Students at Elliston Lafayette Elementary School, Shawsville Elementary School and Christiansburg Primary School received vaccines against H1N1 this week. Joni Underwood, Montgomery County's school health coordinator, said that although school officials had originally thought the limited number of vaccines would preclude that, the health department did have additional vaccines they rounded up from no-shows in other counties.

Underwood said the division now is in the same position and unsure when the next clinic will take place.

She estimates a little more than 1,000 county students have been vaccinated.

-- Anna L. Mallory

Foster Falls holiday lights in danger

Officials at the New River Trail State Park are asking community businesses and leaders for support of the Foster Falls Festival of Lights.

For the past three years, park staffers have worked during November to line the buildings of the old village of Foster Falls and the new park facilities with Christmas lights. The event has been free, with a food or toy donation.

This year's festival is scheduled for 4 to 8 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Foster Falls Village, near Galax off Interstate 77. The event usually includes more than 100,000 lights.

But this year, because of state budget cuts, park officials will have to cancel the event without sponsorship from the community.

Jaimie Lomasney, a visitor services specialist at the park, said between $5,000 and $7,000 needs to be raised by Monday to keep the festival going.

For general park information go to www.virginiastateparks.gov or call New River Trail State Park at (276) 699-6778 or e-mail New River Trail at NewRiverTrail@dcr.virginia.gov.

Shawsville YMCA to change operators in January

The YMCA at Virginia Tech will take operational control of the Waldron Family YMCA in Shawsville in January.

The boards of the YMCA at Virginia Tech and Mountain Valley Charitable Foundation -- the nonprofit that owns the facility in the Meadowbrook Center -- entered into a partnership, according to a news release.

The YMCA of Roanoke Valley has been operating the center since its 2007 opening. That three-year contract ends in December.

The YMCA at Virginia Tech started offering its Open University programs at Meadowbrook in September.

Waldron YMCA membership dues are expected to remain the same. The YMCA at Virginia Tech is also creating a "community membership" package that will feature discounts to its thrift stores, community gardens and Open University classes and other amenities, according to the release.

An open house at the Waldron Family YMCA is set from 4 to 7 p.m. Nov. 23.

-- The Roanoke Times