Monday, November 30, 2009

Jones to be Presented with Conservation Award

The Dan River Basin Association is pleased to announce that Dr. David Jones is the recipient of the "Taylor Turner Conservation Award" from the Fly Fishers of Virginia in Richmond

The award is presented annually to an individual or group that engages in activities that support the conservation of our fisheries and natural resources.

The award will be presented at the Fly Fishers annual banquet on the evening of January 23, 2010 at the Salisbury Country Club in Chesterfield.

According to Vice President of Conservation Jay Armstrong: "Dr. Jones will be presented the award for his work with Trout in the Classroom and the endeavor to bring this educational tool to the public school environment. It is a great example of how people can make a difference in the future of conservation of our natural resources. Programs of this type can provide the spark that gets children into the sciences and educates people that our natural resources are not infinite and require that we give something back."

Please join us in congratulating Dr.Jones for his outstanding support of our natural resources and his tremendous efforts for the students of Southern Virginia!!!
 
Article by: Brian Williams

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Gobble, Gobble, Strut!

Turkey day is coming and after you stuff yourself full of grandma's good cooking you're going to need to strut some of it off! Hit the trails and enjoy a nice fall day in Southern Virginia. There's plenty of opportunities for walking, bicycling, paddling and geocaching.

Fieldale Trail- 3521 S. River Road, Fieldale
Two and a half miles of trails follow along the Smith River passing sites of historic Native American culture and remnants of Fieldale and Kohler’s industrial past.

Jack Dalton Park- 3300 Kings Mountain Road, Collinsville
This 0.6 mile paved trail is lit for both day and night walking and biking.

Doe Run Park- 270 Dupont Road, Martinsville
One mile of wooded paths lead guests along hillsides covered in Rhododendron.

Uptown Spur Trail- Franklin Street to Pine Street, Martinsville
This 0.6 mile paved trail connects neighboring residential areas and businesses to Uptown Martinsville.

Wilson Park Trails-1600 E. Church Street Extension, Martinsville
A 0.8 mile wooded loop trail connects the park’s picnic area and playground to a  disc golf course.

Smith River Sports Complex- 625 Sportsplex Way, Axton
In addition to world class soccer fields, check out the walking trails, river access and amazing playground.

Richard P. Gravely, Jr. Nature Preserve- 2525 Eggleston Falls Road, Ridgeway
This interpretive park features two miles of wooded walking trails with a self-guided tour of natural and historic points of interest.

Spencer Penn Centre Trails- 30 George Taylor Road, Spencer
A 0.25 mile walking path provides fitness opportunities at this community center.

Smith River Greenway- 301 S. Kennedy Street, Eden, NC
A 1.7 mile wooded trail following the Smith River.

Share your adventures with us! Snap a photo of your friends and family enjoying the trails and send it to drba.va@danriver.org.

Looking for even more fun? Get out and volunteer! "Friends of the Fieldale Trail", a volunteer Adopt-a-Trail group, will be at the Fieldale Trail on Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon. Come join us as we work together to spruce up the trail for everyone to enjoy. Contact pwyatt1@embarqmail.com for more details.

Gobble, Gobble, Strut!

Turkey day is coming and after you stuff yourself full of grandma's good cooking you're going to need to strut some of it off! Hit the trails and enjoy a nice fall day in Southern Virginia. There's plenty of opportunities for walking, bicycling, paddling and geocaching.

Fieldale Trail- 3521 S. River Road, Fieldale
Two and a half miles of trails follow along the Smith River passing sites of historic Native American culture and remnants of Fieldale and Kohler’s industrial past.

Jack Dalton Park- 3300 Kings Mountain Road, Collinsville
This 0.6 mile paved trail is lit for both day and night walking and biking.

Doe Run Park- 270 Dupont Road, Martinsville
One mile of wooded paths lead guests along hillsides covered in Rhododendron.

Uptown Spur Trail- Franklin Street to Pine Street, Martinsville
This 0.6 mile paved trail connects neighboring residential areas and businesses to Uptown Martinsville.

Wilson Park Trails-1600 E. Church Street Extension, Martinsville
A 0.8 mile wooded loop trail connects the park’s picnic area and playground to a  disc golf course.

Smith River Sports Complex- 625 Sportsplex Way, Axton
In addition to world class soccer fields, check out the walking trails, river access and amazing playground.

Richard P. Gravely, Jr. Nature Preserve- 2525 Eggleston Falls Road, Ridgeway
This interpretive park features two miles of wooded walking trails with a self-guided tour of natural and historic points of interest.

Spencer Penn Centre Trails- 30 George Taylor Road, Spencer
A 0.25 mile walking path provides fitness opportunities at this community center.

Smith River Greenway- 301 S. Kennedy Street, Eden, NC
A 1.7 mile wooded trail following the Smith River.

Share your adventures with us! Snap a photo of your friends and family enjoying the trails and send it to drba.va@danriver.org.

Looking for even more fun? Get out and volunteer! "Friends of the Fieldale Trail", a volunteer Adopt-a-Trail group, will be at the Fieldale Trail on Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon. Come join us as we work together to spruce up the trail for everyone to enjoy. Contact pwyatt1@embarqmail.com for more details.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Nature Trail Ribbon Cutting

Would you like to enjoy the health benefits of an easy-paced walk in the cool crisp fall air while meeting new friends?

Martinsville Leisure Services will have a short ribbon cutting ceremony Tuesday, November 24, 7:15 a.m., for a new Nature Trail in J. Frank Wilson Park off of Church Street Extention.

