SME Lake Life Issue No 10

ISSUE NO. 10

Photo by Jeff Reid

SUBMIT YOUR PHOTOS

Send in your scenic photos of the Smith Mountain Lake area for a chance to be published in Lake Life magazine and Smith Mountain Eagle newspaper. Email quality photos at less than 10MB to C.E. Adams at editor@smithmountaineagle.com. Please include name of person who took the photo and where and when the photo was taken.

SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE SNAPSHOTS

On this page: Carol Light’s two 3-year-old sister Goldendoodles named Ella and Winnie Poo are always an a raction for many that catch a glimpse of them riding in the boat, on the Sea-Doos, towed behind, swinging in the hammock and even hiking on the Blue Ridge. “Life is loved on the lake and at our Penhook home by many, but especially these girls,” Light said. Contributed photos.

Deep Water Salvage

Story by Adam Powell Photos contributed

Alocal business that specializes in helping stranded local boat owners and assisting with the removal of sunken vessels throughout Smith Mountain Lake was showcased on the season finale of The Weather Channel’s “Deep Water Salvage.”

Rick and Nancy Ellett of Sea Tow Smith Mountain Lake joined forces with a dive team from Lake Hickory Scuba in North Carolina to raise a nearly 40-year-old, 28-foot cabin cruiser that recently sank into the lake adjacent to a dock near channel marker R22.

“It was sunk at the docks. It looks like a bilge pump had failed. It was a 28-foot 1984 Carver cabin cruiser (that had sunk). The bow was still out of the water,” said Sea Tow’s Rick Ellett in a recent interview, adding that the water depth was approximately 12 feet at the stern of the sunken vessel. “We contracted divers out of Lake Hickory, North Carolina. They came up and helped us, gave us a hand. We

got that one up and got it hauled out for disposal.”

Sea Tow SML has raised numerous boats throughout Smith Mountain Lake this year, with the Lake Hickory Scuba team providing assistance on half of those jobs.

Sea Tow SML has done a number of dramatic jobs over the years, including one that involved a vessel that had gotten stuck to the edge of a dam and was on the verge of going down a waterfall.

“We have done this year eight of these such recoveries,” said co-owner Nancy Ellett. “Four of them, we had the Lake Hickory divers come. The other four, we did with our Sea Tow team here.”

“We’ve recovered boats anywhere from a jet ski to 45foot boats,” she continued. “We’ve done cruisers, house boats, roundabouts and sailboats, although there’s a little bit of danger with sailboats. Because when you go to raise a sailboat with lift bags under it, you’ve got to make sure

you’re doing them level, so that mast doesn’t fall over and hit somebody, because it could kill them. We’ve had a couple of boats that have sank that turned upside down. That’s a little more tricky.”

The recovery project filmed for Deep Water Salvage took place in early May, shortly after the owner of the sunken cabin cruiser reached out to Sea Tow Smith Mountain Lake for assistance, and the episode aired Aug. 7.

The Elletts got in touch with the folks at Lake Hickory Scuba, who agreed to come up to Smith Mountain Lake for the recovery. A single camera operator with a drone filmed the recovery for Deep Water Salvage. Due to the fact that there was just one camera operator, the television production did not get in the way of the vessel retrieval e orts.

“It was one guy with a camera,” Rick Ellett said of the video production.

“He also had a drone. He did a couple of video interviews,” Nancy Ellett added.

The divers from Lake Hickory Scuba dove underneath the sunken vessel and positioned airbags in various strategic places around the footprint of the cabin cruiser. When the bags were filled with air, they slowly raised the sunken vessel out of the mud and back up to the water surface.

It’s a painstaking process, as the air levels in the bags must be distributed evenly in order to avoid the sunken boat flipping over back onto the lakebed.

“You’ve got to get lift bags under it. We had four lift bags on that boat, as I recall. Two 4,000 lift bags and two 2,000 pound bags,” Rick Ellett said. “They (Lake Hickory Scuba) use all of our equipment, except for their dive gear.”

“That was the job of the divers,” added Nancy Ellett. “They have be able to go down there, place the lift bags,

Above, Sea Tow Smith Mountain Lake joined forces with a dive team from Lake Hickory Scuba in North Carolina to raise a nearly 40-year-old, 28-foot cabin cruiser that sank into Smith Mountain Lake adjacent to a dock near channel marker R22. On the opposite page is the cruiser that was removed from the lake. Photos contributed by Sea Tow Smith Mountain Lake.

put straps around them to be able to hold them to the boat, and once they get that done, the lift bags are inflated. All of the equipment is ours — the lift bags, the straps, the compressors, pumps, manifolds. Everything we need to use is ours. The divers just came to strictly go down and attach everything for us. You’ve got to watch it and inflate it evenly, so you don’t turn the boat. Recoveries can be dangerous, because you have divers underneath the boat. If something goes wrong, they could still be under that boat.”

