The November meeting of the WVTF book club will be special. The author of the novel under discussion will be on hand to moderate.

WVTF book club will meet Tuesday, Nov. 24, at 7 p.m. The club meets at the WVTF broadcast center, 3520 Kingsbury Lane (just up the hill from Red Lobster).

They will be discussing "The Madhouse Nudes" by Robert Schultz, a much-honored Roanoke College English professor.

Newcomers are welcome. Come join us and meet the author.

For more information, contact WVTF at 989-8900.

Submitted by Joan Bugbee

O'Dell admitted to vet school

Derek O'Dell of Roanoke County was recently admitted to the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech.

The 95 new students in the Class of 2013 were issued white laboratory coats and administered the "Veterinary Student's Oath" during a white coat entrance ceremony.

O'Dell received a Bachelor of Science degree in biological sciences from Virginia Tech in 2009.

Admission into the nation's 28 colleges of veterinary medicine is a highly competitive process. Almost 900 individuals applied for admission to the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine's Class of 2013 and 200 personal interviews were conducted to select the new students.

New Marching Virginian chosen

Chip White of Southwest Roanoke County has been named a member of the Marching Virginians at Virginia Tech.

White is a junior majoring in music in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.

To qualify for the marching band students must audition one week before the beginning of classes each fall. Commonly known as The Spirit of Tech, Virginia Tech's marching band is celebrating their 35 anniversary this year. Under the direction of David McKee and Tony Marinello, the band will present music by Rodgers and Hammerstein, Chicago, the Four Seasons, and other artists during the 2009 season.

Founded in 1974, The Marching Virginians have performed for hundreds of nationally televised football games and parades. They also performed at Virginia Tech's recent bowl games, including 2007 Chick-Fil-A Bowl in Atlanta as well as the 2008 and 2009 FedEx Orange Bowl games in South Florida.

The Marching Virginians volunteer their time and spirit to support the community as well. Recent activities include building a house with Community Housing Partners in honor of Ryan "Stack" Clark.

StellarOne executive completes UVa program

Justin M. Barnes, Vice President and Financial Center Manager of the Tanglewood Financial Center at StellarOne, was among the 78 Virginia bankers who graduated Aug. 7 from the Virginia Bankers School of Bank Management at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. The three-year school is sponsored by the Virginia Bankers Association in cooperation with the McIntire School of Commerce at the University.

Barnes is a graduate of Virginia Western Community College with an Associates Degree in Business Management. He has worked with the Rescue Mission and the League of Older Americans in the Roanoke area. Barnes has been with StellarOne for over three years.

Submitted by StellarOne

Miss Smith Mountain Lake pageant set Dec. 12

This release comes from the Smith Mountain Lake pageant, but it's open to people from the Roanoke Valley, as well. In fact, the reigning Miss Teen Smith Mountain Lake is none other than Abby Erdman of Southwest Roanoke County, who just recently was crowned Miss Teen Roanoke Valley:

On Dec. 12, the second annual Miss Smith Mountain Lake Scholarship Pageant will take place at Virginia Western Community College Theater. We will be sending three winners on to compete at the Miss Virginia Pageant held at the Roanoke Civic Center in June. A winner from the Miss (ages 17-24), Outstanding Teen (13-17), and Outstanding Preteen (9-12) will all become representatives to their new title through community service and appearances.

All young ladies wanting information for competition should contact Executive Director Cindy Stump at 540 427-1129 or by email at misssmlpageant@yahoo.com, you can also contact co-director Dawn Erdman at 540 312-8448 or Amanda Stump at 540 798-8901. Please see our website for more information and to see what all the current title holders have been doing, www.misssml.webs.com

We are accepting preliminary applications for the Miss, Teen, and Preteen, we are also accepting applications for our Princess Program and for our Wee and Little Miss Smith Mountain Lake!

Submitted by Cindy Stump

Area residents named to Highty-Tighties

Two Virginia Tech students from Southwest Roanoke County have gained membership to the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Regimental Band, the Highty-Tighties.

They are:

John Cornelison, a senior majoring in accounting and information systems in the Pamplin College of Business;

Benjamin Wolley, a freshman majoring in engineering in the College of Engineering.

The Highty-Tighties are celebrating their 116th anniversary this year under the direction of Maj. George McNeill. A retired member of the United States Army, McNeill joined the Highty-Tighties after 22 years of enlisted military service in the Army Band Program.

Founded in 1893, the regimental marching band is the oldest continuously performing musical organization at Virginia Tech.

Submitted by Virginia Tech

UVaClub welcomes U.Va. All American Jim Bakhtiar

Join the UVaClub of the Roanoke Valley as we welcome Dr. Jamshid "Jim" Bakhtiar (A&S '58 and Med '63) whose performance on the football field earned him All-America honors in 1957. Between having his jersey retired during halftime of the Virginia Tech football game on Nov. 28 and being honored at the Atlantic Coast Conference Football Championship Game on Dec. 5, Bakhtiar will visit Roanoke to share reflections.

Tuesday, Dec. 1 Noon to 1:30 p.m. Roanoke Country Club (new location for this event) 3360 Country Club Drive N.W., Roanoke, Virginia 24017 Register at uvaclubs.virginia.edu/roanokevalleybakhtiar.

Cost: $20 (includes lunch, taxes and gratuity; parking will be validated). For more information, please contact Amy Ebel at amy.ebel@gmail.com.

Submitted by UVaClub of the Roanoke Valley