The trail consists of 0.3 mile of natural surface trail with a 45 foot bridge crossing the creek in the bottom (south end) of the Park. The trail has 15 tree identification signs and two benches donated by Boy Scout Troop #63, headed up by Scout Masters - Ed Scaffidi, and Kenneth Draper.  Mayor Lawson and City Manager Mr. Monday will be on hand to cut the ribbon and officially open the Trail.

See you there!

Nature Trail Ribbon Cutting

Would you like to enjoy the health benefits of an easy-paced walk in the cool crisp fall air while meeting new friends?

Martinsville Leisure Services will have a short ribbon cutting ceremony Tuesday, November 24, 7:15 a.m., for a new Nature Trail in J. Frank Wilson Park off of Church Street Extention.

The trail consists of 0.3 mile of natural surface trail with a 45 foot bridge crossing the creek in the bottom (south end) of the Park. The trail has 15 tree identification signs and two benches donated by Boy Scout Troop #63, headed up by Scout Masters - Ed Scaffidi, and Kenneth Draper.  Mayor Lawson and City Manager Mr. Monday will be on hand to cut the ribbon and officially open the Trail.

See you there!

91% of Fundraising Goal Met!


A conceptual drawing of how the trusses and
walking trail will be placed in Fieldale Park.


The Holidays are just around the corner and so is the lighting of the Historic Fieldale Iron Bridge. After two of the trusses survived their original fate of being demolished, work is underway to prepare the 54-foot long trusses from the bridge so that they can once again be enjoyed by residents of and visitors to Fieldale. The Dan River Basin Association, with support from their Martinsville-Henry County River & Trails Group, the Fieldale Heritage Festival and Henry County Parks & Recreation, has been busily coordinating efforts so that the trusses can be placed on either side of a new section of the Fieldale Walking Trail that will pass through Fieldale Park. The installation of these trusses as trail art will allow visitors to walk "across" the bridge while learning about the history of the 71-year old structure and of the community of Fieldale.

The trusses are now being cleaned by Dishman Environmental of Danville. This firm has made a generous donation of time and labor to remove years of old paint from the structure at a reduced rate. As sections of the trusses are cleaned, Reliable Welding & Fabricators of Bassett steps in to modify the shortened trusses so that they will have a symmetrical shape, reminiscent of the bridge as it once was. This service is also being provided to the community at a reduced rate. According to C.D. Stapleton, president of Reliable, [we] “feel privileged to be part of the Fieldale Iron Bridge Preservation project. As a small company founded in Henry County 30 years ago, we understand the importance of community and proudly celebrate the heritage of our area. While our company focuses on the needs of local manufacturers and business organizations; this project is allowing us to contribute to our friends and neighbors by preserving a portion of an iconic landmark that served our area.” Throughout the process of cleaning and welding, nearly 30,000 pounds of metal are being moved and lifted with cranes, thanks to Hall’s Mechanical. Owner Corky Hall, a Fieldale native, is providing the service at a reduced cost.

Presently, work to prepare the trusses is taking place behind the gates of Northpoint Trading. The firm allowed the trusses to be stored at their site for the past several months, but soon passersby in Fieldale will see changes progress occurring out in public. Boxley Materials of Fieldale is set to begin pouring concrete footers on which the trusses will rest in Fieldale Park. Boxley is pouring and forming the concrete for no charge as a service to the community. Once the concrete is dry, Hall’s Mechanical will load the trusses onto a tractor trailer, generously provided by Craddock Logging Supply & Repair of Ridgeway, so that they may be transported to their new home and set on the concrete footers.

Many others have also contributed support to this project including Henry County, the Virginia Department of Transportation, DLB Construction, The Fieldale Community Center, Mr. Joey Arrington, Mr. Shane Pinkston and Mr. Rayford Smith. Thanks to the support of numerous individual donors, more than 90% of funds to complete the project have been raised through the sales of memorial plaques that will be placed along the trusses once they are painted. Plaques to honor or remember the people special to you are still available and they make a great holiday gift. Elva Adkins of Fieldale purchased a plaque to remember her late father H.O. “Hub” Adkins, who in the 1940’s drove across “the old bridge many times each day in his long truck.” She challenges others “to make a donation for each time you side swiped the old bridge” coming across it, as many have.

A dedication ceremony to celebrate the historic Fieldale Iron Bridge is being planned, and information regarding this event will be released in the near future. To purchase a plaque or for more information on the project, please contact Jennifer Doss at 276-634-2545 or drba.va@danriver.org.

91% of Fundraising Goal Met!


A conceptual drawing of how the trusses and
walking trail will be placed in Fieldale Park.


The Holidays are just around the corner and so is the lighting of the Historic Fieldale Iron Bridge. After two of the trusses survived their original fate of being demolished, work is underway to prepare the 54-foot long trusses from the bridge so that they can once again be enjoyed by residents of and visitors to Fieldale. The Dan River Basin Association, with support from their Martinsville-Henry County River & Trails Group, the Fieldale Heritage Festival and Henry County Parks & Recreation, has been busily coordinating efforts so that the trusses can be placed on either side of a new section of the Fieldale Walking Trail that will pass through Fieldale Park. The installation of these trusses as trail art will allow visitors to walk "across" the bridge while learning about the history of the 71-year old structure and of the community of Fieldale.

The trusses are now being cleaned by Dishman Environmental of Danville. This firm has made a generous donation of time and labor to remove years of old paint from the structure at a reduced rate. As sections of the trusses are cleaned, Reliable Welding & Fabricators of Bassett steps in to modify the shortened trusses so that they will have a symmetrical shape, reminiscent of the bridge as it once was. This service is also being provided to the community at a reduced rate. According to C.D. Stapleton, president of Reliable, [we] “feel privileged to be part of the Fieldale Iron Bridge Preservation project. As a small company founded in Henry County 30 years ago, we understand the importance of community and proudly celebrate the heritage of our area. While our company focuses on the needs of local manufacturers and business organizations; this project is allowing us to contribute to our friends and neighbors by preserving a portion of an iconic landmark that served our area.” Throughout the process of cleaning and welding, nearly 30,000 pounds of metal are being moved and lifted with cranes, thanks to Hall’s Mechanical. Owner Corky Hall, a Fieldale native, is providing the service at a reduced cost.

