Weeds are the scourge of discouraged and frustrated gardeners everywhere. Yet what, precisely, is a weed?

“A weed is any plant growing in a place it is not wanted,” Horticulture Agent Melanie Barrow of the Virginia Cooperative Extension defined.

Here is a guide to weed control with information from Barrow’s recent free program, “How to Control Common Weeds of the Southside.”

In a season filled with the spirit of giving, Connie Schmidt, Jeanne Reynolds and Patricia Vaughan are sharing food and fellowship with the community.

The women, who attend New Vision Baptist Church on Fork Mountain Road between Oak Level and Sydnorsville, help with the church’s weekly free community dinners. The meals provide a hot supper to anyone who needs it.

For the first 15 or 20 years of our marriage, we took the children and traveled over the river and through the woods to Galax for Thanksgiving with our parents. When the kids were older and so involved in many activities, we moved the feast to Martinsville, and the grandparents came to us.

The deadline for any announcements for the Friday, Nov. 27 and Sunday, Nov. 29 editions of the Martinsville Bulletin's Accent section will be 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 23, due to the Thanksgiving holiday.

Forms are available from the Accent Department to announce engagements, weddings, births, anniversaries and birthday milestones in the Martinsville Bulletin. Normally, completed forms and photographs that are returned by noon Wednesday may qualify for publication the following Sunday. These announcements are published free of charge.

Announcement forms may be ordered and submitted by sending an e-mail to accentdepartment@yahoo.com.

For more information, call Trisha Vaughan of the Accent department at 638-8801, extension 242.