October 2008 eNewsletter
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FRIENDS
of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Inc.
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Vol. 4 Issue: 10
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October 2008
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Dear FRIENDS,
As cooler weather brings fall colors, Parkway drivers should be prepared for increased traffic as well as longer and slower drive times. Motorists are encouraged to practice Parkway etiquette by giving extra space to cyclists and by using the park's many scenic overlooks to allow other vehicles to safely pass. Drivers are also urged to show extra patience for slower RV and bicycle traffic and extra caution for the park's many species of wildlife which are often seen along the roadway.
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Blue Ridge Parkway 75th Anniversary Celebration Kick Off The Blue Ridge Parkway will celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2010, but the anniversary celebration was launched at a Symposium on October 9 at the Vinton War Memorial. The 75th Anniversary Celebration Kick Off concluded with a press conference on Friday, October 10. FRIENDS Board members are pictured above at the Symposium. Click here for more information on the 75th celebration.
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Appalachian State University Chapter
Appalachian FRIENDS Celebrate Another Parkway SuccessMembers of the Appalachian State University Chapter of FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway gathered in Blowing Rock Saturday, Sept. 20, to build part of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail along Goshen Creek. It was an effort that added even more hiking opportunities to the Blue Ridge Parkway, as well as created a missing link of the MST system.
"It was great to see dedicated Appalachian FRIENDS members show up at 8 a.m. on a Saturday to help maintain the mission of the Parkway," said chapter president Nathaniel Smathers.
"We got to build part of a brand new trail and got to help the people who support the Mountains-to-Sea Trail project."The eight Appalachian FRIENDS members who participated in the first fall semester project included Smathers, Bill MacMinn, Scott Phifer, Blake Hooks, Connor Rice, Nate Warren, Jake Lindheimer and Heather Paige Preston.
The student-run Appalachian FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway is the first university-affiliated chapter of FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway, a nonprofit, volunteer organization dedicated to preserving and protecting the Blue Ridge Parkway. Club members seek to promote the natural beauty, ecological vitality and cultural distinctiveness of the Blue Ridge Parkway through volunteer services and special events.
For more information about Appalachian FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway, contact Nathaniel Smathers at ns63665@appstate.edu.
Roanoke Valley Chapter
The Roanoke Valley Chapter of FRIENDS held its membership meeting on September 17th at the Roanoke County Main Library. Karen J. Hall, author of the book "Building the Blue Ridge Parkway", gave a presentation on her research for the book. Karen is also the author of "Postcard History Series, The Blue Ridge Parkway", and she had samples from her postcard collection on display. At the conclusion of the meeting Karen signed copies of her books for chapter members in attendance who had previously purchased them.
Maggie Toole, the Chapter Secretary, briefed the attendees on areas of the Parkway that could possibly be added as chapter sponsored projects. The suggestions included trail maintenance on the Roanoke River Overlook, clean up of the Roanoke River, split rail fence repair and graffiti clean up at the Roanoke Mountain Overlook on the four-mile loop.
The Chapter needs members! Please consider joining FRIENDS today and/or volunteering your time to help the Parkway. If you would like more information on the Roanoke Valley Chapter, please contact Joe Gilkison at jigilkison@msn.com.
Gretchen Weinnig, a FRIENDS board member, presented an overview of the programs for which FRIENDS provides funding and volunteers. They include: Volunteers in Parks Program; Trails Forever Program; Save Parkway Views Program; Donation Boxes; Preserving the Hemlocks; Membership Services and Parkway Education and Outreach. Fisher Peak Chapter
Dottie Bramley, the volunteer coordinator for the Fisher Peak Chapter reports that 12 students from the University of Notre Dame will be visiting the week of October 19-25. They will be staying at the Hostel off the Parkway at MP 212.5. Volunteers are needed to work with them on trails, landscaping and possibly fence repair. Volunteers are also needed to help with meals throughout the week.
Please let Dottie know if (and how) you can help (pdbramley@valink.com), whether it is working with the students, helping with a social activity, or coordinating, hosting or assisting with a meal.