Presently, work to prepare the trusses is taking place behind the gates of Northpoint Trading. The firm allowed the trusses to be stored at their site for the past several months, but soon passersby in Fieldale will see changes progress occurring out in public. Boxley Materials of Fieldale is set to begin pouring concrete footers on which the trusses will rest in Fieldale Park. Boxley is pouring and forming the concrete for no charge as a service to the community. Once the concrete is dry, Hall’s Mechanical will load the trusses onto a tractor trailer, generously provided by Craddock Logging Supply & Repair of Ridgeway, so that they may be transported to their new home and set on the concrete footers.

Many others have also contributed support to this project including Henry County, the Virginia Department of Transportation, DLB Construction, The Fieldale Community Center, Mr. Joey Arrington, Mr. Shane Pinkston and Mr. Rayford Smith. Thanks to the support of numerous individual donors, more than 90% of funds to complete the project have been raised through the sales of memorial plaques that will be placed along the trusses once they are painted. Plaques to honor or remember the people special to you are still available and they make a great holiday gift. Elva Adkins of Fieldale purchased a plaque to remember her late father H.O. “Hub” Adkins, who in the 1940’s drove across “the old bridge many times each day in his long truck.” She challenges others “to make a donation for each time you side swiped the old bridge” coming across it, as many have.

A dedication ceremony to celebrate the historic Fieldale Iron Bridge is being planned, and information regarding this event will be released in the near future. To purchase a plaque or for more information on the project, please contact Jennifer Doss at 276-634-2545 or drba.va@danriver.org.

Free Online Water Sports Directory Now Available


WaterplayUSA.com has created an online directory that offers viewers the most complete, comprehensive listing of businesses that provide water sports & water-related activities throughout the USA. Access to WaterplayUSA.com’s online directory is free-of-charge.
The current list of water sports & water-related activities includes:
Kayaking                Wakeboarding
Kitebording             Windsurfing
Paddleboarding       Waterskiing
Surfing                    Kneeboarding
Parasailing              Whitewater Rafting
Tubing                    Scuba Diving & Snorkeling
Fly Fishing              Charters Boat Tours & Cruises  
Rentals

The Water Sports listings are categorized by City and State, in addition to the individual Activity.
This easy to use site accommodates both enthusiasts and tourists that enjoy water sports and water-related activities. It is designed for anyone planning to visit a body of water ( river, lake, or ocean ) for a day, a weekend, or an entire vacation. By providing this wealth of information, WaterplayUSA helps promote local businesses on a national level.

WaterplayUSA.com can help make your next adventure more exciting by finding your desired activity, where it is available, and who offers these services. Please visit our site and PLAN YOUR FUN !!!

For further information about WaterplayUSA.com, please contact:
Walt Smith, Co-Founder & Marketing Director – 910-256-2842 – walt@waterplayusa.com
http://www.waterplayusa.com/

Free Online Water Sports Directory Now Available


WaterplayUSA.com has created an online directory that offers viewers the most complete, comprehensive listing of businesses that provide water sports & water-related activities throughout the USA. Access to WaterplayUSA.com’s online directory is free-of-charge.
The current list of water sports & water-related activities includes:
Kayaking                Wakeboarding
Kitebording             Windsurfing
Paddleboarding       Waterskiing
Surfing                    Kneeboarding
Parasailing              Whitewater Rafting
Tubing                    Scuba Diving & Snorkeling
Fly Fishing              Charters Boat Tours & Cruises  
Rentals

The Water Sports listings are categorized by City and State, in addition to the individual Activity.
This easy to use site accommodates both enthusiasts and tourists that enjoy water sports and water-related activities. It is designed for anyone planning to visit a body of water ( river, lake, or ocean ) for a day, a weekend, or an entire vacation. By providing this wealth of information, WaterplayUSA helps promote local businesses on a national level.

WaterplayUSA.com can help make your next adventure more exciting by finding your desired activity, where it is available, and who offers these services. Please visit our site and PLAN YOUR FUN !!!

For further information about WaterplayUSA.com, please contact:
Walt Smith, Co-Founder & Marketing Director – 910-256-2842 – walt@waterplayusa.com
http://www.waterplayusa.com/

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Hike the Fiedale Trail with Friends

Or Canoe to Collect Mistletoe

DRBA will conclude the year's First Saturday Outings with a December 5 hike on the Fieldale Trail in Fieldale, VA, led by members of Friends of the Fieldale Trail. Beginning at 10:00 a.m. at the Fieldale Park, the out-and-back hike can total 6 miles, but hikers may choose to walk shorter distances. The entire trail is flat and easy to walk.
Boaters may wish instead to join other paddle clubs in the 27th annual Sprig Outing to collect holiday greenery in the swamp of the Upper Little River near Lillington, NC. Details are at http://www.danriver.org/ .

Described by its Friends as "a golden opportunity to see Mother Nature up close and personal right in our own backyard," the Fieldale Trail hugs the bank of the Smith River. The graveled upper section winds through woods and open fields to the trailhead at the Fieldale Canoe Access, where a restroom is available. From there, the natural-surface lower section enters the riverside forest and skirts rhododendron bluffs alongside the river to its downstream terminus. Towering sycamore trees shelter the trail, and gravel bars and rock formations in the streambed give voice to the river.

