The following statement is an exact quote from the sponsor of this newsletter.

"We, George and Josie Hubble Lambert, former students and graduate of Ceres High School wish to make this donation to cover the cost of this newsletter. We enjoy the newsletter and encourage other former students to sponsor one."

Thanks George and Josie! As a result of their sponsorship no Association funds are being used to print and mail this newsletter. If you or your company would like to sponsor the next Association newsletter, contact any officer or Board member.

August 16, 2005 was a red-letter day for Ceres. U. S. Representative "Rick" Boucher visited Ceres and announced the passage of Federal legislation granting the Ceres Alumni Association $120,000 to continue the restoration of the Peery and Groseclose buildings. (More on this later in this newsletter.)

We hope each of you will be with us for the 5^th Annual Ceres Homecoming activities. Appreciation is expressed to all who are working so hard to make this a weekend to remember and to the Ceres Ruritan Club for again allowing the play "Daffodils to Remember" to be presented in the school auditorium.

Appreciation is also expressed to all who have helped on our many work and fund raising projects,

We look forward to seeing you on October 14 for the play and October 15 for the Homecoming. Don’t miss it!

It is the understanding of the Association that this funding will be over a five-year period, will require a 20% match and that funding will not be available until the new Federal fiscal year starting in October. The Alumni Association and citizens of Ceres would like to thank Congressman Boucher, his office staff and all those members of the House and Senate who voted to include Ceres in this appropriation.

Registration forms must be returned by October 7, 2005

Friday, October 14, 2005

As many of you requested, the play "Daffodils to Remember" will again be presented at 7:00 PM on October 14, 2005. The play is a reenactment of the massacre of the Sluss Family that took place in Ceres in the late 1700’s. Mindi and Brian Bowers have indicated that other attractions and scenes are being added this year. This is a MUST SEE!

A reception for the cast and audience, sponsored by the Alumni Association, will follow.

Saturday, October 15, 2005

Welcome and Grace

Dinner (see menu below)

Short business meeting

Election of officers for 2006

Raffle Drawings

Door Prizes

Announcement of Election Results

Introduction of New Officers

Visit as long as you wish

Dinner Menu

(Catered by Loretta Worrell of Galax)

Baked Chicken with Mushroom Sauce

Roast Beef with Brown Gravy

Roasted Pork Tenderloin

Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans and

Pineapple Casserole

Toss Salad with choice of

Ranch, Thousand Island or Fat Free Dressing

Homemade Rolls

Desserts (Assortment)

Tea, Lemonade, and Coffee

The Museum will be open during our Homecoming weekend. Please stop in to see the improvements currently underway. The Shop part will be renovated, thanks to your continued support. More improvements are planned.

At 7:00 PM the Ruritan Club will sponsor a Bluegrass Music Jam-Session in the auditorium. Food will be sold.

In answer to the many requests for a repeat showing of the play, "Daffodils to Remember" and also to show appreciation for the many contributions and generous support of friends and members of the Ceres Alumni Association, everyone is encouraged to attend the second showing of a play, "Daffodils to Remember," to be held at the Ceres Community Center on Friday evening, Oct. 14, at 7 p.m. The play will be a reenactment of the massacre of the Sluss Family. A reception for the cast and audience will be held immediately following the play.

We understand from the script writers and directors, Mindi and Brian Bowers, and the project coordinator, Joyce Keen, that this play will be longer and have added features.

This is a reenactment of the massacre of the Sluss Family which occurred at Sharon Springs in what was then Fincastle County (now Bland) near the present village of Ceres on Aug. 2, 1774. (There is controversy surrounding the actual date of the massacre. Some say it occurred in 1774; others state it happened in 1778; still others contend it could have happened as late as 1790.) Regardless of the year, it did occur and the graves of the victims are in the old cemetery located at Sharon Lutheran Church, where a historical marker has been erected.

According to the "History of Bland County (Virginia)," published by the Bland County Centennial Corporation in 1961. "the scene of the tragedy is marked and identified each spring by a field of pure white-scented daffodils which were planted by the tender and loving hands of Mrs. Christina Sluss." (Christina was the wife of Jared Sluss and the mother of the children.)

Again this year, thanks to Joyce Keen’s leadership, this play will become a reality. Joyce enlisted the help of the Bowers Family of Ceres. Mindi and Brian have written the script and have fashioned the costumes and props. The couple will be directing the production and will enlist the help of their four children, and local citizens to serve as actors in the play.

The Bowers family who moved to Bland County in 2001 has had vast experience in theatrical production and has participated in reenactments of pre-Revolutionary and Revolutionary War historical events.

Mindi has been interested in the theater since early childhood due to her mother’s job as a drama instructor at Lee College where her mother also taught Shakespeare. She indicated that she has been involved in all aspects of the theater from acting in school plays to participating in the Theater of Nations Festival in Baltimore, Md. Brian is an accomplished guitarist and singer and also makes banjos. The Bowers children have also been exposed to the theater and have acted in numerous productions at Wytheville Community College.

Rumor has it that this is an event that you will not want to miss. This year’s production promises to be bigger and better. The Ceres Alumni Association urges you to come for this special production.

Russell Lloyd Groseclose

Carroll Neel

Alma Rita Cassell Carter

The Handicap Accessible Ramp for the Henry C. Groseclose Museum is in place in memory of Andrew and Mary Hubble, parents of Anne Hubble Britton.

Thanks to those of you who have returned your raffle ticket sales. One member from Richmond again is giving a book of tickets with a check made payable to C.A.A. as a gift to special friends, business contacts and family.

Raffle drawings will be held at the Ceres Homecoming on October 15, 2005. Items will be shipped to out-of-town winners.

Raffle Prizes are:

Prizes were donated by:

Special matching grant sponsor of raffle – Thrivent Financial for Lutherans