“The reason we like the Lake Hickory Scuba divers is because they are very professional,” Nancy Ellett added. “They work well with our captains. They have the proper equipment. They have underwater headsets, where they can communicate with one of their team members who stays on the dock. So if something goes wrong, there’s communication immediately.”

Although the Deep Water Salvage project mostly went

according to plan, a strap on one of the lift bags broke during the rising of the vessel. The broken strap brought a little drama to the production of the television show.

“One of the lift straps broke,” Nancy Ellett indicated. “And when that happens, it starts going back down. Then you have to start all over and rig it with di erent straps and start raising it again. The Deep Water Salvage crew, they loved that. Because they like to do shows when things go wrong.”

Once the vessel was raised up to the water surface, a combination of three pumps — two two-inch pumps and a three-inch pump — began pumping water out of the vessel. After the water was removed from the vessel, it was towed to an adjacent location down the lake for final disposal.

“Once we raise them up with those lift bags, then we’ve got to put pumps on them. We start pumping them out,” Nancy Ellett said. “You’ve got to pump all the water out of it. Then you’ve got to tow it somewhere.”

The Elletts explained that it’s important for anyone desiring to have a vessel raised up from the lake to have

A single-camera operator came to Smith Mountain Lake this past spring to film the efforts of Sea Tow SML and Lake Hickory Scuba to retrieve a sunken vessel in Smith Mountain Lake. The footage of the retrieval of the vessel was featured on an episode of Deep Water Salvage on The Weather Channel. Photo contributed by Sea Tow Smith Mountain Lake.

a plan in place for what will happen to the vessel once it is raised.

“Is it going to be destroyed, or is it going to be refurbished? You’ve got to have a plan with what you’re going to do with it once you get it up,” she said.

Nancy Ellett also recommended that boaters have marine insurance to cover the potential costs of having to raise a sunken vessel. And for those who don’t live at the lake year-round, it’s always a good idea to have a friend or relative keep an eye on your boat, especially if it’s still sitting in the water.

“They should have a good marine insurance policy to cover such costs, because they are very expensive,” she explained. “Particularly if there is any kind of an oil spill. When we recover a boat like that, we always have absorbent pads that we put all around the engine compartment. Because as you start raising it, those oils sometimes start coming up.”

“People who particularly live out of town and aren’t here to look at their boats every day, they need to have somebody paying attention. Because once they start going down, they’re gone,” she continued.

Seeing their work chronicled on The Weather Channel was exciting for the Elletts and Sea Tow Smith Mountain Lake sta , and they’ve experienced some very interesting things over the years in their e orts to raise vessels that are no longer seaworthy. But their primary focus remains on assisting local boaters along the lake with everything from starting up an inoperable motor to bringing gas if a vessel runs out.

As their name suggests, Sea Tow also o ers tows for vessels that cannot be restarted right away.

“Our main function is assistance out on the lake: tows, jump starts, fuel drops and assistance to boaters to enhance their boating experience. We’re like peace of mind on the water,” Rick Ellett said. •

Shown is a nearly 40-year-old, 28-foot cabin cruiser that was removed from Smith Mountain Lake by Sea Tow Smith Mountain Lake and a dive team from Lake Hickory Scuba in North Carolina. Photo contributed by Sea Tow Smith Mountain Lake.

Wine Festival

Story by William Masselli Photos by Jeff Reid

It was the first time in 32 years that the Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival featured more than just Virginia wineries. The event also featured a venue change to Mariners Landing.

The fact that Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce’s 32nd Annual Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival held Sept. 17-18 was successful is an understatement, as it produced ticket sales transactions in over 375 zip codes from 21 di erent states.

The event featured unique wines, music and an overall festive atmosphere.

“The turnout was great Saturday (Sept. 17). What we were the happiest about was the number of people we brought in from outside the area, since that is our

mission at the chamber,” stated SML Regional Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Andy Bruns.

Due to wineries from various states participating this year, the wines were unique. Representatives of the Wagner Family of Wine, Winebow Fine Wine + Spirits, and Wine Sellers LTD poured tastings in the tent hosted by Bottles & Bites, the gourmet wine shop at Mariners Landing.