Envisioned at a 2005 planning retreat of DRBA's affiliate, the Rivers & Trails Group, the Fieldale Trail is the ongoing project of DRBA and many partners. A special feature of the trail is a 54-foot section salvaged from the landmark 1931 Fieldale Iron Bridge and being installed as trail art, thanks to dozens of donors and generous corporate gifts of time and materials. Paula Wyatt, trip coordinator, and Jennifer Doss, DRBA's Rivers & Trails Project Manager, will bring hikers up to date on plans for the bridge section and future plans for the trail.

Please meet at 10:00 a.m. at Fieldale Park, 188 Field Avenue, at the intersection of Field Avenue and South River Road (GPS coordinates: North 36.42, 076 West 56.021, 079). Bring lunch and water, wear comfortable shoes or hiking boots, dress in layers of water-shedding artificial fabric or wool, and be prepared for rain or wind. All participants will be asked to sign a waiver form.

Directions: From US 220 take the VA 609 exit towards Fieldale. Turn right at Dillon's Fork Road, continue on Virginia Avenue, continue on Patrick Avenue, turn right at Field Avenue. Turn right at South River Road, and immediately turn right into the parking lot of the Fieldale Park.

More information: Paula Wyatt, 276-647-3274 or pwyatt1@embarqmail.com.

Hike the Fiedale Trail with Friends

Or Canoe to Collect Mistletoe

DRBA will conclude the year's First Saturday Outings with a December 5 hike on the Fieldale Trail in Fieldale, VA, led by members of Friends of the Fieldale Trail. Beginning at 10:00 a.m. at the Fieldale Park, the out-and-back hike can total 6 miles, but hikers may choose to walk shorter distances. The entire trail is flat and easy to walk.
Boaters may wish instead to join other paddle clubs in the 27th annual Sprig Outing to collect holiday greenery in the swamp of the Upper Little River near Lillington, NC. Details are at http://www.danriver.org/ .

Described by its Friends as "a golden opportunity to see Mother Nature up close and personal right in our own backyard," the Fieldale Trail hugs the bank of the Smith River. The graveled upper section winds through woods and open fields to the trailhead at the Fieldale Canoe Access, where a restroom is available. From there, the natural-surface lower section enters the riverside forest and skirts rhododendron bluffs alongside the river to its downstream terminus. Towering sycamore trees shelter the trail, and gravel bars and rock formations in the streambed give voice to the river.

Envisioned at a 2005 planning retreat of DRBA's affiliate, the Rivers & Trails Group, the Fieldale Trail is the ongoing project of DRBA and many partners. A special feature of the trail is a 54-foot section salvaged from the landmark 1931 Fieldale Iron Bridge and being installed as trail art, thanks to dozens of donors and generous corporate gifts of time and materials. Paula Wyatt, trip coordinator, and Jennifer Doss, DRBA's Rivers & Trails Project Manager, will bring hikers up to date on plans for the bridge section and future plans for the trail.

Please meet at 10:00 a.m. at Fieldale Park, 188 Field Avenue, at the intersection of Field Avenue and South River Road (GPS coordinates: North 36.42, 076 West 56.021, 079). Bring lunch and water, wear comfortable shoes or hiking boots, dress in layers of water-shedding artificial fabric or wool, and be prepared for rain or wind. All participants will be asked to sign a waiver form.

Directions: From US 220 take the VA 609 exit towards Fieldale. Turn right at Dillon's Fork Road, continue on Virginia Avenue, continue on Patrick Avenue, turn right at Field Avenue. Turn right at South River Road, and immediately turn right into the parking lot of the Fieldale Park.

More information: Paula Wyatt, 276-647-3274 or pwyatt1@embarqmail.com.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Film Festival Replay Held at Philpott Lake



Several audience members pose for a photo
overlooking Philpott Dam after the show.


Saturday was a beautiful day and more than a dozen people gathered at the Philpott Lake Visitor's Center to see a second showing of the Smith River Film Festival. This series of short films was originally played at the Rives Theater in Uptown Martinsville during Labor Day Weekend.  Watching the films enticed several audience members to learn to paddle and showed others the rich beauty found within the Smith River Valley. Everyone agreed that the films were great and the scenic view of Philpott Lake was well worth the drive!

The Second Annual Smith River Film Festival will be held on September 3rd, 2010. Mark your calendars and start filming your outdoor adventures today. Your short film just might be the next winner! 

Film Festival Replay Held at Philpott Lake



Several audience members pose for a photo
overlooking Philpott Dam after the show.


Saturday was a beautiful day and more than a dozen people gathered at the Philpott Lake Visitor's Center to see a second showing of the Smith River Film Festival. This series of short films was originally played at the Rives Theater in Uptown Martinsville during Labor Day Weekend.  Watching the films enticed several audience members to learn to paddle and showed others the rich beauty found within the Smith River Valley. Everyone agreed that the films were great and the scenic view of Philpott Lake was well worth the drive!

The Second Annual Smith River Film Festival will be held on September 3rd, 2010. Mark your calendars and start filming your outdoor adventures today. Your short film just might be the next winner! 

The Perfect Holiday Gift Idea

The holidays are just around the corner and if you are searching for the perfect gift, consider giving the person you love a plaque to be placed on the Historic Fieldale Iron Bridge. Plaques start at just $100 each, and will be prominately displayed along the trusses in Fieldale Park. The donation is tax-deductible and your gift will help protect a piece of local history.  To learn more about purchasing a plaque, contact jdoss@danriver.org.  As of today we are at 87% of our fundraising goal; only $1,500 is needed to complete the project.

Purchase a plaque for someone special in your life like these individuals did...

