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

Recreational Use Plan Now Complete

Over the course of the past year, staff from the Dan River Basin Association (DRBA) with support from the Martinsville-Henry County Rivers and Trails Group, have been working on compiling data for a document detailing plans for the future of river and trail use in our area. The document, The Martinsville-Henry County Rivers & Trails Recreational Use Plan, is now complete and in being distributed for review by the public and area leaders.

The plan outlines future plans for trail and river access development, as well as the positive impacts that these new resources will have on our community. Copies of the plan may be downloaded from the DRBA website by clicking here.

Funding for plan development and distribution was provided by Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont. Inquires regarding the plan should be directed to: Jennifer Doss, Rivers & Trails Project Manager for the Dan River Basin Association, 276-634-2545.

Public Invited to Meet New Philpott Lake Leaders

Friends of Philpott invites the public to come meet and greet leaders from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at their upcoming membership meeting on January 13th at 7pm. Guests include the new Philpott Lake Project Manager, Craig Rockwell, along with Earl Wright and Mary Lawson.

The meeting will be held at the Henry Community Center on Henry Road in Henry, Virginia. (Rt 605) . For more information, please contact Linda Drage, Club President at 681-6805.

Story Contributed by Ellen Jessee
Edited and Posted by Jennifer Doss

Dressing Properly for Cold Weather

The Blue Ridge Ski and Outing Club will hold a membership meeting on Tuesday, January 13 at the Collinsville Bistro. Dinner will begin at 6:30 and special guest Aaron Daniel will discuss the importance of proper cold weather gear. Daniel is a PSIA certified level 2 (of 3) ski instructor with 12 years of instructing experience and worked in ski retail shops as a custom boot fitter for 20 years. According to Becky Hale, BRSOC President, “this is a great opportunity for those interested in skiing to come and see what our club is all about. And, it’s not just about skiing; we have all kinds of outdoor events planned and our socials give an opportunity for newcomers to meet new people.”

The Blue Ridge Ski & Outing Club started in 1979 as a non-profit organization to introduce non-skiers to active winter sports, promote safety, and provide members with ski trips at a low cost. There are a total of 180 members in the club throughout North America, and the activities have expanded to include many popular outdoor, and some indoor, group adventures and socials. For more information about BRSOC visit our website at www.BRSOC.org.

Strolling on...

The second season of Tuesday Morning Strolls kicked off this morning at Liberty Fair Mall with a group of 11 participants coming out to walk. The first walk was led by Melissa Puckett of Henry County Parks & Recreation (HCPR) and Vicky Thomas of the Dan River Basin Association (DRBA).

Upon signing in, the participants learned about the health benefits of walking from Melissa and then took a 50-minute long easy-paced walk around the mall. After completing the walk, each participant was given a punch card to register for a prize drawing on June 2nd.

Bill Mitchell of Martinsville enjoyed the walk and noted that "we have some great area trails". The Tuesday Morning Stroll program is being held indoors during the cold winter months to encourage all fitness levels to participate. Once the weather warms up in March the program will hit the trails and begin outdoor walks at locations throughout Martinsville & Henry County, including Mr. Mitchell's favorite trails at the Gravely Nature Preserve in Ridgeway.

The next Stroll will be held on February 3rd at the Martinsville YMCA. The walk leader will be Jeannie Frisco of Activate Martinsville-Henry County. If you missed the walk today, it's not too late to catch up! Everyone who participates in 4 of the 6 Strolls offered by June 2nd will be entered into a prize drawing.

The Tuesday Morning Strolls Program is presented through a partnership of the Dan River Basin Association, Henry County Parks & Recreation, Activate Martinsville-Henry County, and the Martinsville YMCA. For more information on the program, contact 276-634-2545.