How about a visit to the Danville Science Center in Danville, Va. where for $5 you can see damselflies, dragonflies and ladybugs.  Dr. David Hoffman documents his Riverwalk excursions with photography of these amazing insects.  Going on now through February 29th. For more info. call 434-791-5160.

Then there is the Franklin County Master Gardeners Meeting where you can hear speaker Dick Leroy present, “The Unique Ecology of the Galapagos Islands.”  This lecture is open to the public at the Westlake Library in Hardy. January 18th from 1:00  - 3:00 pm. For more info. call 908-797-9440.

You can also join other stargazers in observing Orion, the GreatNebula M42, Betelgeuse (Orion’s red giant), Gemini, Castor, Pollox, Venus and Jupiter on Jan. 19th from 6-8pm. at the Danville Science Center, 677 Craghead St.   Free admission. For info. call 434-791-5160.

Chili cooking will begin at 9am. on Sat. the 5th with the tasting starting at noon and finally judging at 3:00pm. If you are just coming to taste and have fun the gates will be open from 11am. to 4pm. For the kids, Candy Top the Clown will be there, as well as Miss Smith Mountain Lake and Miss SML Outstanding Teen.

This even will be held Bridgewater Plaza in Moneta, near the Hales Ford Bridge and there will be something for everyone to do. Come by car or come by boat,  and the parking is free.

For more info. visit the Smith Mountain Lake Chamber of Commerce.

October 1, 2011 – November 13, 2011 Peak Foliage Open House where you can enjoy breathtaking views of the farm. Sample apples and fresh cider, and Fruit Of The Farm Wines. Free Noon-5p.m.  You may bring your own glass, purchase a souvenir glass or taste out of a free plastic cup. Also, Picnic and Visit The National D-Day Memorial, Bedford Museum and Poplar Forest. Call: 540-586-3707 or E-mail: appleseed@earthlink.net. Website: www.peaksofotterwinery.com.

October 20th - The Smith Mountain Lake Association and the Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce invite you to a ‘Candidates’ Forum” for candidates from the three counties which border the lake: Bedford, Franklin and Pittsylvania. Location: Trinity Ecumenical Parish of Smith Mountain Lake, Route 122 in Franklin County on October 20, 2011 from 6:30PM – 8:30PM.Each candidate will address the audience and will be available to speak with members of the audience at a reception following the formal remarks.

Taster tickets are $18 and designated driver tickets are $12. These tickets are good for either day, which helps to make the event affordable for everyone.  Advance discount tickets are in effect until September 23 at 5pm.

These advance tickets are available at 28 area ticket outlets, the Smith Mountain Lake Visitor Center Front Desk and on the SML Chamber’s festival website www.smlwinefestival.com. Proceeds will go to the SML Chamber of Commerce. For more info. E-mail info@smlwinefestival.com or call 540.721.1203.

Register to win two passes to a screening of “Lake Effects” Oct. 7. Register as we broadcast live from the following locations:  September 10, Johnny Casa Walk/Run; September 17 SML Antique Boat Show; September 24&25, SML Wine Festival.  Listen all day at 880 AM or www.wslk880.com.

The Arts Council of the Blue Ridge in partnership with Downtown Roanoke, Inc. presents Downtown Living Tour 2011.  A walking tourof unique living spaces in Downtown Roanoke.  September 24th: 10 am – 5 pm.  September 25th:  1 pm – 5 pm.  For tickets call 540.342.5790 or visit www.theartscouncil.org to more information!

The SML Chamber of Commerce is hosting a new networking event called “Connect SML”. Come prepared to give a 60 second talk about your business and then spend some time getting to know your fellow attendees and networking about business opportunities. Connect SML offers a more structured setting in which to connect with other area business people. CLICK HERE to register for this event to be held on Sept. 14th at 8am. in the SMLA Conference Room! For more information call Annette at 540-721-1203.

Taking Care of Personal Business is Important too. On Sept. 13th at Westlake Library at 4:30pm. you can join in a workshop which covers some very important business such as: practicing retirement, 401k decisions, health care, budgeting, home equity solutions, Social Security, and more. Those that are age 45 and older will find this information especially beneficial and for those within 10 years of retirement this is absolutely essential. Larry D. Campbell will be the presenter. Sandwiches, chips, and beverages will be provided. To register CLICK HERE  or call Annette at 540-721-1203.