In Honor of
Noel & Dovie Adams
by Barbara Purcell

In Honor of
Fieldale Baptist Church, Est. 1919
by the congregation

In Honor of my Mommy and Daddy
"We fished the Smith River in 2009."
by Jeremiah Keith Bullard


In Loving Memory of Jean Clarke Fuller
Fieldale High School Teacher & Friend
by Elva Adkins Adams

“Mrs. Fuller taught for many years at Fieldale High School.
She had no children of her own and I think we were her adopted
family. She coached the girls basketball team with great enthusiasm.
She was a great friend and she also knew how to pose for a great picture!”

The Perfect Holiday Gift Idea

The holidays are just around the corner and if you are searching for the perfect gift, consider giving the person you love a plaque to be placed on the Historic Fieldale Iron Bridge. Plaques start at just $100 each, and will be prominately displayed along the trusses in Fieldale Park. The donation is tax-deductible and your gift will help protect a piece of local history.  To learn more about purchasing a plaque, contact jdoss@danriver.org.  As of today we are at 87% of our fundraising goal; only $1,500 is needed to complete the project.

Purchase a plaque for someone special in your life like these individuals did...

In Honor of
Noel & Dovie Adams
by Barbara Purcell

In Honor of
Fieldale Baptist Church, Est. 1919
by the congregation

In Honor of my Mommy and Daddy
"We fished the Smith River in 2009."
by Jeremiah Keith Bullard


In Loving Memory of Jean Clarke Fuller
Fieldale High School Teacher & Friend
by Elva Adkins Adams

“Mrs. Fuller taught for many years at Fieldale High School.
She had no children of her own and I think we were her adopted
family. She coached the girls basketball team with great enthusiasm.
She was a great friend and she also knew how to pose for a great picture!”

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Free Film Showing

Did you miss it? The Smith River Film Fest is coming back for an encore showing! Come experience the thrills, spills, and splashes all over again. The films will be shown on a slightly smaller screen this time at the Philpott Lake Visitor's Center in Bassett, VA. Admission is free, but donations to benefit river access on the Smith, Mayo, and Dan Rivers are appreciated.


Saturday, November 14th at 2 p.m.
Philpott Lake Visitor's Center
Bassett, VA

Come see the winning film: Linda Drage's "A Safety Short: Learning to Kayak", the best Wipeouts from "Troop 168 on the River", cuddly creatures living by the river and of course the crowd favorite: "River Do's & Don'ts with Jennifer & Paddler Bob!"

Don't forget while you are out and about, to stop and enjoy the breathtaking scenic beauty that Philpott Lake has to offer!

Free Film Showing

Did you miss it? The Smith River Film Fest is coming back for an encore showing! Come experience the thrills, spills, and splashes all over again. The films will be shown on a slightly smaller screen this time at the Philpott Lake Visitor's Center in Bassett, VA. Admission is free, but donations to benefit river access on the Smith, Mayo, and Dan Rivers are appreciated.


Saturday, November 14th at 2 p.m.
Philpott Lake Visitor's Center
Bassett, VA

Come see the winning film: Linda Drage's "A Safety Short: Learning to Kayak", the best Wipeouts from "Troop 168 on the River", cuddly creatures living by the river and of course the crowd favorite: "River Do's & Don'ts with Jennifer & Paddler Bob!"

Don't forget while you are out and about, to stop and enjoy the breathtaking scenic beauty that Philpott Lake has to offer!

Coming Soon...



Several weeks ago, a group of curious walkers, several pooches and a cyclist joined the Dan River Basin Association and Henry County Parks & Recreation for a guided trip along the forthcoming Dick & Willie Passage Rail Trail.  It was a perfect fall afternoon for a walk. Benny Summerlin, Henry County Administrator, began the walk by explaning about the trail's path and timeline for work. The trail is expected to open in Spring 2010.
The group set off on the three mile walk enjoying the beautiful foliage, crisp fall air and each other's company.  Along the way they saw the four trailhead loactions where the public will soon access the trail from and locations for potential trailside business opportunities.
It was a wonderful day for a walk and we all look forward to walking the completed trail this coming spring once it is open.

Coming Soon...



Several weeks ago, a group of curious walkers, several pooches and a cyclist joined the Dan River Basin Association and Henry County Parks & Recreation for a guided trip along the forthcoming Dick & Willie Passage Rail Trail.  It was a perfect fall afternoon for a walk. Benny Summerlin, Henry County Administrator, began the walk by explaning about the trail's path and timeline for work. The trail is expected to open in Spring 2010.
The group set off on the three mile walk enjoying the beautiful foliage, crisp fall air and each other's company.  Along the way they saw the four trailhead loactions where the public will soon access the trail from and locations for potential trailside business opportunities.
It was a wonderful day for a walk and we all look forward to walking the completed trail this coming spring once it is open.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

December First Saturday Outing


Dan River Basin Association to Hike Fieldale Trail December 5
Alternatively, Traditional Sprig Outing in NC

The First Saturday Outing of the Dan River Basin Association (DRBA) on December 5, 2009 will be a hike on the Fieldale Trail beside the Smith River in Fieldale, Virginia. Participants will meet at 10:00 a.m. at the Fieldale Park near the site of the old Fieldale Iron Bridge for an out-and-back stroll led by Friends of the Fieldale Trail volunteers.

Alternatively, boaters may join other paddle clubs in the 27th Annual Sprig Outing in the swamp of the Upper Little River near Lillington, NC to collect holiday greenery. Details are at http://www.danriver.org/.

Fieldale Trail hikers may choose to walk a distance of one to six miles, since two sections comprise the trail—a 1.5-mile Upper Fieldale Trail from Fieldale Park to the original trailhead, and a 1.5-mile Lower Fieldale Trail downstream from the trailhead. Both segments are flat and easy to walk. Walking the entire distance out and back gives a total of 6 miles.

