The annual meeting begins at 11 a.m. It is free and open to the public. Old Bethel is on Old Bethel Lane, off Swift Shoals Road.

     MILLWOOD --The apple industry has been a big part of Clarke Countys history.

     On Sunday, author Howard Means will discuss the man who gets credit for spreading apple culture in America: Johnny Appleseed.

     The venue is The Bethel Memorial Inc., a historic church above the Shenandoah River in the countys southeast corner. The event, Bethels annual meeting, will begin at 11 a.m.

     In its lengthy past, the land the site of one of the oldest roads in the county has seen a Quaker meeting house and a Baptist congregation.

     The renovated structure is now held in trust for the people of the county and holds an annual meeting and traditional service in August and a special Christmas service in December each year.

     Ian Williams, president of the board of trustees, said the Rev. Anne Manson of Cunningham Chapel Parish will conduct Sundays service, with music by Amy Call and Steven Murray, with Loretta Johnston as organist.

     And the traditional covered-dish picnic will take place under the oak trees surrounding Bethel, "rain or shine," Williams said.

     Everyone should bring a lawn chair, he added.

     The speaker is a former magazine editor and newspaper columnist. Means is also the author or co-author of eight books, including "Colin Powell: A Biography," a novel, "CSA," and most recently, "The Avenger Takes His Place: Andrew Johnson and the 45 Days that Changed the Nation."

     He has also assisted with more than 20 other titles, ranging from the best-selling memoirs by George Tenet, Robert Baer, and Michael Deaver to business advice from mutual fund guru John C. Bogle.

     His upcoming book, "Right Fresh from Heaven John Chapman a.k.a. Johnny Appleseed: The Man, The Myth and The American Story," will be published by Simon & Schuster.

     Means and his wife Candy live in Millwood.

-- Contact Val Van Meter at
vvanmeter@winchesterstar.com