Dick & Willie Passage Dedication Ceremony

You are cordially invited

to the Dedication Ceremony

for the "Dick & Willie Trail".

The event is scheduled for Monday, October 11, 2010, at 1:30 p.m. at the

Liberty Street trail head (intersection of Liberty Street and Stultz Road)

Please join us as we unveil this 4.5 mile walking and biking trail and celebrate all parties that played a role in putting it together.

Please join us!

Contributed by:

Jeannie Frisco

Activate Program Director

http://www.getactivemhc.org/

“October Philpott Lake Shoreline Clean-Up Planned”

Philpott Lake is one of the most beautiful and unspoiled recreational lakes in the State of Virginia. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the non-profit group, Friends of Philpott are organizing a shoreline clean-up for Saturday, October 9, 2010 and would like to invite volunteers to assist with the clean-up.

Volunteers with all types of boats and watercraft are invited to assist with the clean-up. Groups that do not have access to boats are encouraged to walk some of the trails that skirt the shoreline and pick up litter along the trails.

Participants will be able to launch their craft for free on the day of the clean-up and will receive a coupon which is good for another free launch from any boat ramp surrounding the lake. In addition, they will receive a small gift and refreshments before the event starts.

Volunteers of all ages and abilities are encouraged to participate in this National Public Lands Day event. The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers will provide the bags needed to collect the litter.

Volunteer are asked to dress in appropriate clothing, to bring gloves and life jackets. All volunteers are asked to meet at 8:30 A.M. at the picnic shelter located at the lookout near the visitor’s center at 1058 Philpott Dam Road in Bassett Virginia.

All participants will meet at the shelter to sign up for the event, receive their gifts and receive instructions. Areas have been identified for the clean up and participants will disburse to launch their boats and head out to the targeted areas. The clean up will conclude at 1 P.ME. and all the bags of trash and debris will be transported back to the boat ramps.


Philpott Lake is an asset to the area and the surrounding counties. Visitors come to enjoy the unspoiled mountain expanses, serene beauty and it is an outstanding recreational destination. “We encourage you to volunteer your time and enjoy this national environmental event.” The event will be held rain or shine. Please contact Mary Lawson with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at 276-629-4512, ext. 227 or Lois Christensen with Friends of Philpott at 276-638-3207 for further information.

Contributed by: Linda Drage

Marrowbone Creek to Mitchel Bridge float on 9/4/10

On September 4 DRBA will celebrate Labor Day weekend with a float on the most popular section of the Smith River-Marrowbone Creek Access to Mitchell Bridge Access in Henry County, VA. Meeting at 10:00 a. m. at the Richard P. Gravely, Jr. Nature Preserve, 2525 Eggleston Falls Road in Ridgeway, Virginia (36.611067, -79.817712), the group will launch canoes and kayaks at the nearby access point.

The 3.5-mile "blueway" Smith River Trails section, rated Class 1, is suitable for novice paddlers. Trip coordinator is Wayne Kirkpatrick, DRBA President, aided by other DRBA members who frequent this section of the river.

For the first half mile of the trip, the river flows alongside the Gravely Nature Preserve's high bluffs where paddlers can glimpse the Rhododendron Trail. As the name implies, the path winds through a rhododendron thicket as it hugs the river's edge.

About a mile farther on, Leatherwood Creek enters from river left. Paddlers often enter the wide mouth of the creek and take a leisurely side trip up the shaded stream to observe woodland wildflowers and birds. Early American patriot Patrick Henry, for whom both Patrick and Henry counties are named, lived on a large plantation near the headwaters of Leatherwood Creek from 1779 - 1786.

Just below the mouth of Leatherwood Creek is a broad rounded boulder in the middle of the river. Known as "Lunch Rock," it makes "a perfect spot to stop for a break," according to "An Insider's Guide to the Smith River," available at www.danriver.org .

Henry County, in partnership with DRBA, has made the Smith River accessible to the public over the past three years by building public access points at eight new sites along the river, including the Marrowbone Creek Access, which opened in 2007, and Mitchell Bridge Access, built in 2009.

Participants are invited to linger after the outing to enjoy the Gravely Nature Preserve, part of the county's "greenway" Smith River Trail system, which was dedicated in April, 2008. Developed by DRBA and Henry County, with funding from The Harvest Foundation, the 75-acre preserve features two miles of interpretive trails. Historic features include early twentieth-century tobacco barns and the Burgess Family cemetery, reminders of former owners of the property.