The Fieldale Trail offers "a golden opportunity to see Mother Nature up close and personal right in our own backyard," according to Adopt-a-Trail volunteers Charles and Pat Dameron. Tommy Wyatt, a leader of DRBA’s Friends of the Fieldale Trail, adds, “The trail is a great place to meet people from the community. Families, children, elderly people, bicyclists, and even people training for marathons use the trail as part of their daily activities.”

Hugging the bank of the Smith River, the graveled trail of the Upper Fieldale Trail winds through woods and open fields frequented by a variety of birds to the trailhead at the Fieldale Canoe Access, where a restroom is available. From there, the natural-surface Lower Fieldale Trail trail enters the riverside forest and skirts rhododendron bluffs alongside the river to its downstream terminus. Towering sycamore trees shelter the trail, and gravel bars and rock formations in the streambed give voice to the river.

Envisioned at a 2005 planning session of DRBA’s affiliate, the Martinsville-Henry County Rivers and Trails Group, the Fieldale Trial is part of the proposed 45-mile Smith River Trail System from Philpott Dam to the river’s confluence with the Dan River at Eden, NC, as well as the Beaches to Bluegrass Trail across Southern Virginia.

One mile of the Upper Fieldale Trail opened in July, 2007 and the Lower Fieldale Trail was dedicated in March, 2009. Constructed with support from Dominion Foundation, the Virginia Department of Forestry, Henry County, and numerous corporate and private in-kind donations, the trail is operated by Henry County Parks & Recreation. Plans for an extension of the Upper Fieldale Trail are underway.

When Jennifer Doss, DRBA’s Rivers & Trails Project Manager, learned about the imminent replacement of the landmark 1931 Fieldale Iron Bridge, she worked with the Fieldale Heritage Festival to save 54 feet of the old structure that will be used as trail art on either side of the Fieldale Trail, “so that trail users will once again walk ‘across’ the Iron Bridge.” Doss adds, “Thanks to the support of local businesses and community partners, many hands working together have helped to preserve the Historic Iron Bridge.” Dozens of donors and generous corporate gifts of time and materials have brought the project near its fundraising goal. More information is at http://www.danriver.org/.

Participants in the hike should meet at 10:00 a.m. at Fieldale Park, 188 Field Avenue, at the intersection of Field Avenue and South River Road (GPS coordinates: North 36.42, 076 West 56.021, 079). Bring lunch and water, wear comfortable shoes or hiking boots, dress in layers of water-shedding artificial fabric or wool, and be prepared for rain or wind. All participants will be asked to sign a waiver form.

Directions: From US 220 take the VA 609 exit towards Fieldale. Turn right at Dillon’s Fork Road, continue on Virginia Avenue, continue on Patrick Avenue, turn right at Field Avenue. Turn right at South River Road, and immediately turn right into the parking lot of the Fieldale Park.

Outings and meetings of the Dan River Basin Association are open to the public without charge.
For more information, contact Trip Coordinator Paula Wyatt at 276-647-3274 or pwyatt1@embarqmail.com.

For membership information, visit http://www.danriver.org/.
Article contributed by T Butler

December First Saturday Outing


Dan River Basin Association to Hike Fieldale Trail December 5
Alternatively, Traditional Sprig Outing in NC

The First Saturday Outing of the Dan River Basin Association (DRBA) on December 5, 2009 will be a hike on the Fieldale Trail beside the Smith River in Fieldale, Virginia. Participants will meet at 10:00 a.m. at the Fieldale Park near the site of the old Fieldale Iron Bridge for an out-and-back stroll led by Friends of the Fieldale Trail volunteers.

Alternatively, boaters may join other paddle clubs in the 27th Annual Sprig Outing in the swamp of the Upper Little River near Lillington, NC to collect holiday greenery. Details are at http://www.danriver.org/.

Fieldale Trail hikers may choose to walk a distance of one to six miles, since two sections comprise the trail—a 1.5-mile Upper Fieldale Trail from Fieldale Park to the original trailhead, and a 1.5-mile Lower Fieldale Trail downstream from the trailhead. Both segments are flat and easy to walk. Walking the entire distance out and back gives a total of 6 miles.

The Fieldale Trail offers "a golden opportunity to see Mother Nature up close and personal right in our own backyard," according to Adopt-a-Trail volunteers Charles and Pat Dameron. Tommy Wyatt, a leader of DRBA’s Friends of the Fieldale Trail, adds, “The trail is a great place to meet people from the community. Families, children, elderly people, bicyclists, and even people training for marathons use the trail as part of their daily activities.”

Hugging the bank of the Smith River, the graveled trail of the Upper Fieldale Trail winds through woods and open fields frequented by a variety of birds to the trailhead at the Fieldale Canoe Access, where a restroom is available. From there, the natural-surface Lower Fieldale Trail trail enters the riverside forest and skirts rhododendron bluffs alongside the river to its downstream terminus. Towering sycamore trees shelter the trail, and gravel bars and rock formations in the streambed give voice to the river.

Envisioned at a 2005 planning session of DRBA’s affiliate, the Martinsville-Henry County Rivers and Trails Group, the Fieldale Trial is part of the proposed 45-mile Smith River Trail System from Philpott Dam to the river’s confluence with the Dan River at Eden, NC, as well as the Beaches to Bluegrass Trail across Southern Virginia.

One mile of the Upper Fieldale Trail opened in July, 2007 and the Lower Fieldale Trail was dedicated in March, 2009. Constructed with support from Dominion Foundation, the Virginia Department of Forestry, Henry County, and numerous corporate and private in-kind donations, the trail is operated by Henry County Parks & Recreation. Plans for an extension of the Upper Fieldale Trail are underway.