The LONGWOOD UNIVERSITY SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER has some great ideas on how to improve your sales this Fall…..and they will share them with you for FREE! Call or e-mail Dick Ephgrave to set up an appointment. 276-632-4462 or ephgraverg@longwood.edu.

Qnanza:  We show businesses how to market themselves effectively online . . . . and  IT’S FREE !   That’s right, you can market your business for FREE on the Internet.   Contact John Smith, Area Director 540-912-9055 or go online and watch the shortvideo at http://www.DigitalCouponMarketing.com .

Life Out Loud Films will hold the screening at The Willard Companies’ Westlake Cinema in Hardy. There will be two showings on October 7th. Exact times, prices and details will be announced at lifeoutloudfilms.com and on facebook at “Lake Effects Life Out Loud Films.” The event will include a red carpet, giveaways, and plenty of film surprises. All who attend the Friday event will receive the red carpet treatment and a free movie poster. Additional showings may be added upon demand. There will be an after party at Mango’s Bar & Grill with proceeds benefiting a scholarship fund in the memory of Lake Effects writer Scott Winters.

Producers chose this date to coincide with the Smith Mountain Lake Charity Home Tour in an effort to further the company’s mission to help promote local economic development and tourism. Life Out Loud Films hopes that visitors coming to the area for the premier will also support the home tour, and experience all that Smith Mountain Lake has to offer.

Reservations for the event are limited. Reservations for the event are CASH ONLY and will open to the general public on Thursday, September 8 from 6:30 to 8:30 PM at The Westlake Cinema in Hardy. Reservations will also be available at the Roanoke Valley Convention and Visitor’s Bureau office in Roanoke on Wednesday, September 14 from 8:00 to 5:00. Stay tuned to “Lake Effects Life Out Loud Films” on facebook or www.lifeoutloudfilms.com for ticket availability, prices, and details.

Seating is limited. All show times are subject to availability. (Reprinted from the Life Out Loud Newsletter www.lifeoutloudfilms.com.)

We can all appreciate the importance of preserving historical treasures in and around the Smith Mountain lake area, and this is an opportunity to step up and do our part. Let your voice be heard speaking for the endangered artifacts of our area’s American heritage by voting for Virginia’s Top 10 Endangered Artifacts.

The Virginia Association of Museums (www.vamuseums.org/) announced that public voting will begin on Monday, August 15th.  Collecting institutions from across Virginia and DC have nominated a variety of items that they believe tell valuable stories and deserve to be recognized on this significant “Top 10 List.”

Also the 2011 Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival is now selling advance discount tickets.  Taster tickets are $18 and designated driver tickets are $12. But keep in mind these advance discount prices are only in effect until September 23rd. You can purchase them at the Smith Mountain Lake Visitor Center and on the SML Chamber’s NEW wine festival website www.smlwinefestival.com.

And if you find yourself at loose ends some Saturday evening, gather up some chairs and blankets and go to Hickory Hill Vineyards for Sunset Saturday on Sept. 3rd and Oct. 8th. Bring a picnic and listen to good music with friends and family.  It’s $10 at the gate and you can call 540-296-1393 if you need more info.

The above events are only a little taste of the fun on the program for Smith Mountain Lake in the coming months. For the whole scoop you can visit http://www.visitsmithmountainlake.com/.

This FREE event is sponsored by the Smith Mountain Lake Chamber of Commerce. The topic will be the best ways to utilize: Email, Online Surveys & Polls, and Event Marketing. You can learn the keys to using the most powerful relationship-building technology tools available today! You might be surprised how these easy tools can make an impact on your business or organization!
They will provide tips and techniques on:

• Building Your List – learn how to create a permission-based list, expand your subscribers, fans, friends
• How To Get Them – & Keep Them – Engaged! – Increase your email open rates and get them to Like, Fan, Follow or Friend you – plus, ways to keep them coming back for more.
•Writing Content that Inspires Sharing – Learn tips to write good headlines and content, and get your fans to tell their friends
• Dos, Don’ts, & Quick Ways to Get it Done! – Learn additional strategies for getting — and keeping — high quality prospects, customers and members, plus ways to manage your time and measure your results with ease.Learn the quick, easy best practices to make your e-marketing simple AND successful – from email to online survey, event marketing to social media, you’ll get the best tips in this high-level workshop.