Thomas Barber of Salem has one of the 17 entries in the Ultimate Hokie Fan video contest. He describes his video as: "Two ultimate Hokie fans who created an ultimate Hokie basement and an ultimate tailgating vehicle."

Find his and the other videos at roanoke.com/contest. Voting runs through Oct. 18. First prize: $1,500 in groceries from Kroger.

Masons Cove church hosts fall festival

Masons Cove Church of the Brethren at 3630 Bradshaw Road (about two miles past Masons Cove Elementary School) is hosting a Fall Festival and a Revival from Friday, Oct. 9 through Wednesday, Oct. 14.

On Friday and Saturday, Oct. 9 and 10, there will be a flea market and a food and bake sale for their Fall Festival from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. A lighter lunch will be offered on Friday, but there will be a large pot of homemade pinto beans over a fire, barbecue, cornbread, and all the fixings available. All of the proceeds will go towards their church treasury.

From Sunday through Wednesday, Oct. 11 through 14, Pastor Thomas Hanks will bring the message for the annual revival starting at 7 p.m. each night. Refreshments will be served on Sunday night, and guest singers will entertain every night.

Masons Cove Church of the Brethren is an offshoot of Peters Creek Church of the Brethren. Before 1975, it held services in a small wooden church that was across the road from their current location.

For more information, call 384-7753 or 342-8858.

History professor receives research fellowship to Cambridge

Jacob Lauinger, assistant professor of history, has been named the first recipient of the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Research Fellowship, a newly endowed three-year award given in partnership by the University of Chicago and the University of Cambridge. The fellowship is designed to encourage young post-doctorate scholars in their research efforts.

Through the fellowship, Lauinger will focus on the Bronze Age city of Alalakh and the empire of Yamhad. Lauinger will spend much of next year in Cambridge studying materials that were unearthed from the Alalakh ruins decades ago. The second part of Lauinger's research involves translating 126 clay tablets from the ancient city of Adab. Though discovered over 100 years ago, Lauinger will be the first to read them.

"It's going to be wonderful to have the time to sit and think" about his work, says Lauinger, who will return to campus in 2010.

For more on the fellowship, see The Notebook on sosalem.com

Bear sightings around Salem

"I live in Karen Hills in Salem. On June 9, around 12:15 p.m. about 90 degrees and very humid. I had just finished watering my tomato plants. I got a can of soda pop from the refrigerator and took a seat on our screened-in back porch to cool off.

"Suddenly Ellie, our Miniature Schnauzer started barking frantically. Schnauzers are famous for their barking, so I paid little attention at first. When her barking became even more intense, I casually turned to see what had her in such a lather. To say the least, I was surprised to see a black bear just on the other side of the screen from Ellie and me.

"Knowing the dog's bark would irritate the bear, I quickly scooped Ellie into my arms and put her in the house, out of harm's way. When I turned back to the porch, the bear was still there and sniffing around the screen. Being the brave soul that I am, I said 'Shoo.' The bear just looked at me.

"The second time, more loudly, I said 'Shoo, shoo!' This seemed to frighten the bear. He (or she) turned, put his foot right smack in the middle of my wife's flowerpot, and pulled himself across our neighbor's fence. He then disappeared into some shrubs on the far side of our neighbor's lawn. The bear's appearance that day did explain the suspicious muddy paw prints we had been seeing on our driveway for some time and why the gate on our fence appeared to be sprung from time to time."

-- Robert Alls

A reader who identifies herself only as "Sherry" sends us this bear report:

"I see where in Salem a lot of people have been bothered with bears. Well, I have put up with the bears for the last three weeks. He comes by our house every night and takes our trash off. We live over in Roanoke County off of Creekside Drive. We can walk right up to the bear and shine a flash light in his face and he just sits there like it don't even bother him. We have a beagle dog that howls all night but it don't bother the bear. He is about 400lbs or maybe more ? But he just comes around here like this is his home. He is not afraid of us . What can we do to keep him away I am glad he don't eat my dog."

-- Sherry

Run/walk for the cure

The Greater Roanoke Valley Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure Series will hold its first 5K run and walk on April 10, 2010 in Roanoke County's Green Hill Park. The event is a fundraiser for breast cancer research and awareness. The Komen for the Cure races are the largest series of runs/walks in the world and it reaches out to the entire community to help wipe out breast cancer.

The event is open to participants of all ages and abilities. In addition to the 5K (3.1 mile) event, there will also be a 1-mile walk and fun run. For additional information or to register, please visit

www.komenroanoke.org