Arts & Entertainment

The Rockbridge area has long been known as being one of those communities who come together for each other and for those in need of support.

The Lylburn Downing Middle School band marches in the Lexington Christmas parade Friday night, the first local parade of the season. Buena Vista’s parade is this Thursday night, while parades step off in Fairfield on Friday night and in Goshen on Saturday. For more photos from the Lexington parade and the Glasgow parade this past Saturday, see page B1. (Joann Ware photo)

The Christmas parade season got underway over the weekend in the Rockbridge area. Because of the way the calendar fell this year, it was Lexington, not Buena Vista as usual, that hosted the first parade of December. Lexington’s parade, sponsored by Main Street Lexington, took place in rainy conditions, but that didn’t stop a large crowd from turning out for the event Friday night. The weather had cleared by Saturday afternoon when the Glasgow parade, sponsored by the Glasgow Lifesaving and First Aid Crew, rolled through the streets of the town. These photos are from those two parades. Check out next week’s paper for photos from the Buena Vista parade coming up Thursday night, the Fairfield parade on Friday night and the Goshen parade on Saturday. (photos by Joann Ware and Carolyn Bradley)

A “Letters to Santa” mailbox has been placed in front of the Buena Vista Public Library.

CEO Sherri McKinney-Frantz of Blue Ridge CASA presents the Most Donations Award to Reid Mackey at the M4K Stache Bash Nov. 29 at Devils Backbone. Also pictured is Sam Collins who won Best Stache, and Lexington Mayor Frank Friedman who had the most donors. Blue Ridge CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) launched its first “Mustaches for Kids” (M4K) fundraiser this fall, a creative campaign aimed at raising funds to support abused and neglected children in the community. For more information about M4K, visit www.m4kblueridge.org or contact Chelsey Hughes at chelsey@blueridgecasa. org or Rosanne Facciolo at [email protected]. (photo by Julie Goodrich)

The Faith Mountain Express rolled through the streets of Lexington during the Lexington Christmas parade Friday, representing one of many area churches who participated in the parade. (Joann Ware photo)

The following area students are among those attending college this fall. Their names were submitted to The News-Gazette for its annual Off to College list.

The hours for the December book sale at Rockbridge Regional Library will be Thursday, Dec. 7, 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Friday, Dec. 8, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; and Saturday, Dec. 9, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Hearing the refrain from “Over the River and Through the Woods” may evoke Norman Rockwell style memories of visiting grandparents over the holiday season. These days, however, Grandma and Grandpa are just as likely to do the traveling as their younger relatives.

VPAS Cafe members in Lexington enjoy companionship and artistic expression as they paint with watercolors at a recent cafe gathering. Research shows painting is good for older adults. It engages the mind, boosts mood, and improves manual dexterity. Learn more about VPAS Cafes by calling (540) 261-7474.

Looking At Careers

Grace Episcopal Church will offer a service of Light in the Darkness Sunday, Dec. 10, at 5 p.m.

The Stone Church of the Brethren in Buena Vista presented a living nativity program outside the church Sunday evening, complete with a reading of the Christmas story by the Rev. Galen Combs (below left) and singing. (Stephanie Mikels Blevins photos)

Community Bible Study is now enrolling for the winter/spring semester which begins Wednesday, Jan. 3, and ends May 8.

There was a time we would have talked about current events. Dad and I would have imagined what the World Series would have been like if the Phillies had made it. We would have laughed together over New Yorker cartoons, snacked on cashews, and listened to Boz Scaggs.

Sunday, Dec. 10

Rachel Clark, (630) 607-9938 [email protected]

Karyn Gardner, (540) 228-2176, (540) 655-3646 [email protected]

Chessie Race Supporters Thanked

A large crowd turned out for the annual lighting of the swinging bridge in Rockbridge Baths Sunday night, an event that is continuing to grow in popularity. Those attending sang Christmas carols and enjoyed cider, hot chocolate and other refreshments. Children got to have their photos made with Santa and, if they were brave enough, met with the Grinch, who proved to be not so Grinchy. Santa will return to Rockbridge Baths this Saturday, Dec. 2, from 8 to 10 a.m. at the firehouse for the Breakfast with Santa event. (Stephanie Mikels Blevins photos)

‘You’ve Made A Giant Step Forward’