This issue of the newsletter is being sponsored by Helen Umbarger Easton and is dedicated to the memory of her deceased classmates, Ella Harding Cox, Sam Martin Davis, Ruth Foglesong Hedrick, and Mabel Compton Lindy. The Ceres Alumni Association appreciates Helen’s support and thank her for sponsoring this newsletter.

If you or your company would like to sponsor a future newsletter, please contact any officer or mail your check for $165 to P.O. Box 32, Ceres, VA 24318. This covers postage, paper and mailing labels.

I hope everyone has had a great summer even with the HOT AND DRY weather and are ready for a wonderful Fall.

The Pig Roast in August was a great success for the Association but most of all a great activity for our community.

Special thanks to G.H.PEERY for the big barbecue and cooking the pork. Also special thanks to everyone who helped in the kitchen, serving line, the museum and preparation of the event.

G.H. has agreed to do it again for us on the 10^th of November so put it on the calendar and please ALL come out and help and enjoy another great community get together.

We have the Annual Homecoming coming up on OCTOBER 20^th and I look forward to seeing everyone and enjoying the fellowship and good food. DON’T FORGET TO SELL THOSE RAFFLE TICKETS. The tickets are a great way to raise funds for the Association.

Anne Britton has ordered some new items for sale in the museum and I am sure everyone will want to take them home.

We are making progress on the new gym floor funding. We have hired Aaron Sizemore from the Mt. Rogers Planning District office to get us through the paperwork requirements with State DOT. We are all looking forward to seeing some construction beginning in 2008. (More on this later in the newsletter.)

With the winter months coming on let’s all think of activities, other than basketball and walking, we can put together in the gym for the community (i.e. a card night, shuffle board night, exercise night, badminton night). I know you all have many great ideas so please forward them to the board members. Everyone works so hard to raise funds and keep up the building, it’s time for us all to enjoy the facility.

Hope to see you all at the exercise room. Stay SAFE and HEALTHY.

It could be said that a good time was had by all. The food was delicious. Many thanks go to G. H. Peery, III and his crew of many for the work outside cooking and preparing the meat, to Nelson Tibbs and Sue Repass for all their work in the kitchen preparing slaw and baked beans, and to the many others who made and served desserts and did all the other necessary tasks. Truegrass Band and Hollybrook Band provided music that was enjoyed by all. $1,205.46 was made which will be used toward utility bills. We appreciate everyone who came, who helped and who visited the Museum.

Registration forms must be returned by October 15, 2007

Welcome and Grace

Dinner (see menu below)

Recognition of visitors

Short business meeting

Memorial Recognition

Election of officers for 2008

Raffle Drawings

Door Prizes

Announcement of Election Results

Introduction of New Officers

Visit as long as you wish

The Museum and gift shop will be open Homecoming day from 11:00 – 12:45 and 3:00 – 5:00. The Museum Committee is actively working. Please stop in to see the improvements currently underway and the recently added exhibits.

Thanks to all those who have turned in your sold raffle tickets. As of now, about $1,600.00 has been turned in for tickets sold.

Raffle prizes are still being received. We already have:

Prizes were donated by:

A nice prize will go to the individual who sells the most tickets. We appreciate your help again this year. This is our largest fund raiser. $1,300.00 will be matched by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.

  Aaron Sizemore of the Mount Rogers Planning District is assisting the Association with the Federal/State required paperwork for the Federal Grant.

The first step is the selection of an engineer which takes about 1 ½ months. This was advertised on August 8^th and closed on August 31^st.

Once the engineer is selected they must go through a pre award audit – this takes about 1 – 2 months, depending on the firm. After this a contract can be signed and the engineer is officially hired and can begin work.

Once the engineering design phase is started, the environmental review can take place at the same time as the design.

Once the design phase and environmental review are complete, the project can go out to bid.

Frances Young Newberry

Harry Kimberlin

Henry T. Barger

MEMORY – Wayne Hubble

MEMORY – Arten Repass

By Kenneth R. & Helen Rose

MEMORY – Ella Harding Cox

Sam Martin Davis

Ruth Foglesong Hedrick

Mabel Compton Lindy

By Helen Umbarger Easton

Donation – Kenneth Haley

Donation – James and Betty Wilson

Donation – B. Clark Groseclose

Donation – Kathleen D. Hall

Donation – Ellen Wildgoose

Nov. 10, 2007 – start serving 4:00 PM

Band – Moonshine Mafia

January 19, 2008 – 2:00 PM

Feb. 15, 2008 – start serving 4:00 PM

Band to be announced

April 19, 2008 – 2:00 PM

May 3, 2008 – starting 8:00 AM

May 17, 2008 – start serving 4:00 PM

Band to be announced

July 19, 2008 – 1:00 PM

October 18, 2008

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3^rd Thursday – 7:00 PM

Everyone is welcome to attend.