One of the great reasons to live in Bedford is the Bedford Country Club.  The Annual Board Meeting was held February 22, 2012 and the turnout was great and positive.

Do you live in Bedford, Virginia and love to play golf?  You need to give the Bedford Country Club a look.  It was amazing the number of golfers who showed up this year to praise the greens keeper, Charles.  They talked about how they know other golf courses have spent 7 figures plus over the last few years and they don’t look as good as the greens at the Bedford Country Club.  And Charles is great at price shopping and recycling and implementing any cost savings available.  His vast knowledge of grass and bugs and any blights or diseases that may come along with maintaining the fairways and greens helps in his ability to resolve issues on a dime.  The Senior Men’s Golfers also turned out and offered their assistance in golf course improvement, particularly with upgrading more cart paths.

The local Bedford membership turned out to applaud the financial wellness of the BCC.  It was noted that the Bedford Country Club was probably in the top 10% of the most financially sound clubs in state.  Many clubs are having problems because it is a luxury item that most people don’t need.  But, here in Bedford, VA, the value is found and the members have stayed.  The past three years have been headed up by treasurer Scott Carter of the Bedford branch of American National Bank.  Will Cayton has been working diligently to help with members who have fallen behind in their payments.  The key has been consistency in reprimand and communication.

As Chair of the House Committee, Wendy Witt of Keller Williams reported that the kitchen has gone through remodeling.  New electrical has been run, a new stove and hood, new hot water heater.  We have also completed new landscaping and gutters.  Over the last two years, the amenities have gotten great facelifts.  The tennis courts were resurfaced last year and the Olympic sized pool was painted.  A sturdy, permanent shelter was put in place as well.  It is a great place for Bedford’s children, too, with a kiddie pool.

New board members were voted in last night.  These include Amy Carter of Keller Williams Realty, Reagan Flaherty of Shentel, Sam Hodges and Doug Bays.

There is a no initiation membership drive through the end of March.  This is a $600 savings.  The board also revised the bylaws to allow children of members up to the age of 23 to utilize the club facilities whether or not they are enrolled as full time students.  For more information, contact Richard Creasy at 540-586-8407. Tell them you heard about it here on Discover Bedford!

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Its official! The Blue Angels will be performing at the Lynchburg VA Air Show on May 21st and 22nd.

Known for their Blue Jets that perform stunts in very close formation, Lynchburg is very proud to have them perform at the air show. The Blue Angels are not the only ones performing, but they are the highest profile performers. Also performing will be the Flying Circus, the Black Daggers, and their will be a vintage car and fashion show.

This will be a two day event in perfect  for the families of Lynchburg and Bedford VA.  Cost of admission is $15 for adults  and $5 for children 3-11 in advance, $20 at the door.

This weekend brings the return of the Spring Home Show to the Salem Civic Center! This is the 41st year of the show and its expected to be bigger and better than ever!

This years show has 180 vendors showing their amazing products from around the area. If you looking to make an upgrade to your home, this is the place you want to visit to see the latest products! There will be live demo’s and presentations.

The event is sponsored by the Roanoke Regional Home Builder Association.

Hours:

Friday, March 25 / 3 pm – 8 pm

Saturday, March 26 / 10 am – 8 pm

Sunday, March 27 / 12 noon – 5 pm

Hope to see you at this years Black Tie and Blue jean Ball! Each year this event gets bigger and the money goes for a great cause!

Bedford Primary School has been a staple of the community for many years. Its severs the county school system by taking in the youngest of our communities children. Many factors are driving this choice but the main force is money or a lack of it.

Shirking budgets from the state and federal government are a result of a down economy but also from the disdain elected officials feel towards education and social needs. A massive attempt is being made across our nation to reduce education costs and to get rid of the National Education Association.Reduced funding impacts students at all levels, not just the schools on the chopping blocks, all of our schools will be faced with large class sizes, reduced funding for sports, less or no arts, less teachers.

Lets face it, nobody wants to pay more taxes, but costs of books, fuel, supplies, the growing amount of students, and the cost of living is going up. We as a community, a state, a nation need to think about what is important to us. If we want our children to have a bright future we need to fund their education now. For our children, there is no redo or going back.

It has been said many times “pay now or pay later!” and some people feel this pertains to our current national debt. What is the cost associated with not giving our children a good education. Uneducated people make poor choices, this will lead us to higher crime rates, needing more prisons, teen pregnancy,  and higher unemployment. We can pay to educate children now or pay for jail, Medicaid, food stamps……. later.

What to do? Call you elected officials at all levels. Let them know education is important and worth funding. Ask them to return funding to prior levels and to seriously consider raising funding above the prior levels.Lets make them work for us. In order to get their attention, we need to contact them in numbers. We need to stand together to let them know WE CARE! Our next School Board Meeting is in March.

Here is a list of local and state elected officials for Bedford.

The Lynchburg Humane Society set an ambitious goal one year ago. They wanted to become a no-kill shelter, in prior years the rate of euthanasia was considered high among local residents. One year after taking over as executive director of the Lynchburg Humane Society, Makena Yarbough announced a 61% decrease in the euthanasia rate.

The Lynchburg Humane Society incorporated several measures to help reduce euthanasia, using education they were able to help 298 animal owners with pet issues or re-home their pet.

There is a low costs spay and neuter clinic all the area shelters use for animals who come through their shelters, it also provides services for those who have limited income.

The shelter has also adopted several other policies that have helped its issues. They work with the press to share information and education. Created an “open room” area for cats, and have gotten the community more involved by having more events.

