Jennifer Doss Accepts Tourism Director Postion

Join us in congratulating Jennifer Doss on accepting a new position as
Martinsville/Henry County Director of Tourism!
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/article.cfm?ID=21822

Jennifer's enthusiasm, inventiveness and dedication have produced dramatic results in the past two years as Dan River Basins Rivers and Trails Project Manager.  Working under a grant from the Harvest Foundation, Jennifer's accomplishments have been innovative and exciting, providing enhanced recreational opportunities for our community and river basin and providing new opportunities that have never been available in our area.
Just a few of the many, many accomplishments in the past 2 years:

• Development of the 75 acre Gravely Nature Preserve, Henry County's only interpretive park

• 2 new river access on the Smith River

• Preserving the historic Burgess Family Cemetery on Old Mill Road

•  Development and implementaion of the "Adopt a Trails Program"

•  Completion of the Fieldale Trail Phase II

• The Fieldale Iron Bridge historic preservation Project

•  Smith River Fest 2008- 2009
  

Although Jennifer will be greatly missed as a member of "Team DRBA", we are excited that she has chose to remain in Henry County and will still be a very active part of the goals we are working on together in our region.  Jenn will be continue as member of the Rivers and Trails Board and we look forward to working closely with her in the future.  We wish her the best of luck at her new position. (goodbye Tigger)

Brian Williams

Volunteers Honored at Dinner

Wayne Kirkpatrick, DRBA's President, welcomes everyone to the dinner.

Having a small staff of only eight, the Dan River Basin Association (DRBA) is very grateful for all the wonderful volunteers that help us to acheive our mission of preserving and promoting the natural and cultural resources of the Dan River basin. Volunteers come in all forms, from those who contribute goods/services, participate in steering commitee meetings, lead trips, monitor water quality and maintain trails. Recently DRBA hosted approximately sixty of our wonderful volunteers at a dinner to thank them for their contributions over the past year. Enjoy the following photos from the dinner held at Spencer Penn Center in Spencer, VA.

Brian Williams, DRBA's Outreach, Education and Conservation
Coordinator, addresses the crowd about the importance of volunteerism to DRBA.

From left: Paul May, Linda Drage, Jenny Edwards (DRBA's Virginia Program Manager) and Mary Lawson

From left: Vicky & Wade Nester and Benny Summerlin

From left: Paula Wyatt, Joan Ragland, Nancy Moncrief, Andrew Kahle, Tracy Kennett and Tommy Wyatt

From left: C.D. Prillaman, Trent Fentress and T Butler

From left: Milton Hundley, Mike & Joan Shahan and Linda Hundley

From left: Wes Craddock, Deborah Craddock and Brian Williams

T Butler, DRBA's board secretary and a founding member thanks all the volunteers for their contributions.

New River Access Opens

The addition of a new canoe and kayak ramp on the Smith River increases the total of official access locations to an unprecedented number for our region. The Dan River Basin Association (DRBA) and their Martinsville-Henry County Rivers & Trails Group is pleased to announce the opening of the newest access ramp at Mitchell Road Bridge in Axton, bringing the total to nine Smith River access sites across Henry County.

A 2008 survey of canoeists and kayakers across Virginia and North Carolina indicated that the section of river from Marrowbone Creek to Mitchell Road Bridge was the second most popular segment on the Smith River. This stretch of river is also very popular with float fishermen as well as canoe and kayak outfitters.

The Henry County Public Service Authority began construction of the Mitchell Bridge access in early December for Henry County Parks & Recreation, with planning assistance from the Dan River Basin Association. The access is located upstream, river-left of the bridge and has ample parking for vehicles and shuttle vans to safely handle boats and passengers. Educational signage planned for the site in the spring will provide information on the area’s natural assets.

The access also received some enhancements thanks to support from Patrick Henry Correctional Unit #28 and Prillaman Landscape Dimensions. Inmates from the prison removed litter and cleared the access area. Crews from Prillaman Landscape Dimensions planted nearly one hundred native trees and shrubs around the parking area and along the shoreline. Junipers, sycamores, tulip poplars, and sweet gum trees are featured, as well as a number of butterfly attractant shrubs including spice bush, red twig dogwood, button bush, witch hazel, three types of willow (goat, banker and black), choke berry, service berry, and fragrant sumac.

According to Brian Williams, Outreach and Education Coordinator for DRBA, "The plantings at the access ramps not only provide shade and beautification but will also protect the river banks from erosion. The trees and shrubs are part of a larger campaign to protect water quality in the region by increasing streamside buffers which absorb pollutants before they reach the river and reduce sediment pollution by keeping erosion in check."