When Jennifer Doss, DRBA’s Rivers & Trails Project Manager, learned about the imminent replacement of the landmark 1931 Fieldale Iron Bridge, she worked with the Fieldale Heritage Festival to save 54 feet of the old structure that will be used as trail art on either side of the Fieldale Trail, “so that trail users will once again walk ‘across’ the Iron Bridge.” Doss adds, “Thanks to the support of local businesses and community partners, many hands working together have helped to preserve the Historic Iron Bridge.” Dozens of donors and generous corporate gifts of time and materials have brought the project near its fundraising goal. More information is at http://www.danriver.org/.

Participants in the hike should meet at 10:00 a.m. at Fieldale Park, 188 Field Avenue, at the intersection of Field Avenue and South River Road (GPS coordinates: North 36.42, 076 West 56.021, 079). Bring lunch and water, wear comfortable shoes or hiking boots, dress in layers of water-shedding artificial fabric or wool, and be prepared for rain or wind. All participants will be asked to sign a waiver form.

Directions: From US 220 take the VA 609 exit towards Fieldale. Turn right at Dillon’s Fork Road, continue on Virginia Avenue, continue on Patrick Avenue, turn right at Field Avenue. Turn right at South River Road, and immediately turn right into the parking lot of the Fieldale Park.

Outings and meetings of the Dan River Basin Association are open to the public without charge.
For more information, contact Trip Coordinator Paula Wyatt at 276-647-3274 or pwyatt1@embarqmail.com.

For membership information, visit http://www.danriver.org/.
Article contributed by T Butler

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Have you Supported the Fieldale Iron Bridge Yet?

There are only three more weeks left to purchase a plaque for the Fieldale Iron Bridge. Buying a plaque is the perfect way to honor or remember someone you care for or to promote your business. We are presently at 84% of our fundraising goal and only need $2,000 more to complete this project to preserve a local icon.


The metal plaques are approximately 3.5 by 5.5 inches in size and can contain upto three lines of text. They will be placed along beams on the trusses of the Historic Fieldale Iron Bridge once it is installed along the trail in Fieldale Park. The trusses will stand 12 feet high and 54 feet long. (Note: illustration not shown to scale)
Plaques are $100 each and the donation is tax-deductible. You can also purchase keepsake pieces of the 71 year old bridge along with a plaque for $250. A perfect holiday gift idea for the history buff on your list!


Thanks to a generous donation from Boxley Materials, the concrete footers to support the trusses will be poured during the last week of November. After a few days of curing the trusses will be securely mounted, painted and then the plaques will be attached.


You can also read the other plaques that have been contributed by visiting: http://www.danriver.org/Recreation/PDFs/FieldaleIronBridgeDonorList.pdf

Have you Supported the Fieldale Iron Bridge Yet?

There are only three more weeks left to purchase a plaque for the Fieldale Iron Bridge. Buying a plaque is the perfect way to honor or remember someone you care for or to promote your business. We are presently at 84% of our fundraising goal and only need $2,000 more to complete this project to preserve a local icon.


The metal plaques are approximately 3.5 by 5.5 inches in size and can contain upto three lines of text. They will be placed along beams on the trusses of the Historic Fieldale Iron Bridge once it is installed along the trail in Fieldale Park. The trusses will stand 12 feet high and 54 feet long. (Note: illustration not shown to scale)
Plaques are $100 each and the donation is tax-deductible. You can also purchase keepsake pieces of the 71 year old bridge along with a plaque for $250. A perfect holiday gift idea for the history buff on your list!


Thanks to a generous donation from Boxley Materials, the concrete footers to support the trusses will be poured during the last week of November. After a few days of curing the trusses will be securely mounted, painted and then the plaques will be attached.


You can also read the other plaques that have been contributed by visiting: http://www.danriver.org/Recreation/PDFs/FieldaleIronBridgeDonorList.pdf

Take a Fall Stroll Uptown

Fall is the perfect time to take a walk. The cool crisp air and colorful leaves against a bluebird sky make this time of year seem magical! This week a cheerful group of walkers came out to participate in the November Tuesday Morning Stroll, held at the Uptown Spur Trail.

The paved trail is located at the corner of Depot and Franklin Streets behind the historic Courthouse in Uptown Martinsville, Virginia. It is 0.6 mile long and will connect to the 4.5 mile long Dick & Willie Passage Rail Trail in Spring 2010.

While on the Tuesday Morning Stroll, participants learned about the history of "Black Friday", the kick off of holiday shopping that will be held on November 27th this year. The group learned several interesting facts about the holiday and Bill Mitchell of Martinsville won this month's trivia challenge. Do YOU know where the term "Black Friday" originated? The term was coined in Philladelphia in the 1960's in reference to heavy traffic and smog on that day as a result of so many shoppers seeking door buster deals and holidays sales. Because of his great guess, Bill won an official Dick & Willie Passage T-shirt!

The Uptown Spur Trail paired with the addition of the Dick & Willie Passage can help avoid that problem of vehicular pollution by making every day a "Green" day. The trail will allow families and individuals from Fieldale, Collinsville, and Axton to walk or bike into Uptown Martinsvile to dine, shop, catch a movie at the Rives Theater or visit the museums available there without having to crank the car! Best of all walking and biking makes for a very relaxing commute where you can enjoy beautiful scenry along the way.