Also, the chamber invited many Virginia wineries and cideries. The event featured popular Virginia wineries such as Chateau Morrisette and less-known Virginia cideries such as Blue Toad Hard Cider out of Nelson County.

The various wineries and cideries led to many enjoying their experience at SML.

“We had so much positive feedback from visitors and locals who were blown away by the quality of wineries,” stated Andie Gibson, who handles media communications for the chamber.

The wine festival’s music lineup Saturday, Sept. 17, featured The SteelDrivers, a Nashville-based bluegrass group that has won Best Bluegrass in 2015 and been nominated for Grammy Awards.

The Su ers, a soul band from Houston that blends elements of classic American soul and rock and roll to crowds that love to dance, performed at the SML Wine Festival. Additionally, local favorites such as The Eric Wayne Band and Blueprint performed at the venue Saturday.

On Sunday, Sept. 18, St. Paul & The Broken Bones performed in the headline spot. Additionally, Three Sheets to the Wind performed yacht rock, and Empire Strikes Brass performed brass funk.

“The bands were the likely reason for the expanded ticket sales footprint, and they were amazing,” said Bruns. “We also mixed in several other bands each day from local acts to regional favorites, and they all did a fantastic job.”

As always, the atmosphere at SML played a large role in making the event a success.

“The beautiful views of the water and Smith Mountain from Mariners Landing take the experience to a whole new level,” added Gibson.

Participants in the festival had the option to travel by car or boat and enjoy the shoreline.

“Everyone was so friendly and having such a great time and so happy to be back at Smith Mountain Lake after a two-year delay,” added Bruns.

Those who are interested in attending SML events or learning more about SML may contact Gibson at communications@visitsmithmountainlake.com

On opposite page: From left, Ashley Nena, Karolina Styk and Adrienne Hubbard pause after sampling wines Sept. 17 at the Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival at Mariners Landing. Above: Smith Mountain Lake residents Roy and Mary Gordon Enslow pose for a photo Sept. 17 at the festival.

The Eric Wayne Band performs Sept. 17 at the Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival at Mariners Landing. The band was one of several local, regional and national acts to perform over the weekend.

Tim Reith (far right) and friends gather for a group shot after arriving by boat Sept. 17 for the Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival at Mariners Landing.

A endees at the Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival at Mariners Landing on Sept. 17 sample wine from Chateau Morrise e Winery of Floyd.

Stephanie Grim (left) and Sierra Lockridge of Roanoke share a bo le of chardonnay from Lake Anna wineries Sept. 17 at the Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival at Mariners Landing.

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Three Sheets to the Wind was a crowd favorite Sept. 18 at the Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival at Mariners Landing with their yacht rock personas and tunes from the ’70s and ’80s.

representative from Winebow, a national importer and distributor of fine wines from all over the world, pours samples Sept. 17 at the Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival at Mariners Landing.

Paul Janeway, lead singer of the Birmingham, Alabama, based band St. Paul and the Broken Bones, left the stage and made his way into the crowd Sept. 18 at the Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival at Mariners Landing.

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The 2022 SML Walk to End Poverty (Walk), held at SML State Park on Sept. 17, was a success, generating $98,577 — the most funds ever generated in the Walk’s 12-year history. Contributed photo.

W E P

he collective impact from the 2022 SML Walk to End Poverty (Walk) was $98,577 — the most funds ever

The successful Walk was held at SML State Park on Sept. 17, generating $53,577 for Lake Christian Ministries’ (LCM) programs and services that assist area families in need and $45,000 for

“During a year when needs are 90 percent higher than we have seen in the past two years and 42 percent of the families who are coming to LCM for services are doing so for the first time, we are extremely grateful for the highest-grossing Walk in LCM’s history,” said LCM Executive Director Jane Winters. “These funds will be put to use right away to assist the growing number of local neighbors who are struggling during this very di cult inflationary year that has taken a toll on families who are living with limited means. The SML community deserves a big thank you!”

The event engaged schools, civic groups, neighborhoods, churches and businesses who formed 11 teams that answered sponsor and volunteer challenges to make a di erence for local families struggling with poverty. Team honors went to Resurrection Catholic Church for the largest team contribution — another historical high of $15,525 — and to Bethlehem United Methodist Church for generating the most participants at 45. Capps Home Building Center provided a 25 percent discount

coupon to each member of the winning teams as a special thank you for their support.

