Activate Receives Grant for Bicycle Helmets

Activate has been awarded one of sixty Bike Smart Virginia Bicycle Helmet Mini-grants from the Virginia Department of Health. Activate will use these funds to provide over 200 multi-sport helmets to Martinsville and Henry County children who ride bicycles but do not have helmets. “We want our children to be physically active and engaged in play, but we also want them to be smart about safety, and these helmets will ensure that they have the equipment they need to play safely.” said Jeannie Frisco, Program Director of the organization.

Helmets will be distributed during the annual bike rodeo to be held in May. The main focus of the rodeo is teaching bike safety techniques beginning with how to properly fit and wear your helmet.

Frisco acknowledged Martinsville Police Department’s willingness to partner in the submission of this application. “This alliance is a win-win for everyone,” she said.

Bike Smart Virginia is a state program to prevent bicycle-related injuries in communities. A critical component of the program is the promotion of proper helmet usage.

Article and photos submitted by: Jeannie Frisco
Posted by: Vicky Thomas

Sixty-eight Year Old Commits to Start Bicycling

Low Impact participants built up their stamina as they built up their chances to win a bicycle from Activate Martinsville/Henry County. The Low Impact Beginners Walk is held Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from noon to 1:00 p.m. at the YMCA. This program is free to residents and hosted by Activate and the YMCA.

Jean Royall was the lucky winner of the 2008 “Get Active, Get Healthy, Have Fun” program and received a Raleigh Venture Comfort Bike valued at $300. Ms. Royall commuted from Emmett Street to the YMCA after receiving her bike.

Article and photos submitted by: Jeannie Frisco
Posted by: Vicky Thomas

Bicycle Commuter Benefits Act Passed

After seven years of letter-writing and Congressional visits, the Bicycle Commuter Benefits Act has passed and is now law. This law is a simple, equitable provision that puts cyclists on the same footing as people who get tax breaks for taking transit or driving their cars to and from work.

The intent of this bill is so an employer can provide up to a $20 a month incentive related to an employee’s bike commuting. Accor Services, a leading provider of transportation benefits commuter solutions in the United States has developed a program that will provide a commuter check solution for bicycle commuters. The Commuter Check for Bicycling vouchers is the most convenient solution available to take advantage of the $20 per month Bicycle Benefit, authorized by the IRS that began January 1, 2009. Employers purchase them just like they do standard commuter check vouchers. Employees can take the vouchers they receive to any dedicated bicycle shop to redeem their value. Interested employers and employees can visit Accor Services website at http://www.commutercheck.com/About/AccorServices.aspx for more information. For more information regarding the Bicycle Commuter Tax Provision, visit www.bikeleague.org/news/100708faq.php

Article and photos submitted by: Jeannie Frisco
Posted by: Vicky Thomas

There’s Nothing To Do In Martinsville/Henry County?

West Piedmont Business Dev. Center
22 East Church Street - Suite 312
Martinsville, VA 24112
276-638-2523 (Ext. 204)
http://www.activatemhc.org/

Many people say that there is nothing to do in our community. So Activate made it their 2009 mission to promote the numerous trails, parks and programs in Martinsville and Henry County. “We have a 30 page toolkit full of FREE recreational activities occurring in our community. That is a lot of choices of things to do in our area”, says Frisco.

The Activate Activity Toolkit comes with a pedometer and water bottle so that participants have the necessities needed for their walking regimen. There is no charge for the toolkit and residents may contact Activate to request a copy.

Activate didn’t stop there though, they have also unveiled a “Get Active, Get Healthy, Have Fun!” informational kiosk in Liberty Fair Mall. Partnering with Henry County Parks and Recreation, Martinsville Leisure Services, MHC Coalition for Health and Wellness and the Dan River Basin Association, Activate has filled the kiosk full of things to do – whether walking on a trail; biking in a park or participating in an aerobics program. You just have to get up, get out and get active.

Article and photos contributed by: Jeannie Frisco
Posted by: Vicky Thomas

DRBA to Visit Reynolds Homestead for Guided Hike and Tours

DRBA’s February 7 First Saturday Outing will be a 1.5-mile hike and tours at the 1843 house and grounds of the Reynolds Homestead in Critz, VA. Meet at 10:00 a.m. at the entrance to the Continuing Education Center.

Coordinated by Wayne Kirkpatrick, the outing will begin with a hike guided by Kyle Peer, Superintendent of the Forest Resources Research Center, who will describe forestry projects on this Commonwealth Campus of Virginia Tech. Hikers will see two cemeteries, one for the Reynolds family and one for their slaves. Reynolds Homestead Director, Kay Dunkley, will summarize the findings of a recently completed archeological survey of the slave cemetery.

Afternoon tours of the historic house, outbuildings, and grounds will be offered. Tobacco magnate R. J. Reynolds was born here in 1853, and Kitty Reynolds, one of the plantation’s slaves, earned renown for saving the life of R. J.’s father and for later becoming the “mother” of civil rights in Patrick County.

Participants in the outing should supply drinks and lunch, wear hiking boots and 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: Reynolds Homestead is located at 463 Homestead Lane, Critz, Virginia.

• From Martinsville: Travel west on US 58 about twenty miles. Turn right onto Abram Penn Highway, indicated by the second of two brown signs. Drive about three miles and bear left onto Homestead Lane. Drive to the end of the short road.
• From Stuart: Travel east on US 58 for about nine miles. Turn left onto Abram Penn Highway, indicated by a brown sign. Drive about three miles and bear left onto Homestead Lane. Drive to the end of the short road.
• From Winston-Salem: Travel north on NC 8, crossing into Virginia. Turn right onto Ayers Orchard Road. Drive about six miles and turn right onto South Fork Loop. Drive half a mile and turn right onto US. 58. Drive one-quarter mile and turn left onto Abram Penn Highway, indicated by a brown sign. Drive about three miles and bear left onto Homestead Lane. Drive to the end of the short road.

Outings and meetings of the Dan River Basin Association are open to the public without charge.

For more information, contact Wayne Kirkpatrick, 276-694-4449, wynbtyk@embarqmail.com

Article and photo contributed by T Butler

Posted by Vicky Thomas