Richfield Retirement is sponsoring "A Chocolate Affair," described as "an indulgent afternoon of chocolate confections prepared by their very own executive chefs," on Feb. 10.

Please RSVP to 380-6511 by Feb. 8 to reserve a space as seating is limited. Tours are available.

The event will be held at 3730 Knollridge Rd. For more information, visit www. richfieldretirement.com

Salem lawyer chosen for Legal Elite

Attorney Robyn Smith Ellis has been selected by members of the Virginia Bar Association and the Virginia State Bar as a 2009 "Legal Elite" in the category of Estates, Trusts and Elder Law as published in Virginia Business Magazine. The top lawyers in 15 legal categories were named.

A graduate of Salem High School, the University of Virginia and the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College of William and Mary, Robyn has been practicing law for 10 years and opened Robyn Smith Ellis PLC in Salem in the spring of 2008. She focuses her practice in the areas of estate planning and administration, elder law, and general corporate and contract matters. She is a member of the Virginia State Bar, the Virginia Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, the Virginia Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Virginia Women Attorneys Association and the Roanoke County/Salem Bar Association.

Submitted by Robyn Smith Ellis

Miss East Coast USA in New York

Mallory Birckhead, a 2005 graduate of Salem High School, is the reigning Miss East Coast USA. She was recently in New York to be on "Good Morning America." Mallory Birckhead is the daughter or Stan and Susan Birckhead of Salem. Her mom tells us: "We were given a private tour of the studio. Emeril, the chef, was on the show and he did his cooking segment right in front of the pageant girls and shared his great food with them. Mallory had a great time!"

For  photos, see The Notebook on sosalem.com

Submitted by Susan Birckhead

Roanoke College professor co-author of book

Dr. Todd C. Peppers, associate professor of public affairs at Roanoke College, has coauthored a newly released book, "The Anatomy of an Execution: The Life and Death of Douglas Christopher Thomas (Northeastern University Press, 2009)."

The work is an examination of the modern death penalty system and a juvenile whose actions landed him in that system, ultimately to be executed.

Peppers collaborated with Laura Trevvett Anderson, the former high school teacher of Chris Thomas, who was convicted of murdering his girlfriend's parents in Middlesex County, Virginia, in 1990.

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

Pizzazz twirlers at Virginia State Baton Twirling Championships

Pizzazz Star City Twirlers under the direction of Head Coach Joan Duus of Roanoke and assisted by Marie Freeman of Vinton represented our area well at the Virginia State Baton Twirling Championships held at the Arthur Ashe Center in Richmond.

Pizzazz made a clean sweep for the first time in the past 10 years taking first place in 7 of the 7 Team Categories they competed in, and won the Advanced Junior Dance Twirl division for the first time.

They are the State Champions in: Tiny Tot Dance Twirl, Juvenile Dance Twirl, Junior Dance Twirl, Primary Half Time Show, Primary Pom Team and they are the State winners of the Open Street Parade and Beginner Juvenile Twirling Teams.

One of the team members is Rebecca Keller of Glenvar.

She competed in the Pre-Teen division and won Advanced Show Twirl, Beginner Solo Twirl & Miss Old Dominion & Novice 2-Baton. She was 2nd in Beginner Super X Strut and Strut Queen.

Rebecca, along with duet partner Bethany Baker, won the Junior Novice Duet.

Submitted by Joan Duus