“We are deeply grateful to everyone who helped make the 2022 SML Walk to End Poverty a record success,” Winters said. “Event sponsors Capps Home Building Center and two anonymous supporters, as well as supporting sponsors Haywood’s Jewelers, Body Shoppe Fitness, Centra, Gilbert Law, American National Bank, Southside Electric Cooperative and Coley Law provided dollar-for-dollar matching funds for the first $30,000 donated. An anonymous LCM Volunteer also issued a $15,000 challenge to other volunteers who exceeded the challenge. We look forward to the 2023 Walk to End Poverty and hope all of this year’s sponsors, team leaders, walkers and supporters will be back to once again impact poverty in the SML community.”

Lake Christian Ministries (LCM) has been providing food, clothing, household items and crisis financial aid since 1992 to needy families in the Smith Mountain Lake areas of Bedford, Franklin and Pittsylvania counties. LCM also o ers mentoring/ partnering services, educational classes, community connections and job assistance to aid those working toward more secure lives for themselves and their families.

For additional information, contact Jane Winters, executive director, at lcmexdr@gmail.com or 540-297-3214..•

Antique & Classic Boat Show

Arecord was made at the 30th Annual Antique and Classic Boat Show.

The event’s largest ever number of 51 antique and classic boats and their owners provided an up-close look for those attending. Of these, 41 boats were displayed in the water, and the rest were displayed on shore.

The free event was held Saturday, Sept. 17, by the SML Chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society (ACBS SML Chapter), and it was the first year the event was held at Crazy Horse Marina.

“We are very pleased with how our new venue at Crazy Horse Marina worked out,” said Chapter Publicity Chairman John Seal. “We had a lot of positive comments from owners displaying their boats as well as people attending the show on Saturday to see the boats and visit with their owners.”

The more convenient location, ample parking and shaded boardwalks, combined with picture-perfect weather, led to record attendance, according to the society.

“Everyone enjoyed the shaded boardwalk with benches to relax, the shaded entrances to each of the three dock areas we used, and abundant parking that was very convenient to the main entrance to our show,” Seal said.

There were a lot of new things to see, as 19 of the boats were on display at the SML show for the first time, many from out of state and from as far away as western New York.

The wood and vintage fiberglass boats displayed the elegance and craftsmanship of America’s skilled boat manufacturers. Event-goers saw some of these boats at the show sporting restored outboard motors.

In the last few years, there has been growing interest in the original fiberglass boats, which became popular

On opposite page: David Stalker of Timberville, Virginia, polishes “Cool Breeze,” a 1960 Aluma Craft Queen 16, before the start of the 30th Annual Antique and Classic Boat Show at Crazy Horse Marina. Photo by Jeff Reid. Above: The special a raction at the 30th Annual Antique and Classic Boat Show was the preserved “Miss America IX” that in 1931 was the first boat in the world to exceed 100 miles per hour. This historic boat has been owned by the Charles Mistele family for more than 50 years. Photo contributed by the Charles Mistele family.

how new manufacturing methods have greatly improved wooden boats.

Donations made at the gate and other proceeds will be donated to local charities.

The show was sanctioned by the Antique and Classic Boat Society Inc. (ACBS), an international organization devoted to the preservation and recognition of all types of historic, antique and classic boats, with 54 chapters throughout North America and Europe. The Smith Mountain Lake Chapter of ACBS, with over 70 members, manages this show and is active in restoring, showing, and using their unique boats.

For further show or chapter information, visit its website, www. woodenboats.net, or contact Chapter President John Co man at 443-204-6500 or by email: jeco man@verizon.net.•

in the late 1960s as wood boat production was phased out due to shortages of mahogany, production costs and desire for easier-to-maintain boats. Those earlier model fiberglass boats had unique designs, some influenced by the automobiles of the late ’50s and ’60s.

The special attraction was Miss America IX, a preserved, historic racing boat that in 1931 was the first boat in the world to exceed 100 miles per hour. “Miss America IX” is a 30-foot, red mahogany, Gar Wood built race boat that was originally powered by two Packard V12 engines and currently runs two Chevy 427 race engines. This historic boat has been owned and shared with the public by the Charles Mistele family for more than 50 years. Of the 10, ever faster, “Miss America” boats that Gar Wood built and raced, only three still exist, and “Miss America IX” is the only one that still gets wet.

“Many thanks to the Charles and Diane Mistele family for sharing this boat at SML and treating us to a demonstration run on Saturday afternoon,” stated the ACBS SML Chapter.