Funding for these plantings was provided by ticket sales and donations from the first annual Smith River Film Festival at the Rives Theater in September and also from a re-showing of the films held at Philpott Lake in November. DRBA would like to thank all who participated in these events.

Photos by Jennifer Doss

Walk for Fitness, Walk for Fun, Walk with Friends!

TMS Participants take a walk around Liberty Fair Mall

Have you walked for fitness today? There are many miles of walking paths and places to walk located around Martisnville & Henry County that are free for you to enjoy. 

If you want to get out and enjoy the trails with others, consider joining a walking group like DRBA's Tuesday Morning Strolls. These walks are an excelent way for individuals to socialize, get fit and learn more about the community all at the same time.

In December, the group met indoors at Liberty Fair Mall to walk five laps around the shopping center. While on the walk, led by Jennifer Doss & Regenia Manns, the participants learned about National Poinsettia Day which is celebrated on December 12th. Linda Crabtree won a prize for knowing the answer to the day's trivia question. Do you know what country the Poinsettia came from? It's Mexico!

At the end of the walk everyone who had participated in four or more walks for the second half of 2009 was entered into a drawing. Bill Crabtree, who had attended almost every walk this year, won the prize pack consisting of a Dick & Willie Passage T-shirt, a DRBA notepad, and a $25 Visa Gift Card to spend at Liberty Fair Mall.

Starting in 2010 the group will meet twice a month on the first and third Tuesdays of each month.  All walks begin at 9 am and are open to everyone. Join us on January 5th as we walk the Fieldale Trail located at  3521 South River Road in Fieldale. Each walk that you participate in throughout the year will gain you one entry into the big end of the year drawing. Complete all the walks and you'll have 23 chances to win!

Tuesday Morning Strolls is a program developed by DRBA and this will be it's third year. The program is a partnership between DRBA, Henry County Parks & Recreation, Activate Martinsville-Henry County, and Martinsville Parks & Recreation. The program is funded with support from the Harvest Foundation. For a compete list of upcoming walks, contact DRBA at 276-634-2591 or drba.va@danriver.org.

Mitchell Bridge River Access is Complete!

Never again will you have to lug your canoe or kayak up through the briars, praying that you don't get run over by a car at the top! Those days are over thanks to Henry County Parks & Recreation's new addition of a river access on the Smith River at Mitchell Road Bridge in Axton.

The new access is located river left upstream of the bridge and has ample parking for vehicles and trailers. A wider ramp at the river's edge will allow multiple canoes/kayaks to pull up or launch at the same time. The access is already getting rave reviews from paddlers who have tried it out.

Henry County Public Service Authority has worked for several weeks to install the ramp and parking lot. Recently inmates from Patrick Henry Correctional Unit #28 came out to help clear the area of debris and brush to make way for new plantings of dogwoods, sycamores, and low bushes that will protect the river from runoff. Today, C.D. Prillaman with Prillaman Landscape Dimensions, Inc. of Ridgeway, will be planting those trees and shrubs to enhance the area.

Many of you also helped to make this happen. Everyone who came out to support the Dan River Basin Association at our first ever Smith River Film Festival in September and the replay of the films at Philpott Lake in November helped to fund this project. More than $1,000 was raised by river supporters like YOU!

Thank you for your support and be sure to come out and visit the access soon. From Hwy 220 N. in Ridgeway, turn right onto Old Sand Road, take a left onto Eggleston Falls road and follow it until it ends at Mitchell Road. Turn left onto Mitchell Road, the access is approximately 2 miles away on your left.

Photos by Brian Williams

Youth Help Maintain Area Trails

Each month a group of helpful youth visits the Uptown Spur Trail in Martinsville to do their part and give back to the community. This group of young volunteers is part of the Smith River Trail System's Adopt-A-Trail Program representing the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Blue Ridge. At each visit the youth help to clear debris from the trail, pick up litter and monitor trail usage. They also partner with Gateway Streetscapes to remove weeds from flowerbeds along the trail. This group of youth is doing an amazing job by helping Martinsville Parks & Recreation keep the trail green and beautiful. If you haven't checked the trail out yet, be sure to visit soon. It is located at the corner of Depot and Franklin Streets behind the Historic Courthouse in Uptown Martinsville. The paved trail is 0.6 miles long and will connect to the 4.5 mile long Dick & Willie Passage in 2010.

For more information on becoming and Adopt-a-Trail Volunteer, please contact the Dan River Basin Association at 276-634-2545 or drba.va@danriver.org.

Photos contributed by Laurie Wardle

Bassett Christmas Parade

Contributed by: Jeannie Frisco