Best Friend Ball

This black tie benefit is in support of the Lynchburg Humane Society’s Second Chance Fund. This fund gives animals a second chance to receive the medical care they deserve. All money donated will go towards vaccines, testing and medical treatment.

Guests will enjoy an exciting evening of gourmet food, open bars, a Kool Kat lounge, live band, pet parade and silent and live auctions. We will also be presenting our first ever Hill City Humane Award.  The annual award recognizes the remarkable work of an individual or corporation who has worked diligently for the benefit of companion animals in the Lynchburg community.
For those guests who bring their pet, we will have a pet presentation of all the pets with professional photos of you all gussied up. Volunteer escorts will be available for pets of guests who wish to enjoy their evening pet free after the pet festivities.

For tickets please call 434-238-3181 or download the reply card and email it to BFB@lynchburghumane.org or mail to 3305 Naval Reserve Road, Lynchburg, VA  24501.

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Spend a magical, romantic evening with friends at the Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra’s 9th Annual Valentine Gala, “I’m in the Mood for Love,” on Saturday, Feb. 12, from 7:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. at the lovely Boonsboro Country Club, Lynchburg VA.

The evening begins with the lilting strains of the Lynchburg String Quartet. Enjoy some hors d’oeuvres and an open bar for one hour. Mediterranean cuisine will then be served for dinner (there will be a cash bar).

The House Band will then rock the house for a night of dancing.

Tickets for this black-tie optional event are $125 per person and may be purchased by calling the symphony office at (434) 845-6604, or online at www.lynchburgtickets.com/gala

All proceeds benefit the Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra.

Editors note:

Each year, this event gets better and better. Great people, food, and music for a great cause. Come out and support the arts in Lynchburg.

Its the 20th Annual Bedford YMCA Pot of Gold Jan 21, 2011 to be held at the Elks National Home.

Each year Bedford residents come to this annual fund raiser for a great time raising money for a good cause. This is a night to get dressed up to visit with old and new friends.Not to mention you could make a good amount of money. Each year the gets better and better. This year the big POT is $10,000 and four side boards of $1,000 each.

Silent auction- Locals donate all types of amazing prises for the silent auction. Golf games, art, vacations, all kinds of great items can be “bought”.

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The National Park Service will host a public meeting in Bedford Tuesday Jan 18, 2011 on a study that will help decide if the memorial qualifies to join the federal park system.

“The good news is we made it to this stage,” said U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va. “There are still a lot of steps to go before the park service would have to accept the memorial as a park or national monument.”

The cash-strapped memorial is currently operated largely on donations. Warner and other lawmakers have supported bringing it under park service management to provide financial stability. However, Warner pointed out, the federal system has financial challenges maintaining its existing facilities.

The memorial, under the leadership of former president William McIntosh, began seeking to become a park service site in mid-2009.

The 7 p.m. meeting Tuesday at Bedford Elementary School next to the memorial marks the first visit by the park service since Robin Reed became its president last year.

“The one thing we were warned from the beginning: don’t expect anything quick,” Warner said, referring to the park system’s involvement.

The monument is located in Bedford because 19 of its men died in the bloody assault on Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944. President George W. Bush spoke at its dedication in 2001.

“There’s no other place in America that is appropriate a place for the memorial as Bedford,” Warner said. “Even in these tight financial times, this is a memorial worthy of national recognition.”

Private citizens and state leaders have already made a capital investment in creating a “world class memorial,” Warner said, adding that park service oversight would help in fiscal “predictability.” He said he thinks visitation could also increase.

U.S. Rep. Robert Hurt, R–5^th, said attending the memorial’s 2001 dedication was one of the most memorable events of his life.

Hurt said he supports the attraction’s inclusion into the federal park system “in the context of a balanced budget.”

“I think it’s an extremely important memorial,” he said. “I’m proud it’s in Bedford… it is a priority, it’s something I would fight for.”

Hurt said he plans to have a representative at Tuesday’s meeting in Bedford. U.S. Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-6^th, also is sending a representative to the meeting.

Goodlatte said he supports the memorial joining the park service because of its national significance.

“There are several hurdles that have to be overcome first,” Goodlatte said. “The federal government is broke…the ability to fund this will be an issue.”

Goodlatte also said the 2010 controversy over a bust of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin at the memorial could hurt. He doesn’t think Congress will accept the memorial into the park service if the Stalin bust is on site.

Memorial officials took Stalin down last fall but have indicated he could be redisplayed at some point with other Allied leader busts.

“I think that needs to be handled very carefully,” Goodlatte said. “Keeping that bust in a dark closet would be the best way to remember Joseph Stalin.”

The purpose of the meeting Tuesday is to help citizens learn and comment about the study and criteria used to determine eligibility, according to a news release from the park service.

Criteria include national significance, suitability and feasibility for inclusion, and the need for park service management. The study may give alternative management approaches that do not involve congressional designation as a unit of the park system.

Terrence Moore of the park service said Tuesday’s meeting in Bedford would kick off the study. The process can take up to two years to complete, he said, and about 25 such studies are ongoing around the country.

The first question is if the memorial meets the criteria. “If we find that it does meet the criteria, we have to look at alternatives,” he said.

Warner said if the memorial were ever to disappear, it would be a blow to the valor of World War II veterans that the memorial bestows. Not every American can afford to go to Normandy, he said, so its preservation is important.

“I can’t think of a place that more honors their sacrifice than the memorial.”

Reprinted from the Lynchburg News and Advance

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2nd Annual Greater Roanoke Home & Garden Show
The home and garden event of the year comes to Roanoke for the second time – bigger and better.

and Central Virginia HOME & Roanoke Valley HOME Magazines. To learn more, please visit: http://showtechnology.com/shows/Roanoke/Roanoke.html.