The feature boat this year was “Deelited,” the 1990 24-foot Grand Craft Luxury Sport Utility owned by SML Chapter members Mike and Dolores Mutchler. Grand Craft uses Chris Craft hull designs to create custom, build-toorder, wooden boats with customer chosen engine power and seating arrangements. At a “young” 32 years of age and in like-new condition, “Deelited” is a boat that shows

Shown at the 30th Annual Antique and Classic Boat Show at Crazy Horse Marina is a 1959 Barbour Sliver Clipper owned by Alan Hills of New Bern, North Carolina. Photo by Jeff Reid.

Shown is a group photo of the winners of the 30th Annual Antique and Classic Boat Show at Crazy Horse Marina. Photo contributed by Nadine Breen.

Steve Nussbaum from Harrisonburg, Virginia, prepares to dock “Anne Marie,” a 1940 Larson Utility, after a morning run at the 30th Annual Antique and Classic Boat Show at Crazy Horse Marina. Photo by Jeff Reid.

David Kuhfahl of Smith Mountain Lake prepares his homebuilt 2018 11-foot Squirt, “Bad Moon,” before the start of the 30th Annual Antique and Classic Boat Show at Crazy Horse Marina. Photo by Jeff Reid.

Shown is an aerial photo of the docks at the 30th Annual Antique and Classic Boat Show at Crazy Horse Marina. Photo contributed by Domenic Bo ino.

Shown is a crowd at the 30th Annual Antique and Classic Boat Show at Crazy Horse Marina. Photo by Jeff Reid.

Goodbye, M L C

Story by Adam Powell

After more than 30 years of service to the Moneta and Smith Mountain Lake communities, the Moneta Lions Club made the very di cult decision to disband. Two former Lions Club members — Patricia and Del Bailey — spoke with Lake Life to discuss the tough decision to disband the organization.

Patricia Bailey said that things started becoming a major struggle for the Lions Club in Moneta when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Suddenly, the organization couldn’t fundraise regularly, as it had throughout its history, and it didn’t have a regular place to meet.

“I think the club started to fall about the time COVID started,” Bailey explained in an interview. “In June 2019, the club had 17 members. Di erent rules regarding food and group meetings caused the club to cancel meetings for a period of time. The first meeting after the Charter Night dinner in June 2020 was on July 14, 2020, on a member’s screen porch. Because one member did not have access to the internet, we did not have Zoom meetings. The meeting place bounced around from porch to Beechwood Shores clubhouse and finally to the Moneta Rescue Squad building, which we used rent free.”

After losing approximately a third of its membership during COVID-19, the organization attempted to change its meeting schedule to improve recruiting, but that e ort did not succeed. The Lions Club even lost their meeting venue, as the Moneta Rescue Squad could no longer accommodate them.

“In the months following Charter Night dinner, we lost six members,” Bailey said. “One moved. One had health issues, another had financial issues, and finally one who was looking for a di erent challenge. We continued to meet at our regular two Thursday evenings per month until January 2022, when we tried meeting at noon to see if we could attract new members that did not want to meet at night. That didn’t work. After three months at noon, we went back to evening meetings. Because the Rescue Squad needed their facility for classes, we then moved our meetings — without dinner — to a member’s house.”

“During COVID, many of our fundraising projects could not be held,” Bailey continued. “Because of the size of our club, we could not manage to hold our very popular golf outing. Other venues for fundraising in the community were canceled or not allowed. We also could not hold our yearly

kite event, which invited local scouts to Moneta Park for kite making and lunch. We were really limited doing in-person outreach activities.”

With limited membership and dwindling financial funding due to a lack of fundraising throughout the pandemic, the remaining membership began preparing to disband earlier this year.

“We started talking about disbanding in January 2022,” Bailey explained. “Lion Eric Mills, district governor, and Lion Andre Peery, zone chair, visited the club to encourage us. But ultimately, on May 19, 2022, we voted unanimously to disband. Nine of the eleven members were present, as well as the district governor and the zone chair.”

It was an extremely painful process for the existing members not only to disband but to disburse their remaining funds and Lions Club memorabilia, which had been collected since the 1990s.

“What remained then was to disburse the monies we had collected from the community back to community agencies and charities,” Bailey said. “We also had a large amount of Lions equipment and memorabilia to disburse. It was very painful.”

The Moneta Lions Club started from humble beginnings with a chili cook-o and eventually grew into a highly functional organization with large numbers of local enrollees,

and numerous community outreach projects.

