Basset Community Market Opens

The Historic Train Depot in downtown Bassett is seeing new life as adaptive reuse has come in the form of a Community Market.   

 Currently open on Thursdays, the market is open courtesy fo Bassett Industries and the local Ruitan clubs who host local farmers providing fresh produce.  Lunch and music can also be enjoyed during your trip to the market.  Come on out and get your fresh veggies and support our local farmers!

The new canoe access ramp at Soulutia (CPFilms) is nearly completeThis is going to be one of our nicer access points and it’s like a mini park complete with trail and easy access. 

The ramp is located off The Great Road in Stanleytown, strategically situated between the upstream access at Bassett and the next downstream access at Fieldale.

 An extremely easy entry into the water, the ramp creates a nice access at low water and a good eddy for times of full generation.  A picnic table at the access is a great place to have lunch or walk the trail downstream to another quiet location complete with picnic table and view of the river.

Friends Of Philpott announce "Adopt-A-Park"

Maybe there is a special place you went as a child to on Philpott  lake as a child. Perhaps there is a spot you now take your kids to enjoy the beauty of  lake ?

Now is the time to Adopt the park of your choice and become a Friends of Philpott Lake member
Pick a park that holds that special place and help preserve it for future generations.


The Friends of Philpott (FOP) announces the formation of the Adopt-a-Park Program.
Come to the neat membership meeting to find out details.

Next Meeting:
Tuesday, July 13^th, 7 pm at the Visitors Center at Philpott Dam overlook
We need participation from the Henry County on this side of the Lake.

For more information contact:
Linda Drage  
ldrage@comcast.net

Skate Park Benefit Fundraiser

Come out and enjoy good music and lots of entertainent for the Whole Family!!!

July 24th 5-10pm

Hooker Field $5 - entry fee

5 Live Bands!!!
Moon Bounce - Climbing Wall Water Games for Children on the Field

Full Concession - Much more....


Call Martinsville Parks & Recreation for more info on event - 403-5140

All proceeds going toward Future Skate Park in Martinsville - Henry Co. to be located in J. Frank Wilson Park

http://www.goingbig.org/

Rain Date!!! Sunday, July 25th 4-9pm

Sponsored by : Martinsville Mustangs

Submitted by Gary Cody

Bug Hunt on the Smith with MHC After 3

The newest canoe access ramp on the Smith River at Great Road was descended upon by 28 kids from the Martinsville / Henry County "After 3 Program".  They were here on a hot July morning to learn about  water quality and the creatures that live in the Smith River, in particular the macro-invertebrates.

 Robin Jensen of the Virginia Museum of Natural History and Brian Williams of DRBA had teamed up to teach the kids about the aquatic environment in the Smith River and how water quality and the health of the river can be monitored by the number and variety of macro invertebrates found there.  

 But first, they had to learn how to catch the "bugs" from the river and learn to identify them.  Some were hesitant to enter the water but as the temps climbed, they came to the conclusion that on a hot day the 56 degree water temps were a welcome relief from the heat.

 Upon arriving at the site the famous Smith River mist was hanging over the river but was quickly burned away as the temperatures climbed toward the 90's.

The students learned how to use the seine nets to catch the stoneflys, mayflys, crayfish and helgramites that live under the rocks on the bottom of the stream.

 Soon they were even using thier smaller nets and working together in teams to catch crayfish and other benthic macro invertebrates that call the Smith home.

Then students then got a chance to view all they had captured up close and using field guides they learned how to identify the variety of aquatic insects and crustaceans..

Quite a few crayfish were discovered and the observant students noticed a large 

female caring her eggs under her tail

 After returning all the critters to the river, they all had a chance to get out and cool off in the refreshing waters of the Smith before returning to the Museum

Some were still searching for macros as others explored upstream in the deeper waters.

The best learning experiences are when you don't even realize you are learning. Its always fun and amazing to watch a group experiencing the river and gaining an appreciation for the natural resources that everyone must work together to protect.  They come away with a better understanding of a delicate ecosystem and the interactions of water quality and aquatic life.... but to them its just fun day on the  beating the heat on the river !

