The Rotary Clubs in the Roanoke Valley are sponsoring a golf tournament to raise money for the Military Family Support Center, a local charity that supports families of armed forces.

The event is at Hidden Valley Country Club on Monday, Oct. 12 at noon. Shotgun start. Prizes and lots of fun. You don't have to be an avid golfer to enjoy captains choice. Call Larry Ptaschek 989-6791 or Tom Floyd 444-5626.

More bear sightings

"Regarding bear sightings there are at least 4 at the bottom of Poor Mountain. There is a mom with two cubs that has been seen and also a large single bear. The larger bear has been around since they started building the jail (a couple of years now). They get in the trash and are fun to watch. I have not been fortunate enough to get any pictures but my neighbors have taken some."

-- Susan Shotts

"We live on Harborwood Road and have had repeated visits by a bear or bears for the last few years. Starting this past spring we have noticed an increase in these visits. The bear loves trash cans as well as bird feeders and hopefully his menu will not include small dogs and cats. The bear doesn't seem to be afraid of humans as we have been outside on one or two of his visits which is kind of scary."

-- Patrick Buck

Bethel Baptist is hosting its 1st annual car, truck, and motorcycle show

Bethel Baptist Church is hosting its first annual car, truck and motorcycle show from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 3 at the church at 1601 Colorado Street in Salem. Registration is from 8 to 10 a.m. The show is a fundraiser with all proceeds going to the planned Family Life Center facility that will focus on family activities. There will be opportunity to purchase breakfast and lunch items as will as baked goods during the show. If you are interested in participating, please call the church office at 389-2376 for an entry form or call Eddie Lambert at 384-6424 for additional information.

Submitted by Bethel Baptist Church

Tabernacle Baptist Church plans yard and bake sale and car wash

Tabernacle Baptist Church is holding a yard sale, bake sale, and car wash to benefit their children and youth departments from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept.2 6 on East Main Street (they're right next to National College.)

For more information, contact Linda Coyle at 986-0035 or at lcoyle@tbcsalem.org

Southwest Virginia Ballet's 'Ties' features several Salem dancers

Several Salem residents will be dancing in the Southwest Virginia Ballet's production "TIES" Saturday, Oct. 3, at 3 and 7 p.m. at the Jefferson Center in Roanoke.

They are Courtney Hood, Emily Witter, Zoe Smith and Jaclyn Padgett.

TIES, an original production choreographed by artistic director Pedro Szalay, is set in the Roanoke Valley from the 1890s to the 1920s. The ballet follows the founders of the region as they bring the rails and prosperity to the region interpreting the hopes, dreams, disappointments and victories of the community through movement, music and film.

"TIES is not a typical ballet," says Mike Lawson, executive director of SVB. "There are performers in bibbed overalls and brogans laying the tracks. There is tragedy as a train wrecks on stage, and celebrations by the residents who live along the rails. You'll hear down to earth, toe-tapping live music by David Austin and his band, Buck Cannon and the Attaboys, during the show and in concert afterwards."

Tickets are available through the Jefferson Center Box office, (540) 345-2550 or www.jeffcenter.org, and are priced at $17 to $30 for adults and $1 to $15 for students.

For additional information call (540) 387-3978 or visit the SVB web site at www.svballet.org.

Submitted by Karen Kalbfleisch

West Salem Baptist is offering free Biblical counseling

We all have times when we need a helping hand to navigate through the deep waters of difficult circumstances. Some of these trials are caused by our own choices and reaping the consequences of our decisions. Sometimes we are confused and do not exactly know why. Other times things are just dark and depressing, and we need some encouragement along the way. Whatever your situation is, God, through His Word and by His Spirit, has answers for you.

In each case we want to help people know the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and to live their lives to the glory of God. Our counseling services are available to the people of our community free of charge on an application basis.

Please call Pastor Marshall Allen 389-2129 for more information.

Submitted by West Salem Baptist Church

4 residents graduate from physician assistant program

Catharine Nolan, Madeline D. Jewell, Emily Thomas Styers, and Laura Dianne Hood, all from Salem, graduated from the physician assistant program at Jefferson College of Health Sciences in August at the end of the school's summer session.

Nolan graduated summa cum laude.

JCHS is a private higher education institution that focuses on providing healthcare education and is fully integrated with Carilion Clinic.

More information is available at www.jchs.edu.