More than 90 runners get off to a fast start at the Earth Day 5k on Saturday morning near the former Druid Hills Elementary School.
The Virginia Museum of Natural History recently honored non profit groups, businesses, and individuals at the 22nd annual Thomas Jefferson Awards.
The awards recognize those organizations and individuals for their contributions to and in support of the natural sciences. The Dan River Basin Association was the proud recipient of one of the awards. (All photos Courtesy of VMNH, Melody Cartwright - photographer)
Left to right: the Martinsville Bulletin, accepted by Editor Ginny Wray; Dr. Cleveland P. Hickman Jr., professor emeritus at Washington and Lee University; Dan River Basin Association, accepted by Brian Williams and Jennifer Doss; Boxley Materials Co., accepted by Charles Craddock, superintendent of Boxley’s Fieldale Quarry; Ward Littlefield, a 20-year volunteer at the museum; and Anne Boschen Wright, coordinator of life sciences outreach education at Virginia Commonwealth University
Keynote speaker for the evening was Jay Gillian master trainer for Virginia Save Our Streams। Mr Gilliam spoke about the need for education and cooperation to protect our natural resources. Jay has worked in over 75 VA counties and 13 river basins training thousands of volunteers to monitor our rivers and streams. He pointed out that local people should not look to solely to government to solve water quality issues. Everyone should be at the table working together for toward the common goal of clean and healthy water for all.
The Martinsville Bulletin received the Noel T। Boaz Director’s Award, selected by the VMNH executive director. It is presented to an individual or organization that has made significant contributions, through volunteer efforts or financial support, to enable the museum to be a more successful institution and to secure its future as a great museum benefiting all citizens of the commonwealth of Virginia.The award was accepted by Bulletin Editor Ginny Wray.
The Dan River Basin Association (DRBA), which received the Matthew Fontaine Maury Distinguished Service Award, presented to an individual or corporation that has provided exemplary service in the development of VMNH. The award was accepted by Brian Williams and Jennifer Doss of DRBA.
Dr. David Jones, a VMNH board member and founder of the Trout in the Classroom project locally, described the extensive work done by DRBA since The Harvest Foundation approved a grant that led to its work here. Included are creating a new system of rivers and trails, taking over the Trout in the Classroom project, creating Smith River kayak access points, creating heritage projects and more. DRBA has “promoted the ideas of the Virginia Museum of Natural History,” Jones added.
Boxley Materials Co., received the William Barton Rogers Corporate Award, presented to a corporation that has shown significant support for the natural sciences in Virginia, through contributions to research, science education or other relevant programs of the museum. It was accepted by Charles Craddock, superintendent of Boxley’s Fieldale Quarry.
Ward Littlefield, received the William Barton Rogers Individual Award, which is presented to an individual who has shown significant support for the natural sciences in Virginia through contributions to research, science education or other relevant programs of the museum.
Anne Boschen Wright, coordinator of life sciences outreach education at Virginia Commonwealth University, received the Thomas Jefferson Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Natural Science Education. This award is presented to a Virginia educator who has consistently made outstanding contributions to natural history, environmental and science education in either the formal or non-formal sectors.
Dan River Basin was represented by 9 board members and volunteers at the awards ceremony.
Brian Williams and Jennifer Doss with DRBA President, Wayne Kirkpatrick
Marrowbone Creek Looking upstream from the canoe access ramp off Eggleston Falls road
Beautiful Virginia Bluebells are blooming,
Also, Master Falconer, Robb Herbst with his Birds of Prey will be at the expo. 
Article/Photos: Linda Drage
Have fun as you volunteer for the new recycle a bike program. As a ChainGanG volunteer you will help guide a group of six to eight children between the ages of 10 and 13 from Martinsville Middle School on how to repair and assemble donated bikes. Children will benefit from this program as they:Children will also learn helmet safety, bike safety and rules of the road. This program is to encourage and increase physical activity among children through biking and provide bikes to children that do not have one.
The program will be held on Tuesdays from 3:45 to 5:00 PM. Scheduled program dates for this school year are May 5th, 12th, 19th and 25th. The program will start again in September when ids return to school. A certified bike mechanic from Cardinal Bike in Roanoke will come to Martinsville and teach volunteers how to rebuild a bike and perform a bike tune-up. A tentative ate for training is April 25th. New students will rotate through the program every six weeks. The program will be lead by a Martinsville Police Officer and a certified Bike Smart Basics Trainer. The ChainGanG program is sponsored by Activate MHC, Martinsville Police Dept., Martinsville Middle School and Cardinal Bikes. Anyone who is interested in volunteering or would like more information may contact Activate at 638-2523 x204.
The ChainGanG Earn-A-Bike Club offers kids a chance to earn their own bike by completing a series of hands-on lessons in basic bike mechanics and bike safety, which also focus on personal responsibility, achievement and self-empowerment. This program is available to students in Martinsville Middle School that do not have bikes and are currently taking or have previously passed the Bike Smart Basics P.E. curriculum.
How Earn-A-Bike Works
Earn-a-Bike Rules:
Article contributed by Activate M-HC
