Ride the Surge!

Special Water Release Planned
Smith River
Saturday, August 23rd
Generating: 8am-12pm

The Dan River Basin Association (DRBA) and the Creek Freaks of Franklin County have negotiated with the Army Corps of Engineers & Dominion Power to have a special recreational water release on Saturday, August 23rd. The water will begin rising at the Philpott Access at 8am, North Bassett Access at 10am, and the Fieldale Access at 12:30pm.

The Creek Freaks will have a booth at the Philpott Access with club information, they will also be leading two guided trips. Participants must sign a waiver at the Creek Freaks booth in order to participate.

Visit the DRBA booth at the North Bassett Access for river information and to purchase cold water paddle gear and quick dry tops, only $10 each! Edible Vibe Cafe' will also be at the Philpott Access serving nature bars and coffee.

Photos of paddlers can be viewed an purchased by visiting www.DossPhoto.com.

Note: This trip is recommended for experienced paddlers only! The Smith River is cold with water temperatures of typically 42 degrees. For a fun and comfortable trip, it is best to wear quick drying breathable gear and splash wear. A life jacket is mandatory for all boaters who participate. Rapids on this section range from Class I to II. The river’s main hazard is it’s cold and swift current.

Dan River Basin Association:
Brian Williams 276-634-2592 bwilliams@danriver.org
Jennifer Doss 276-634-2545 jdoss@danriver.org

Franklin County Creek Freaks
Scott Martin smartin@franklincountyva.org

Lunch on the Run is Making a Difference

Martinsville, VA - Forty-eight year old, Barbara Thompson thanked Activate and the Henry County Bike Club for changing her life at a recent Lunch on the Run walk. After losing her job, Thompson was uninspired to do anything that she didn't have to do. "I was gaining weight and my cholesterol and blood pressure was high. I knew I needed to do something but didn't want to do it alone." Thompson saw an ad in the Martinsville Bulletin about Lunch on the Run, a group walk managed by Activate and led by volunteers of the Henry County Bike Club. She decided to try it out. Five months later, Thompson's blood pressure and cholesterol are both lower and her medication has been cut in half.

"I have met some terrific people and made some really wonderful friends. They lifted me up, encouraged me and provided the drive to want to better myself. I am walking regularly now and have started biking. If you told me months ago that I would be on a bike riding with traffic in Uptown, I would call you crazy. To have the wind in your face and friends by your side - it is a feeling that will stay with me for a lifetime."

Photo and article by Jeannie Frisco

Way to go Barbara! -JD & BW

Families Reunite at Nature Preserve

Ridgeway, VA— Over the past few months, the Dan River Basin Association (DRBA) has been putting together a puzzle of sorts. With help from the Bassett Historical Center, family members, and local citizens, they have been identifying grave sites at the historic Burgess Cemetery located within the Richard P. Gravely, Jr. Nature Preserve in Ridgeway.

A special visit from descendants of the Burgess family this past week helped to put a few more pieces of the puzzle together. John Burgess 7th, Cherie Jane Burgess Dean, and Peggy Burgess Salamon, all great-grandchildren of plantation owner John Henry Burgess, traveled from eastern Virginia and Pennsylvania to spend time in the family cemetery. While visiting the cemetery they identified the grave of John Burgess 3rd, the plantation owner’s father, who died in 1835. “This was a great discovery,” said Mr. Burgess.

The three siblings also had the opportunity to meet a distant cousin, thanks to Nancy Bradshaw of Martinsville. Ms. Bradshaw, who is a local business owner and relative of the Burgess family, arranged for Judge Kenneth Covington to visit the preserve and meet the Burgess family and DRBA staff member, Jennifer Doss. Judge Covington was very pleased with the preservation of the cemetery where several relatives are buried, including his grandfather William D. Covington. Mr. Burgess and Judge Covington spent some time talking about the genealogy of their family and sharing information with each other.

Other projects are also underway to preserve the history of Uncle John Burgess, a former slave on the plantation. The new information provided to DRBA will be included in a family tree handout that will soon be available to visitors at the Richard P. Gravely, Jr. Nature Preserve.

Self-guided tours of the Gravely Nature Preserve’s two miles of trails can be taken by picking up a brochure at the main kiosk. For information on guided tours and other programs, please contact Jennifer Doss, DRBA’s Rivers & Trails Project Manager, at 276-634-2545 or jdoss@danriver.org.

