents want for our children’s future in public education. Join me in support and a vote for Brandy Campbell – write her name in now as an early voter or stand in line Election Day and write it in. In numbers we will stand and be heard!
Sabrina Mundy
Buchanan
Thanks to those who made Lewis & Clark Trail fundraiser successful
Editor:
On behalf of the Virginia Lewis and Clark Legacy Trail Inc., we want to thank the Botetourt County/ Fincastle community for their support and assistance with the September 18 fundraising event held at Santillane. So many people, through their time, service and/or donations, helped make the event a success. The purpose of the event was to raise money for trail signage with the anticipated need for a minimum of 24 interpretive and other signs along Virginia trail routes and at its related Lewis & Clark historic sites by the end of 2024.
We wish to thank: Bank of Botetourt for its support as a corporate sponsor; John and Angela Sengson, Santillane owners, who worked extremely hard in preparation and provided their gardens and pavilion as a beautiful setting and backdrop for the event; to 25 East Main Street Bed & Breakfast for its hospitality to the event’s weekend guest and event special speaker, Betty Merritt of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and to a Trail board member and his wife who traveled from King and Queen County; to the 1772 Rooftop Bar & Cafe for the dinner, service, and lovely environment; to Tizzones of Daleville for catering the event and providing delicious food; to Margaret Courtney for the music; to Historic Fincastle Inc. board members who, after being involved all day at the Fincastle Festival, trekked their tired bodies and souls to the evening gathering at Santillane; to Steve Clinton of the Botetourt County Board of Supervisors and Mary Bess Smith, Mayor of Fincastle, who warmly welcomed the guest speaker and attendees;
Also, to Tommy Moore and Weldon Martin who oriented Ms. Merritt to the historic Court House and Museum, respectively; to The Fincastle Herald which ran two consecutive stories in advance of the fundraiser from which people learned about and came to the event; to the Fincastle Post Office for a good deed well done and was so greatly appreciated; to the Orchard Hills Church Youth Group and Kevin Hughes, Youth Pastor, for help with parking, transportation, and assisting with set-up, service during the event and cleanup; to Mike Bramblett, One Stop Site Design, Daleville, the Virginia Lewis & Clark Legacy Trail’s website designer and manager, for his tedious and creative website design work that also inspired people to attend and/or to contribute to the signage project; to the VLCLT board of directors who solicited donations from their individual communities and volunteered in various roles during the event; and last, but not least, to the 30 individuals/households from all over the state who made a donation to the trail’s signage effort, and to the 85 citizens from Fincastle/ Botetourt County and beyond who came out that night to participate and support the Virginia Lewis & Clark Legacy Trail.
Keep watch for signage along highways and at sites, as they will begin to appear next year including in Botetourt County. Be proud, because you helped to make that happen! Thank you everyone!
Kip and Lyn Burton, Co-Chairs,
Botetourt County VLCLT Initiative,
Peggy Crosson, President, VLCLT
Thanks to all for a successful festival
Editor:
On behalf of Historic Fincastle Inc., I wish to thank the many individuals, businesses, and organizations from throughout the area who contributed to making the annual Historic Fincastle Festival a resounding success. Without their attendance, participation, and support, none of it would have been possible.
First and foremost, we thank the many visitors who flocked to Fincastle for the festival. A special thanks is also extended to the townspeople who helped clear the streets of vehicles and who embraced the festival and visitors coming into our historic town for that one day.
A festival is only as good as its artists, crafters, food, and special offerings, and we are truly blessed to have enjoyed the talents and great foods offered by our many vendors. Our fine artists offered a variety of two- and three-dimensional creations, and the crafters spanned a great many fields and offered true works of art all their own. Food choices from BK Festival Eats’ steak and sausage subs and funnel cakes, and the Tailgate’s BBQ, nachos, and Italian Ice, and the Valley Pig Poppers’ pork rinds, and the Fincastle Café’s wide choices of both breakfast and lunch specialties, as well as additional food choices from some of our crafters, offered great variety, and no one should have gone hungry!
Special venues also offered treats for one and all. Again this year, the Revolutionary War Interpreters camped out enthralling visitors with their period-reproduced clothing and recreated artifacts from the 18th century. This year, they were also joined by native American descendants of the early Monacan tribes who shared their heritage as well. The Little Critters Traveling Petting Zoo offered the young and young at heart the chance to see and to pet the sweetest “critters”, and blacksmith Dewey Baker demonstrated the art of smithing to old and young alike. Finally, the ongoing partnership between HFI and the Botetourt County Historic Society enhanced the day with the Historic Museum remaining open to visitors throughout the day, and there was the presentation of a monument commemorating the Sestercentennial (250th birthday) of Botetourt County by the 250th Committee at 11 a.m. on the courthouse steps.
Music rocked the Court House Square with musicians Eric Burton, Pico Road, Ted and Caleb McAllister, Route 11 Quartet, Erynn McLeod, and New River Bound. David Austin also sang the BoCo 250th song he wrote: “Where My Home and Heart Meet.” Specific thanks go to Ted McAllister for organizing the music venue and to Steve Hartman at Lee Hartman and Sons for providing the sound system. Thanks to Tony and Jacob Holdren for keeping the sound perfect throughout the day. We also extend our thanks to Cheryl Lunsford and the Guitar DOJO Studio. Finally, thanks to Chip Lawrence for the flatbed which allowed us to properly present the wonderful music and musicians, enjoyed by one and all!
Many hands went into bringing about this festival, but special thanks are needed for Town Manager David Tickner’s constant hard work on behalf of the Town of Fincastle. Other tireless workers include John and Danielle Alexander, and the entire Barkett family and staff. The Historic Fincastle Inc. board of directors has been “hard at it” since the start of this year, and thanks can never properly express how critical their work and support were from start to finish. Lastly, the publicity, and coverage of the festival, both before and after the event, by The Fincastle Herald and associated papers were a significant help in our success.
Our event would not have been possible without the valuable and tireless work of our many participants who gave of their skills, energy, and thoughts to make sure the festival ran smoothly and the needs of participants and attendees were met. Finally, a huge thank you must also go to our generous sponsor, The Bank of Fincastle, a constant supporter of HFI and Fincastle area events. Other thanks go out to Digital Image Printing and the Woodsdale Group.
Please accept our apologies for any oversights and omissions as many hands pulled together for this event. Next year will be the 250th anniversary of the establishment of the Town of Fincastle and its designation as the county seat of Botetourt County. So mark your calendars for Saturday, Sept. 24, (the last Saturday of the month) next year for an even bigger event!
Lynne Bolton, HFI