Industrialist, civic leader, and archaeologist Richard P. Gravely, Jr. owned the property in the late twentieth century and left instructions for its preservation as a wildlife and nature conservancy. The preserve now hosts frequent educational and recreational events for all ages, including day camps, fitness walks, historic presentations, workshops, after-school programs, and geo-caching.

Participants in the outing are asked to bring boat and paddles, life jackets, lunch and water, to dress in layers of artificial (quick-drying) fabric and to sign a waiver.

Boats may be rented from Three Rivers Outfitters, 336-627-6215
www.3-R-O.com
or
Smith River Adventure Outfitters, 276-252-0701
http://www.smithriveradventureoutfitters.com/

Directions: To reach the Gravely Nature Preserve from US 220 south of Martinsville, turn east at a traffic light onto Old Sand Road. Cross the US 58 overpass and immediately turn left onto Eggleston Falls Road. Travel about two miles to the preserve, which is on the left, across from the foot of Old Mill Road.
 

More information:  Wayne Kirkpatrick, 276-694-4449 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              276-694-4449      end_of_the_skype_highlighting or wynbtyk@embarqmail.com

Smith River Clean-up August 2010

The Smith River Chapter of Trout Unlimited (SRTU) teamed up with the Dan River Basin Association (DRBA) on Saturday August 21 to make a difference on the Smith by cleaning up of a section of river from the Trent Hill bridge through the Horseshoe section and down to the Bassett Historic Center.

It was an incredible turn-out with over 40 people attending including 16 volunteers from Skyline Tree Service, several Boy Scouts from a local troop, Eric Capps of Gateway Streetscapes, and many DRBA and SRTU members.

Everyone met at the Bassett Canoes Access ramp at 8:30am to split up into teams before we hit the river.  Many folks brought waders and at least 4 canoes and 1 jon boat were put on the river to haul trash.  Some elected to stay dry and they became the road crews to pick up all that trash on the surrounding roads before it manged to make it down the storm drains and into the river.

It was just fantastic to see so many river users and community members coming together to help make preserve and protect our water quality.

I was somewhat surprised to see Skyline Tree Service crew show up but I shouldn't have been as they are always a big supporter of all the river clean-ups and they were out in force today.  

Together with a group of boy scouts, Ellen and Joe Jesse and Eric Capps, they had Lenoir street cleaned in no time flat.  Like a hungry pack of wolves they didn't stop there and just crossed the bridge and headed back up Fairystone Pkwy through town to the Trent Hill Dr at Pappas Pizza.  They were ready for more so we sent them over to Wells Hollow Rd and they really did a great job near Lauren Mountain Preserve.

DRBA president, Wayne Kirkpatrick and his wife Betty headed upstream from the access ramp and had a canoe full in less than an hour

We had 2 crews working on the roads and 3 crews in the river. 

 Its hard to believe that much trash came out of the river in only 1.5 miles

President of SRTU, Shane Pinkston and volunteer Joan Ragland stayed behind to man the base camp and start preparing for the cookout.  We were so busy no one had time to go to the store to get food but Patty Williams saved the day by picking up hotdogs, hamburgers, drinks and chips.  Shane was nominated cook for the day and quickly set about preparing food as the teams came in with their respective hauls of trash.

 We took my flatbed trailer around picking up the bagged trash and the debris from the canoes.  

 Once we had it all back at the access ramp in one big pile, we set about gathering canoes and crews.  Everyone was just about beat but still had enough energy to slam down some tasty burgers and dogs.

 We were ecstatic with the turn out and thrilled to be able to clean up over a mile and a half  of river from the Bassett canoe access all the way down to the Bassett Historic Center. 

 Its not only important to get this trash out of the river to improve the health of the stream and wildlife habitat but also for cleaner water for the community. The ascetics of the river are greatly improved byt removal of all the trash and that translates into dollars for our economy in the form of economic development.  We want people to come to our community, get out there and fish, paddle and enjoy the river and we want to them to leave having seen the best of the Smith, clean and green !   

This is the best advertising of all for our area and keeping it clean is the name of the game.
Specia thanks to Darrin Doss and Al Kitterage and a the SRTU members.

Next weekend is the third annual Smith River fest and there will be paddlers from all over, even as far away as Richmond and they will be utilizing the river mainly in this area.  Having folks come to our area, maybe for the first time and experience the beauty of our area and a clean river, means they have a great experience and go back and spread the word about the incredible natural resource we have to offer here in Henry County.

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