Kyle Green | The Roanoke Times.

Sarah Wood (facing camera), from Catawba, hugs Melanie Charlton (back to camera), from Fincastle and Brandon Shutters (left), from Roanoke at the finish line of the 2009 Marine Mud Run at Green Hill Park in Roanoke County.

Submitted by Kimberly Bruce

David Bruce was canoeing in Craigs Creek over the Labor Day weekend and caught this fish. It was 36 1/2 inches and 12 pounds. You can share photos of your catch at news@botetourtview.com

How could we have overlooked running this photo in last week's spread of paparazzi photos from the James River homecoming? Here's Olivia Williamson, Reanna Hamm, Alexis Brown, and Ceira Webb goofing around for the camera. For more photos, see The Notebook on botetourtview.com.

Karen Wright sent this beautiful picture of Botetourt County. You can share your photos from around Botetourt at news@botetourtview.com.

Shorty is a large domestic cat who knows how to pose. His owner, Shirley Niday of Troutville, said he'd like to be a movie star. "Can't help you there, Puss, but say Cheese!" And he did! What a handsome fellow!

Submitted by Jason Cohen

Jack Quarles, a guitar student at the Blue Ridge Academy of Music, stands with his instructor, Jason Cohen, after his September 20 recital at the Bonsack United Methodist Church.

Cub Scout Pack 137 will hold a luncheon on Saturday, Oct. 10, and Sunday, Oct. 11

The luncheon will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Ikenberry Orchards in Daleville. The cost is $5 for a hot dog or hamburger with potato salad, chips and sweet tea and a bowl of homemade chili with cornbread and sweet tea for $5.

Please contact John at 892-8121 if any questions.

Submitted by John and Crystal Jones

Women's shooting safety

The Ridge Rifle Association is sponsoring a women's Instructional shooting safety clinic Oct. 10 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.. The cost is $20. The event is located five miles north of Fincastle at the Ridge Rifle Association firing range at 5397 Botetourt Road.

Women on Target is an NRA organizational project said to "help provide a safe and comfortable environment where she can learn about and experience shooting sports first hand in the company of other women." Cathy Cofflin is a contact person at 366-6244 or Bill Moswkowitz 966-5902. Space is limited to the first 50 participants.

Relay for Life volunteers

Would you like to help plan a party? What about some music? Do you like to exercise? How about games? Well, this is the opportunity for you. Come join us on our Relay For Life committee as we continue the fight against cancer. There are many positions available, with various time requirements. Come, make new friends and join us as we plan our next Celebration.

For more information, call Tammy Wilson at 540-473-1158 or e-mail: wilsons05@hotmail.com.

Submitted by Tammy Wilson

Botetourt artists in show

Two artists from Botetourt are among the 43 selected for the 30th annual Roanoke City Art Show, which runs through Nov. 8 at Center in the Square in downtown Roanoke.

They are Nancy Dahlstrom of Fincastle and Vera M. Dickerson of Troutville.

Craft sale at Glebe

The Glebe is having its second annual Holiday Craft Sale on Friday, Oct. 16, from noon until 4 p.m., and Saturday, Oct. 17, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. For more information, call The Glebe at 591-2100 or Anne daCosta, chairperson at 591-2336.

Do you write?

Golden Quill Press, a writing and book publishing company, has recently moved from Roanoke to Creations Gift Shoppe 19818 Main Street in Buchanan, and will have its writers networking meeting on October 14 at 5:30

Cost for non-members is $10.

Reservations are required. Call 254-3183.

"Mommy and Me"

Mommy and Me classes for children ages 2 to 5 and parent. Cost is $20 per child per month/3 to 4 classes. Classes will be held at the Fincastle Community Center on Thursdays beginning Oct. 15 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Activities will include but are not limited to reading, coloring, imagination building activities, game playing, educational learning and most of all spending time with your little one without the everyday stress in life. Parents will bond with other parents and children will bond with other children.

Submitted by Botetourt Parks and Recreation

Sweing guild chapter stages display

In 1982, then-President Ronald Regan declared September as National Sewing Month in recognition of the importance of home sewing to our economy. We believe that even today home sewing continues to be an important facet of our economy. Each year members of the Roanoke Virginia Chapter of the American Sewing Guild celebrate National Sewing Month by donating samples of the various aspects of sewing for display in libraries throughout the Roanoke Valley. This year smocked dresses and totes, purses, quilts, fashion garments, knitting, crafts, embroidery, appliqué, home decor, and needle point items were on display at various libraries. The libraries included Blue Ridge, 419, Salem, Fincastle, Vinton, and Hollins.

The Roanoke Virginia Chapter of the American Sewing Guild is 103 members strong in the Roanoke Valley and surrounding areas. For many of us sewing is a passion and oh so therapeutic. The sewing guild sponsors four Neighborhood Groups that meet on a regular basis to sew and discuss sewing topics. Those groups include Sally's Smocking, Mad Hatters, Fashion Designers, and the Loopy Hoopers (embroidery group). If you have an interest in sewing and want to share your sewing passion and experience the therapy, we invite you to join the Roanoke Virginia Chapter of the American Sewing Guild. You can contact, Marquita Brown, President (mbrown385@comcast.net) or Tam McBride, Membership Chair (tammcb@cox.net) for more information.

Submitted by Lois Atkins

Scouts visit flight training center

It was early morning on August 29, 2009 but no one could tell by the excitement of the boys in Daleville's Boy Scout Troop 211. The group of 30, which included scouts, leaders, and scout families traveled to Charlotte, N.C., to visit the US Airways Flight Training Center. The training center is equipped with multi-million dollar simulators that are used by airline pilots to practice potential emergency situations in a controlled atmosphere.

Each member of the group was allowed to experience the controls of an aircraft and a flight in one of the simulators with a trained pilot. The scouts were also able to fulfill several requirements towards their Aviation merit badge. Later that day the Daleville group enjoyed an evening of NFL preseason football at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte where the Carolina Panthers played the Baltimore Ravens. The scouts were given pre-game sideline passes to watch the team warm ups and to take pictures. After a long day with very warm temperatures, the troop and their families spent the night in Charlotte, returning the next morning. The troop would like to thank Scoutmaster Steve Pappas and leader Bruce Stritskey for arranging such a great trip.

Submitted by Beth Pappas

James River grad Debrissa McKinney featured on new CD

Here's an update on James River grad Debrissa McKinney, who moved to Asheville, N.C., sometime back to make music with some up-and-coming bands. The saxophonist and vocalist had been touring with Laura Reed's Deep Pocket, but Reed recently took some time off to have a baby.

In the meantime, McKinney has been playing with jam/jazz great Karl Denson's Tiny Universe and appears on his new CD, "Brother's Keeper."

McKinney didn't play sax on the CD, but she tells music writer Tad Dickens: "I did take my sax with me to record so I could get a lesson from Karl and it was awesome."

Lately, she's also been touring with Josh Phillips Folk Festival. The band was in an Internet voting contest to go on Jam Cruise 8, which launches from Florida on Jan. 3. It lost by just 23 votes to the Ryan Montbleau Band but the cruise invited Phillips to bring himself and a couple band members on board. McKinney will set sail with the trio.