The Richard P. Gravely, Jr. Nature Preserve is funded in part by the Harvest Foundation, which invests in programs and initiatives in the areas of health, education, and welfare. Development of the preserve was made possible through a partnership of Henry County and the Dan River Basin Association.

New River Photos

Local photographer Randy Sweatt has recently posted more river photos to share on his website from the July M-HC After 3 River Trips. See them by clicking the following link: http://www.pbase.com/rsweatt/mhstrip

Calling all Skaters!

This coming Wednesday, August 13, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Liberty Fair Mall parking lot American Ramp Company will set up a complete skate park for local riders from the Martinsville and Henry County area to experience ARC equipment firsthand.

This is also an opportunity for city officials and local enthusiasts to gauge the level of interest in the possible future construction of a skate park in the Martinsville area.

The mobile skate park will feature equipment from each of American Ramp Company’s three product lines which will help determine which building method may be right for Martinsville.

During the skate session local skateboarders will get hands-on access to all the equipment, music will be provided, and ARC representatives will run contests, give away prizes, and will be available to answer any questions and explain the products.

Skater owned and operated American Ramp Company is located in Joplin, Missouri and designs, manufactures and installs skate parks throughout the world. More information is available about the company at www.americanrampcompany.com

Article by Jeannie Frisco, Activate Martinsville-Henry County

Youth Explore Nature at VMNH Camps

The Virginia Museum of Natural History provided a variety of programs for the MHC After 3 summer camps throughout the month of July. Groups of middle schoolers from seven sites each participated in both indoor and outdoor programs led by museum educators. In the classroom, Glenda Hairston led the groups through hands-on science experiments and machine building in the "Science Plus" and "Robotics" camps. Robin Jensen brought the groups outdoors to Fairy Stone State Park and the Richard P. Gravely Nature Preserve for the "Wet and Wild" and "Forest Explorers" camps.

Wet and Wild- This camp was all about the water! On the first day, students learned the importance of water conservation, they used water quality testing kits to monitor a stream, and they finished up by searching for aquatic macro invertebrates (this was the most popular activity of the day!). On the second day, the group paddled around on Lake Fairy Stone. While practicing their canoeing skills, everyone learned the history of the lake, what used to be there before the dam, and the lake's connection to our watershed. On the final day of the camp, the students visited the Richard P. Gravely, Jr. Nature Preserve and hiked the new Rhododendron trail. At the end of the trail, the kids enjoyed the view and sounds of the Smith River while creating their own nature-inspired artwork.

Forest Explorers- While hiking at the Gravely Nature Preserve and at Fairy Stone State Park, the students in this camp learned all about the forest surrounding them. They explored the variety of life that depends on the trees, and they each "became a tree" to learn about succession and what trees need to survive. They also created their own "tree cookies" to represent their own life story. The groups were also introduced to GPS (Global Positioning System) while out in the woods. They were members of a Search and Rescue team that used GPS units to find pretend lost hikers, and they also participated in a geocaching hunt. All of the kids were also encouraged to increase their awareness of the forest, by looking and listening closely. The most common sound the students asked about was the loud buzzing of the cicadas which were very active on the warm July mornings!

Article and Photos provided by Robin Jensen, VMNH

"Lunch on the Run" Awards Frequent Walker

At this week's Lunch on the Run and Low Impact Walk programs the quarterly giveaway was announced. Each time a person participated in the programs they were entered into a drawing for great prizes. Close to 20 people showed up with tickets in hand for the drawing. Susan McCullough from MURA showed up as well! Activate- Martinsville Henry County provided a Foot Locker Coupon for walking shoes and Susan Perkins, a local business owner, donated Environmentally Sensitive personal/home products worth $75 wholesale. In addition the winner, Bobby Fisher of Martinsville won a night light for his bike to stay safe in dusk riding! A total of about $150 in winnings just for investing in his personal health!

(l-r) Jeannie Frisco of Activate, winner Bobby Fisher, and Susan Perkins
of the Henry County Bike Club

Congratulations Bobby for this quarters Giveaway! Come on out and walk with us this fall!! Temps will be cooler and the trees will be gorgeous!! A special thanks to Charlie Roach and his walking workmates from VA Glass who have regularly lead and participated in the 12:05 walks for the past 6 months!!

Article and photo by Susan Perkins