 

Dan River Sojourn 2011

Good friends, great stories, fantastic history and 22 miles
of the Beautiful Dan River!

Be part of the journey, the inaugural

Dan River Sojourn 2011

Join us for two days of paddling, two nights of camping -- the first of an annual event journeying down the Dan River!

Come for a day, come for a weekend. . . Great food and music each night

 If you can't paddle, sign up to join us on the river for dinner!

May 20 -- 22, 2011

Additional information available online at

www.danriversojourn.com

Don't delay! Do it today!

This 22-mile trip takes you through a Triassic basin where history is written in and on the landscape. From the days of the dinosaurs to Native Americans to our own imprint shown in nineteenth century commercial navigation, you will see and touch it all during this two-day adventure.

Assemble at Lindsay Bridge in Madison, NC by 5:00 pm on Friday, July 16, to unload camping and paddling gear. Shuttle to Settles Bridge and/or Eden is at 6:00 pm. Anticipated return to the Lindsey Bridge campsite is 7:00 pm. Each day's paddle adventure will begin at 9:00 am and conclude by 5:00 pm. Enjoy special programs highlighting the history of the Dan River region and related topics.

Limited to 100 participants, so reserve your spot early!

The Sojourn's trail includes of the nation's best-preserved nineteenth-century batteau navigation systems used to channel commercial traffic into backcountry North Carolina. Click on maps 57 through 47 of the Dan River Guide, Key Map 2 to see the trail. Each map highlights important navigation tips and details of that section of the river along with photos, history, interesting facts and more.

You can also order your own waterproof, travel-size copy of An Insiders Guide to the Dan River Basin in North Carolina and Viginia.

Two Payment Options

* Mail a check along with your completed registration form or
* Pay online (buttons below link to Pay Pal interface-SEE NOTE BELOW!)

NOTE: To make sure we understand WHO the participant(s) is/are, please click on the Message to Merchant option in Pay Pal and include ALL the name(s) of your PARTICPANT/paddlers, since they may be different than the name of the payer on Pay Pal.

Pricing (per person) (If you are paying for more than one person please make sure you adjust the shopping cart quantities.)

$25.00 – Friday: Evening meal and overnight camping only; does not include any meals/activities on next day.

$60.00 – Saturday: Three meals, programs, gear handling, overnight camping, T-shirt & shuttle

$60.00 – Sunday: Two meals, program, gear handling, T-shirt & shuttle

Package deal $130 – Full trip, camping two nights, six meals, programs, gear handling, T-shirt & shuttle

$65.00 paddle through for children 8 - 12 attending with a full fee adult guardian


Guest meals are $10.00 each for breakfast & lunch; $20.00 dinner
(Don't forget to adjust the shopping cart quantities to equal all meals requested)

Breakfast Guest Meal $10.00
Lunch Guest Meal $10.00
Dinner Guest Meal $20.00

Dan River Sojourn 2010 T-shirts featuring the colorful design shown at top of page are provided as part of the Saturday, Sunday and Package deals. Others may buy the T-shirts at the event.

Read the Sojourn 2010 liability waiver.


Call Wayne Kirkpatrick at 276.694.4449 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 276.694.4449 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
or email
danriversojourn@gmail.com
for more information.

Reserve your place on this first-time adventure TODAY!

Paddle Lake Talbott on Saturday

DRBA to Paddle Lake Talbott near Meadows of Dan  

Out-and-back paddle on Lake Talbott near Meadows of Dan, VA Meet at 10:00 a.m. at Poor Farmers Market, 2616 Jeb Stuart Highway, Meadows of Dan, VA. GPS: 36.73541, -80.40978. Dress in layers of synthetic fabric, and bring boat, paddles, life jackets,lunch and water. Free and open to the public.

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Contact: Charlie Williams

Phone: 336-337-8843

Email: chawilliams59@yahoo.com

Need a boat ?  Contact one of our local outfitters:

http://www.3-r-o.com/

(336)627-6215

http://www.smithriveradventureoutfitters.com/

(276)252-0701