Features

The Easter Bunny hugs one of hundreds of children who attended an "egg drop" sponsored by Blue Ridge Fellowship Church last weekend in Woodlawn. For more photos click here.
Don't forget to share your fun-filled photographs with The Declaration. If you have something special to share, then email the photo and information to editor@independencedeclaration.com.

A weekly music jam at the Historic 1908 Courthouse in Independence is featured in the March issue of “Southern Living,” a popular national magazine that promotes itself as an “insider’s guide” to southern culture.
 The Wednesday evening music jam, a stop on The Crooked Road -- Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail, received a full page of coverage, including a photo and description of the event, which during warm weather, is held at the gazebo on the courthouse lawn. Jams begin at 6:30 p.m. and last about three hours.

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Lots of mixed signals can create an unreliable situation in which to make decisions. Best advice: Hold off on making any commitments until you’re sure you know what’s going on.
TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) An apparently friendly offer comes with some strings attached. Be careful not to get tied into something you don’t really want. Thoroughly examine all your options before making a choice.

Former Grayson County High School student Grayson Deal in November visited the school to share stories from his recent hike on the Appalachian Trail.
Deal came prepared with a filled backpack and a PowerPoint full of pictures. The big question for students was why he chose to spend six months hiking in the wilderness.
Deal drew the students in with his story. He explained topics such as the trail’s history from 1937 to present. The 2,181-mile trail covers 14 states.

ELK CREEK – Troops at two military bases received a free Fraser fir Christmas tree last week thanks to the efforts of members of the Mount Rogers Christmas Tree Growers Association.
For the sixth year in a year, Mount Rogers growers donated trees to the Trees for Troops program, which provides trees to servicemen and their families at this special time of the year.
John Rosser of Comers Rock, association president, said there was two drop off points again this year.

GALAX — The Galax Parks and Recreation Department will host its 18th annual Christmas bazaar Nov. 19 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the top floor gymnasium of the building at Felts Park.
The craft show will feature 59 area craftsmen. A wide range of area talent will be on display with gift items ranging from Christmas decorations to unique pottery and woodwork, jewelry and greenery to fried apple pies and grandma’s chocolate cake.
Admission, parking, gift wrapping and child care are free.

Author’s Note: The pumpkin articles and recipes were so well received by The Declaration readers; I was encouraged to continue with these writings. Thank you, readers—please continue to let The Declaration Staff hear from you. With the holidays quickly approaching, I decided to explore foods that we usually think of as “holiday specific”. I will start this holiday week with cranberries.

Chez J. Zane
Special to The Declaration

The Goodwill Grange is hosting its second annual Fall Festival on Oct. 29.
Festivities begin at 6 p.m. Admission is free.
Activities  include music by the Southfork Ramblers, Tim Lewis, and others; costume contests; pumpkin carving and painting; hayrides; square dancing; games; cakewalks; story telling; face painting; tricks and treats for everyone and much more.
 The Goodwill Grange is located on Grange Hall Road, just off of Highway 16 in the Grant community.

The Town of Independence will host its annual Safe Halloween celebration 4-8 p.m. Oct. 31 on Main Street.
Local businesses are encouraged to participate.
For more information, call (276) 773-3703.