After completing the Uptown Spur Trail the group took a trip up into the heart of Uptown, Church Street to sample the Martinsville Historic Walking Tour. Brochures for this self-guided tour can be picked up at the Martinsville Uptown Revitalization Association (MURA) or at the Artisan's Center. Together we learned about the 22 room mansion that once stood in town near the historic Carriage House, the many department stores that dotted the streets of town such as Globmans, saw the location of the very first telephone in Martinsville and saw points of interest that are not usually noticed while driving in a car. Do YOU know where the Uptown Gargoyles are? Take a walk and look for them!

No trip to Martinsville can be complete with out a photo op in front of The Big Chair! The group took a moment to pose for a picture in front of the world's largest wooden chair that celebrates our rich furniture heritage before continuing the walk. This attraction is located on Church Street accross from the new Uptown Furniture Market, a one-stop shop for upscale furniture pieces, perfect for any home or apartment.

According to Regenia Manns,  everyone "enjoyed the walk in Uptown Martinsville; the information about the buildings and businesses was very interesting." She went on to say that "some of us remembered the starting places of some of the stores and we all look forward to seeing new stores and restaurants opening in uptown Martinsville."

Tuesday Morning Strolls is a program sponsored by the Dan River Basin Association, Activate Martinsville-Henry County, Henry County Parks & Recreation and the Martinsville YMCA. Participants are invited to free public walks throughout the year where they can learn about points of interest found around our community. Participants are given a frequent walker card that is punched each time they participate and registers them for prizes. The next walk will be held at 9 a.m. on December 1st at Liberty Fair Mall. Meet inside the mall at the former Goody's entrance. For more information, contact Jennifer Doss at 276-634-2545 or jdoss@danriver.org.

Take a Fall Stroll Uptown

Fall is the perfect time to take a walk. The cool crisp air and colorful leaves against a bluebird sky make this time of year seem magical! This week a cheerful group of walkers came out to participate in the November Tuesday Morning Stroll, held at the Uptown Spur Trail.

The paved trail is located at the corner of Depot and Franklin Streets behind the historic Courthouse in Uptown Martinsville, Virginia. It is 0.6 mile long and will connect to the 4.5 mile long Dick & Willie Passage Rail Trail in Spring 2010.

While on the Tuesday Morning Stroll, participants learned about the history of "Black Friday", the kick off of holiday shopping that will be held on November 27th this year. The group learned several interesting facts about the holiday and Bill Mitchell of Martinsville won this month's trivia challenge. Do YOU know where the term "Black Friday" originated? The term was coined in Philladelphia in the 1960's in reference to heavy traffic and smog on that day as a result of so many shoppers seeking door buster deals and holidays sales. Because of his great guess, Bill won an official Dick & Willie Passage T-shirt!

The Uptown Spur Trail paired with the addition of the Dick & Willie Passage can help avoid that problem of vehicular pollution by making every day a "Green" day. The trail will allow families and individuals from Fieldale, Collinsville, and Axton to walk or bike into Uptown Martinsvile to dine, shop, catch a movie at the Rives Theater or visit the museums available there without having to crank the car! Best of all walking and biking makes for a very relaxing commute where you can enjoy beautiful scenry along the way.


After completing the Uptown Spur Trail the group took a trip up into the heart of Uptown, Church Street to sample the Martinsville Historic Walking Tour. Brochures for this self-guided tour can be picked up at the Martinsville Uptown Revitalization Association (MURA) or at the Artisan's Center. Together we learned about the 22 room mansion that once stood in town near the historic Carriage House, the many department stores that dotted the streets of town such as Globmans, saw the location of the very first telephone in Martinsville and saw points of interest that are not usually noticed while driving in a car. Do YOU know where the Uptown Gargoyles are? Take a walk and look for them!

No trip to Martinsville can be complete with out a photo op in front of The Big Chair! The group took a moment to pose for a picture in front of the world's largest wooden chair that celebrates our rich furniture heritage before continuing the walk. This attraction is located on Church Street accross from the new Uptown Furniture Market, a one-stop shop for upscale furniture pieces, perfect for any home or apartment.

According to Regenia Manns,  everyone "enjoyed the walk in Uptown Martinsville; the information about the buildings and businesses was very interesting." She went on to say that "some of us remembered the starting places of some of the stores and we all look forward to seeing new stores and restaurants opening in uptown Martinsville."

Tuesday Morning Strolls is a program sponsored by the Dan River Basin Association, Activate Martinsville-Henry County, Henry County Parks & Recreation and the Martinsville YMCA. Participants are invited to free public walks throughout the year where they can learn about points of interest found around our community. Participants are given a frequent walker card that is punched each time they participate and registers them for prizes. The next walk will be held at 9 a.m. on December 1st at Liberty Fair Mall. Meet inside the mall at the former Goody's entrance. For more information, contact Jennifer Doss at 276-634-2545 or jdoss@danriver.org.

Monday, November 2, 2009

Philpott Trails Meeting

When: Monday, November 9, 2009

Time: 6:00 pm

Where: Philpott Vistor Center
1058 Philpott Dam Road
Bassett, VA 24055

RSVP to Mary Lawson (276) 629-4512 ext.227
mary.c.lawson@usace.army.mil

Meeting to discuss trail development at Philpott Lake

  • Priority segment for next phase
  • Construction options
  • Grants/funding sources
  • Volunteer support

Contributed by: Mary C. Lawson

Philpott Trails Meeting

When: Monday, November 9, 2009

Time: 6:00 pm

Where: Philpott Vistor Center
1058 Philpott Dam Road
Bassett, VA 24055

RSVP to Mary Lawson (276) 629-4512 ext.227
mary.c.lawson@usace.army.mil

Meeting to discuss trail development at Philpott Lake

  • Priority segment for next phase
  • Construction options
  • Grants/funding sources
  • Volunteer support

Contributed by: Mary C. Lawson


www.DanRiver.org