Regardless of what mood you're in, the Community Arts Council has something for every type of personality, recently announcing its new acts for the 2006-07 season.
   "What we tried to do when scheduling the acts for this season was offer a real variety to appeal to lots of different people in the community," says council member Michelle Talbott.
    On September 19, the season kicks off with Solazo at the Appalachian School of Law -- a unique band with a blend of Latin folk, contemporary dance music and soulful ballads that appeal to all ages and cultures.
    The four-member group, coming from Chile, Argentina and Ecuador, uses the traditional styles of several Latin countries and mixes them together with its enchanting vocal harmonies to captivate audiences and leave them feeling inspired.
    Their newest CD, "Mindful Journeys," is an exciting compilation of original music inspired by the styles made popular in Spain, Cuba, Argentina, Chile, Brazil, and Ecuador. Layered with sensual Cuban rhythms and spiked with the unusual flavors of the panpipe, charango, and mandolin, the authentic and artful arrangements move fluidly from flamenco to mambo within the course of a single song.
   On October 12, the Grundy Community Center will welcome Music of Coal -- a compilation CD dedicated to mining in the Appalachian coalfields.

by Cathy St. Clair
News Editor
    Some 200 area residents turned out last Tuesday to participate in National Nigh Out activities at Poplar Gap Park.
    The event, held annually to focus on the importance of Neighborhood Watches in area communities throughout the nation, featured a mountain top cookout, various displays and demonstrations as well as bluegrass music by Short Circuit.
    Virginia Del. Dan Bowling and Grundy Mayor Roger Powers were among those in attendance.
    According to Vicky Jones, with the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department, the event held last week was the third annual in Buchanan County.
    “People there really seemed to have a great time,” Jones said.
    The sheriff’s department provided the meal for those in attendance and area Neighborhood Watch participants brought the desserts.
    “I think everything went fantastic,” said Sheriff Ray Foster. “A good time seemed to have been had by all and I think the people there really enjoyed it.”
    He said he was pleased with the demonstrations there for those attending, including a demonstration performed by 29^th Judicial Circuit Drug Task Force Members Raymond Webb and Billy Owens with the K-9 dogs.
    “The focus of the night was on crime prevention,” Foster said.
    A karate demonstration was also presented by Dean Owens and members of his karate class.

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    No action was taken Monday to name a new director for the Buchanan County Department of Social Services, although discussion of DSS personnel was identified as a topic for discussion at Monday’s meeting of the Buchanan County Board of Supervisors.
    Long-time DSS Director Harold McClanahan retired from the post effective July 1, 2006.
    The department has already received applications for the new post and interviews have already been conducted from among a state list of approved applicants.
    County Administrator W.J. Caudill, who also serves as the administrative board for the department of social services, said Tuesday he did not know when a decision on the director's post would be made.
     The board of supervisors has a continued meeting set for August 22 at 10 a.m.