Courtesy of Betsy Ashton

SMAC awards fine arts scholarships

Smith Mountain Arts Council (SMAC) awarded three $1,000 fine arts scholarships to local high school seniors who have enrolled in arts-related majors at four-year universities. The winners were: Shawn Cavendish (right), Staunton River High School, who will study music education at University of North Carolina at Greensboro; Brian Michael Hodges (left), Franklin County High School, who will study music education with a specialty in classical guitar at the Hayes School of Music at Appalachian State University; and Melinda Matherly, Franklin County High School, who will study architecture at James Madison University. Scholarship certificates were presented by Elaine Ingram, chair of the scholarship committee, at awards ceremonies at both high schools. The recipients also were honored at the SMAC Coffee House at Trinity Ecumenical Parish on June 20. SMAC President Judy Reap (center) introduced the winners.

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Courtesy of Kathy Lietz

Master Gardeners landscape Habitat home

Franklin County Master Gardeners recently landscaped a newly completed Habitat for Humanity home. They installed foundation plantings in the front and along the side of the home. The plants and the landscape plan were donated by Willow Tree Nursery in Penhook. Volunteer Franklin County Master Gardners included Jerry Trotter, David Talbott (coordinator), John Hartman, Carol Hynes, De English, Dick Cole, Kathleen Tully and Barbara Stout.

CHARLIE WALKER | Special to Laker Weekly

Mystery of Beale's Treasure lives on

The British Broadcasting Company (BBC) recently dispatched a crew to gather more information concerning the on-going mystery of the elusive Beale's Treasure, believed to have been buried somewhere between Montvale and the Peaks of Otter. While in town, the BBC film crew interviewed Danny Johnson (right) at his Peaks of Otter Winery, recording his tales of prior attempts by many to locate the treasure in the area of his orchards and vineyards. While one segment was being filmed, Johnson revealed the newest addition to his wine offerings -- Beale Treasure wine, with the label including a map and description of the legend. To this date, hundreds of efforts have been made to expose the meaning of two ciphers supposedly identifying the location and names of those who buried it. A third cipher, identifying the contents of the evasive cache, was decoded in the mid-1800s using the Declaration of Independence. It listed roughly 3,000 pounds of gold, 5,000 pounds of silver and a multitude of jewels.

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CHARLIE WALKER | Special to Laker Weekly

Wine Club gathers for food, wine

The Smith Mountain Lake Area Wine Club enjoyed its monthly gathering at members' Larry and Joyce Horne's dock. Among the 16 guests were (foreground) Sally Roseveare and charter member Gene Welch.

Photos courtesy of Joanna Hudzik

SML Lions induct new board

At the June 19 meeting of the Smith Mountain Lake Lions held at The Waterfront Country Club, the following board members were inducted: (above, front row, from left) Debbie Farthing, two-year director; Lori Duffy, third vice-president; Cheryl Ward, president; Becky Sparks, one-year director; Jim Miller, assistant secretary; (back row, from left) Len Bryant, Lion tamer; Tom Sanders, secretary; Lowell Skelton, treasurer; Ralph Long, second vice-president; Kirk Sampson, immediate past president; and Larry Iceman, first vice-president. Tom Messier (inset, left) of the Bedford Hospice House was welcomed by Lion Bill Telford as the guest speaker. He spoke to the club about plans to build The Bedford Hospice House.

Photos courtesy of Joanna Hudzik

SML Lions donate to Glade Hill volunteer firefighters

On June 25, the Smith Mountain Lake Lions Club made a donation to the Glade Hill Volunteer Fire Department. Chief Rodney Cundiff (left), accepted the award presented by Lion John Carlson

SML Lions donate to SML volunteer fire/rescue

Capt. Al Busch (right) accepts a donation from Smith Mountain Lake Lions on behalf of the Smith Mountain Lake Marine Volunteer Fire/Rescue. The donation was presented by Lion Cheryl Ward, the club's new president. Busch reported that the his group had raised a sunken boat that same day, and had been heavily involved in recovering the body of the James River drowning victim over the previous weekend. He also said the group is foregoing most of the patrolling they would have done over the July Fourth holiday because of the rise in fuel prices.

Courtesy of Jim Miller

SML Lions donate to the Moneta VFD

Capt. Jeremiah Calhoun (right) of the Moneta Volunteer Fire Department accepted a donation from the Smith Mountain Lake Lions Club. The donation was presented by Lion Cheryl Ward, new president of the club. Calhoun said the Moneta VFD has responded to 157 calls thus far in 2008, almost one call per day. He also noted that the Moneta VFD and the Scruggs VFD have developed a mutual aid plan for assisting on calls in the SML community.

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