“The first president of the club was Kirby Richardson, who passed away recently. Our first fundraiser was a chili sale, which made over $300,” Bailey explained. “I hesitate to mention members who helped keep our club going over the years, as I hate to leave anyone out. All of these have passed away and were presidents of the club and involved in many club activities. Jim and Mary Smith were members of the club early on. Jim Agnew and Chuck Dideon were also very involved members who were also active in the wider community. Curtis Fitzgerald and his wife, Judy, early members of the club, were both district governors. All of the club presidents added their own personalities and talents to the club. Several have been presidents more than once.”

Despite the disbanding of the Moneta Lions Club, the remaining members are proud to have been part of a group that did so much for the people of Moneta and Smith Mountain Lake. From the annual golf tournaments to the popular kite events in recent years, the Moneta Lions Club made a real di erence in the community, and their loss will be felt everywhere from the local charities to the local highways, as the Lions Club successfully maintained a stretch of highway through the Virginia Adopt-A-Highway program for more than 20 years.

“Projects have been many,” Bailey said. “Particularly

In this October 2019 photo, Moneta Lions Club members Mary Davis, Pat Bailey, Gloria Guice and Grace Clark (standing rear) a end a lunch meeting at the Moneta Site of the Central Virginia Alliance for Community Living to host a holiday-themed bingo party. Contributed photo.

meaningful to the individuals who proposed them and did all the planning. One such would be the kite event. (Lion) Gloria Guice read about a kite festival in Roanoke and thought the club should have one. She found a source for kite kits that were guaranteed to fly. It was ‘her’ project and she loved it. Young Girl Scouts came, made and flew their kites, had lunch and won prizes for the best decorated kite, highest flying kite, etc. The whole club took part and enjoyed helping the girls. It was held for several years at Moneta Park until COVID made it impossible.”

“One of our more interesting projects came from thinking outside the box. The Moneta Volunteer Fire Department had a grant from the state that got them smoke detectors for homes without them,” Bailey added. “The fire department needed help as they didn’t have the time to install them. So, several Lions went door-to-door installing smoke detectors throughout the Moneta area. One homeowner was so

impressed, he joined the club and has been a member for 17 years. The club just received a certificate for 23 years of the Adopt-a-Highway program. A two-mile stretch of both sides of Hendrick Store Road will never be as clean again. Maybe some other group will take it over.”

“The Lions motto is ‘WE Serve,’ and clubs take that seriously,” Bailey continued. “Some members of our club have helped at the RAM project, which in a weekend gave free medical and dental care to over 1,000 people in southwest Virginia. Vision screening at local schools is a project that went on for many years at the elementary and middle schools. Five or six years ago, the county nurse had other ideas for the screening and no longer allows the Lions to provide this service.”

“People in the community have seen us for years with our blue tent and ra e tickets at the Chili Festival and Antique Boat Show. Or in front of a store asking for donations on

In this September 2019 photo, Moneta Lions Del Bailey, Otis Cole, Pat Bailey and Rob Senoski were among the early risers to a end the 29th Annual Antique and Classic Boat Festival in Huddleston. Contributed photo.

a White Cane Day,” Bailey said. “But our most successful fundraising was our 20-year popular golf outing. Thanks to many community businesses that sponsored our outing, we made over $170,000 and returned it all back to the community in some form. The golf outing was notorious for bad weather. One year we had snow flurries. Several years we had rain and/or wind. One year, Mariners Landing Golf course was flooded, and we canceled the golf. But we still had the luncheon and gave away all the prizes. Golfers were still always anxious for our early spring golf outing.”

“The club has provided, with grants and fundraising, several long-lasting projects in the Moneta area, which are enjoyed by many,” Bailey added. “The first was a picnic pavilion and playground next to Moneta Elementary School. That park is dedicated to Lion Curtis Fitzgerald (deceased), who was a district governor and a Melvin Jones fellow. The club also provided the pavilion at Moneta Park and it is

dedicated to Lion Jim Agnew (deceased) who was a leader in the club and a Melvin Jones fellow. The club also provided playground equipment and helped with the restroom facilities at Moneta Park.”

Despite the loss of the Lions Club in Moneta, the remaining members are vowing to stay close as friends, and to continue serving the community in various ways as local volunteers.

