Richard Kiser will be hosting his 13th annual Father's Day Music Festival benefit concert on June 20 at 7 p.m. It will be held at Bethel Baptist Church at 1601 Colorado St. in Salem.

Once again the concert will feature his "wire choir" consisting of over 40 stringed instruments playing as a back up band.

Also featured will be "Hee Haw" star and Country Music Hall of Fame member Charlie McCoy from Nashville.

There is NO admission charge. A free will offering will be taken to benefit "Renewanation Ministries."

For more information, contact Richard Kiser at 520-3884.

DAV spaghetti dinner

The Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary will hold a baked spaghetti dinner on Saturday,

June 20, from 5 to 7 p.m. at 2381 Roanoke Boulevard.

A baked Spaghetti Dinner, with all the fixings, costs $5.00.

Proceeds assist veterans and their families.

For more information, contact, Sandra Maxwell at 389-3373

Skate-A-Drome Reunion set for June 28

Remember the Skate-A-Drome in Salem?

If you skated there, or at any other Roanoke Valley roller rink during the '40s, '50s, '60s, or '70s, you're invited to an upcoming reunion.

Date: Sunday, June 28

Noon to 5 p.m.

Place: Skate Center of Roanoke Valley at 4121 Brandon Avenue (on Lee Highway between Peters Creek Road and 419).

You must call to get on the invitation list by June 26. Call 989-2000 for details.

Submitted by Susan Geary

National College recognizes employees

National College recognized the following employees and instructors from the Roanoke Valley Campus and Campus Support office at the annual college in-service symposium held in Roanoke on April 3rd. Award winners were selected from among seven campuses in the Virginia Division.

Among those recognized were Jenny Plympton, Kim Kristensen and Dee Kuster, all of Salem.

Salem man earns Kiwanis Club award

The Kiwanis Club of Roanoke has given a Human & Spiritual Value Award to Courtney Hoge of Salem.

The award, a first for the club, is given to an individual who has exhibited outstanding contribution to the community through participation in and commitment to areas of service which foster human and spiritual growth in the valley and surrounding areas.

Hoge, is a Financial Services Professional with New York Life. He and his wife Anne have two grown children.

He exemplifies strong human service and spiritual values and has set an example for others in his community, church and family.

For more on Hoge and the award, see The Notebook on sosalem.com.

Roanoke College professor wins Fulbright Scholar award

Dr. Paul Hanstedt, associate professor of English at Roanoke College, recently was selected as a Fulbright scholar grantee to Hong Kong. Beginning September 2010, he will work with a university there on developing general education curriculum for the country's new four-year undergraduate model while studying the region's culture and literature, which is of personal interest to Hanstedt.

He intends to chronicle his experiences in the form of non-fiction writings as well as radio essays. He is a regular essayist at WVTF, the National Public Radio affiliate in Southwest Virginia. Hanstedt's family will join him in Hong Kong, which he thinks will enrich the experience for readers and listeners.

Hanstedt says, "I see this Fulbright Award in Hong Kong as an opportunity to draw together many of the matters that drive my life: my long-standing interest in Asian literature and culture; my passion for and experiences in curricular reform, course and faculty development, and assessment; and my firm belief that education-and general education in particular-can not just change students' lives, but change the world."

For more on his award, see The Notebook on sosalem.com.