“We did not have a final celebration as such,” Bailey said. “Members have become very good friends these last few years and have vowed to continue meeting periodically for lunch or dinner. Several members have continued to volunteer once a month to recycle the eyeglasses collected from the community. The boxes to collect glasses, hearing aids and can tabs are still available in several places. A few members still knit children’s hats and lap robes, which are donated to the pregnancy center and to local schools. So we still serve.”.•

In this November 2019 photo, Moneta Lions Pat and Del Bailey, Gloria Guice and Rob Senoski, express their delight after meeting several staff members and many residents while “decking” one of the halls at English Meadows, a senior living community in Bedford. Contributed photo.

Ayers Remembered

Story by Tobey Robertson

The Smith Mountain Lake community lost a true pioneer.

On the 20-yard line of Staunton River High School’s football field Sept. 16, there was an emblem honoring Glenn Ayers, who passed away June 27, and his family members were provided a token of appreciation in remembrance of him.

Betty Lu “Blu” Ayers, Glenn Ayers’ wife of 64 years, along with their son James — the current “Voice of the Golden Eagles” — received the token of appreciation at halftime of the home game between Staunton River High School and Tunstall High School.

When the school opened its doors for the first time in fall 1963, students were greeted by a young Glenn Ayers. Over the next 33 years, he would become well known at Staunton River High School, all the while o ering encouragement, wisdom and inspiration.

He taught English literature and history, coached track and drama, and was the first “Voice of the Golden Eagles.” He even penned the words to the school fight song.

In 2017, he was inducted into the inaugural class of the Staunton River High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

His impact on this high school is only rivaled by his

impact on the community. Ayers served Bedford County on the electoral board, planning commission and board of supervisors. He also served as the chairman of the county’s 250th anniversary celebration and was instrumental in Staunton River High School’s 50th anniversary celebration.

On top of that, this renaissance man was also known as a talented actor, songwriter, columnist and farmer. For years, he wrote a series of columns for the Smith Mountain Eagle newspaper and Lake Life magazine titled “Notes from the River,” which chronicled his lifelong experience and factoids of the Smith Mountain Lake community.

One would be hard pressed to find a former acquaintance in the community who doesn’t have an interesting Glenn Ayers story.

He was considered to be “truly an original” and proudly marched to his own beat. Many will forever remember Ayers as one of the finest to ever call “the River” his home.

At the base of the scoreboard, mums were placed in the future location of a memorial for Ayers.

The Class of 1972 and Moneta Farm and Home Center assisted and provided donations to make this a reality.

The artwork on the field was created by John Kirtley. •

DINING

DIRECTORY

Dining information sourced from Smith Mountain Lake Visitor’s Guide.

Drifter’s at SML, formerly Waller’s , is a great place to bring the whole family!

DINING

EDUCATION

DIRECTORY

Education information sourced from Smith Mountain Lake Visitor’s Guide.

CHURCH

DIRECTORY

BAPTIST

Barnhardt Baptist Church 1033 Brittle St., Goodview, (540) 890-2076

Chamblissburg Baptist Church 9226 Stewartsville Rd., Moneta, (540) 890-2105

Franklin Memorial Baptist Church 3980 Truman Hill Rd., Hardy, (540) 721-3991

Glade Hill Baptist Church 6608 Colonial Tpk., Glade Hill, (540) 576-2580

Halesford Baptist Church 2485 Lost Mountain Rd., Wirtz, (540) 721-8640

Quaker Baptist Church 4665 Chestnut Fork Rd., Bedford, (540) 297-4454

Rocky Mount Baptist Church 85 W Church St., Rocky Mount, (540) 483-2641

Sandy Level Baptist Church 10817 W. Gretna Rd., Sandy Level, (434) 927-5459

Sandy Ridge Baptist Church 231 Bonbrook Mill Rd., Rocky Mount, (540) 483-2356

Vitalize Church 84 Westlake Rd., Hardy, (540) 580-8760

White Rock Baptist Church 8730 Edwardsville Rd., Hardy, (540) 890-1236

BAPTIST-INDEPENDENT

Goodview Baptist Church 1057 Grace Ct., Goodview, (540) 890-4822

BAPTIST-MISSIONARY

Franklin Grove Missionary Baptist Church 3727 Hatchett Rd., Penhook, (540) 576-1258

BAPTIST-SOUTHERN

Palestine Baptist Church 9244 SML Pkwy., Huddleston, (540) 297-4442

Radford Baptist Church 1293 Radford Church Rd., Moneta, (540) 297-5214

Staunton Baptist Church 15267 SML Pkwy., Huddleston, (540) 297-6753

Westlake Baptist Church 2075 Scruggs Rd., Moneta, (540) 721-8784

BRETHEREN

Boones Chapel Church of the Bretheren 2228 Circle Creek Rd., Penhook, (540) 576-1129

Smith Mountain Lake Community Church 6675 Burnt Chimney Rd., Wirtz, (540) 721-1816

CATHOLIC

St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church 15 Glenwood Dr., Rocky Mount, (540) 483-9591

Holy Name of Mary Catholic Church 1307 Oakwood St., Bedford, (540) 586-8988

Resurrection Catholic Church 15353 Moneta Rd., Moneta, (540) 297-5530

St. Andrew’s Catholic Church 631 N. Jefferson St., Roanoke, (540) 344-9814

CHRISTIAN

Greater Canaan Land Church 303 Canaan Land Dr., Gretna, (434) 656-3402

Christ Community Church 14900 Old Franklin Trnpk., Penhook, (540) 576-4242

First Church of Christ, Scientist/ Christian Science Church 2901 Rivermont Ave., Lynchburg, (434) 845-0526

Eastlake Community Church 1118 Hendricks Store Rd., Moneta, (540) 297-0966

Faith Fellowship 100 Wirtz Rd., Wirtz, (540) 334-3477

First Church of Christ, Scientist 1155 Overland Rd., Roanoke, (540) 343-4889

Goodview Church of God 1057 Grace Ct., Goodview, (540) 890-4822

Jehovah’s Witnesses of Bedford 1534 Link Rd., Bedford, (540) 586-2035

Kingdom Hall Jehovah’s Witness 5969 Booker T. Washington Hwy., Wirtz, (540) 721-1212

Mt. Ivy Christian Church 5120 Scruggs Rd., Moneta, (540) 721-5060

SML Seventh Day Adventist Church

10802 Moneta Rd., Moneta, (540) 296-2225

Trinity Ecumenical Parish (Episcopal, Presbyterian, Lutheran) 40 Lakemount Dr., Moneta, (540) 721-4330

West End Church of Christ 610 aden Dr., Gretna, (434) 656-1072

Wirtz Assemblies of God 1718 Burnt Chimney Rd., Wirtz, (540) 721-3099

EPISCOPAL

Trinity Episcopal Church 15 E Church St., Rocky Mount, (540) 483-5038

St. Johns Episcopal Church 314 N Bridge St., Bedford, (540) 586-9582

St. Thomas Episcopal Church 9575 Big sland Hwy., Bedford, (540) 586-4768

GREEKORTHODOX

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church 30 Huntington Blvd. NE, Roanoke, (540) 362-3601

St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church 1724 Langhorne Rd., Lynchburg, (434) 384-7585

METHODIST

Bethesda United Methodist Church 14340 Wyatts Way, Huddleston, (434) 944-8011

Bethlehem United Methodist Church 13586 S. Old Moneta Rd., Moneta, (540) 297-7957

Burnt Chimney United Methodist Church 6625 B.T. Washington Hwy., Wirtz, (540) 721-3392

Epworth United Methodist Church 60 Merriman Way Rd., Moneta, (540) 721-4926

Patmost United Methodist Church 1405 Patmos Church Rd., Huddleston, (434) 944-8011

Penhook United Methodist Church

29 Morgans Fork Rd., Penhook, (540) 576-1768

Redwood United Methodist Church

3001 Old Franklin Trnpk., Rocky Mount, (540) 483-9090

Rocky Mount United Methodist Church 35 N Main St., Rocky Mount, (540) 483-5338

Three Oaks Fellowship United Methodist Church 1026 Gravel Hill Rd., inton, (540) 890-8300

SYNAGOGUES

Agudath Shalom Synagogue 2055 Langhorne Rd., Lynchburg, (434) 846-0739

Beth Israel Synagogue 920 Franklin Rd., Roanoke, (540) 343-0289

Temple Beth Shalom 129 Sutherlin Ave., Danville, (434) 792-3489

Temple Emanuel 1163 Persinger Rd., SW, Roanoke, (540) 342-3378

OTHER

Lynchburg Korean Church 2409 Judith St., Lynchburg, (434) 847-2523

Shekijah Preparation Assembly 104 Fleetwood Dr., Lynchburg, (434) 237-7721

Sourced from Smith Mountain Lake Visitor’s Guide

HEALTHCARE

DIRECTORY

Healthcare information sourced from Smith Mountain Lake Visitor’s Guide.

BodyShoppeFitnessLLC+AllCore360

Carilion Wellness Westlake The Centre at VitaZen