Asheville Chapter
The Asheville Chapter held its "Weed Identification Workshop" at the Folk Art Center on the Parkway on Saturday, Sept 27. The Asheville personnel were dismayed at the turnout, but they were pleased that their organization and planning made this event a lot easier to plan, budget, and execute as compared to the April Viewshed event. The severe gasoline shortage in Western North Carolina and the media attention on it probably contributed to the low turnout. The Asheville Chapter is busy planning its next event: A speaker-anchored social event in Asheville either at the Parkway Destination Center or at the Folk Art Center, probably in the March 2009 timeframe. Plans are in place to secure a speaker who can deliver a message that will enhance the attendees' experience when visiting the Blue Ridge Parkway. They are also building the foundation for a couple of events during the coming year that would be both fund-raising and interactive, targeting a youth audience.
The Chapter continues to meet with the NPS and seek projects to assist in the maintenance and enjoyment of the BRP. Stay tuned!
Peaks of Otter Chapter
The Peaks of Otter Chapter manned an exhibit table at the recent Nature Fest event held at the Peaks of Otter. This robust educational event was sponsored by Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and the Virginia Master Naturalists. Peaks of Otter member, Peter Lascell jumped right in to help in response to a need from the National Park Service. Pete repainted milepost markers from Shenandoah National Park south entrance at Afton Mountain to US-460 near Blue Ridge - mileposts 0 to 106. Recently retired, Pete spent 46 hours and traveled 481 miles to complete this project.
Pete tells FRIENDS that, "the project requires some muscle with a wire brush to clean the concrete post of the mold and moss that turns the post dark and hard to see. If the wire brush doesn't clean out the old loose paint, then it requires scraping and picking with a knife blade to get a good base to apply a little bit of new paint."
The Chapter needs members! Please consider joining FRIENDS today and/or volunteering your time to help the Parkway. If you would like more information on the Peaks of Otter chapter, please contact Greg Eaton at eaton.g@lynchburg.edu
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State Employee's Combined Campaign
Remember FRIENDS when you make your State Contribution:
North Carolina State Employees Combined Campaign (NCSECC) Code 3608
Virginia State Employees Contribution Campaign - Remember Code 3535
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The National Park Service Announced the Winners of the Volunteers Awards and the Volunteer of the Year
Pisgah District - Bill Anderson of the Folk Art Center
Volunteer of the Year Parkwide - Bill Anderson
Bill Anderson has not moved rock slides or road closures or even lifted the fog, but he has faithfully and dependably showed up to volunteer at the National Park Service information desk in the Folk Art Center every Wednesday for the last 16 years!
Ridge District - Lucy Black of Humpback Rocks
Mrs. Lucy Black spent a season selling books, maps and memorabilia at the Humpback Rocks Visitor Center as a volunteer in 1991. Thus began a long career of greeting visitors to the Blue Ridge Parkway. For the next sixteen years, Lucy has spent every Sunday after early church service helping travelers on the Blue Ridge Parkway. As the oldest and most loveable volunteer at the Visitor's Center, she is the only one who has her own personal parking space officially reserved each Sunday morning.
Plateau District - Dean and Betty Gordon of the Rocky Knob
For the past three summers Dean and Betty Gordon have moved their RV to Rocky Knob and lived there four days per week. They not only staff the Rocky Knob Visitor Center three to four days a week, they assist the district in many other ways: responding to emergencies, assisting Eastern National by operating the book store in the sales area, providing cultural demonstrations at Mabry Mill and assisting with interpretive chores as well as many other jobs.
Highlands District - John and Ginny Outwater of Price Park
John and Ginny Outwater have been nominated for the Volunteer of the Year Award. This is the second season the Outwaters have been Highlands campground hosts. They arrive in
mid-summer and stay till the season ends in November. Reliable as the sunrise, they have received many compliments from visitors. From helping people in family crisis to helping first time campers get setup or helping campers fix generators, awnings, vehicles, etc., John and Ginny have been there for the campers of Julian Price Park Campground.
Headquarters - Dr. Eric Menges
Eric Menges is employed at Archbold Biological Station in Lake Placid, Florida where he is a plant ecologist. Eric brings his family to the mountains to vacation, usually spending two to three weeks. The Blue Ridge Parkway contains four globally rare and endangered plants. The health and vigor of these species is critical to their long-term survival. Eric offered to help with rare plant monitoring and ever since, the Park has greatly benefitted from his efforts.
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Blue Ridge Parkway 469 Mile Award
FRIENDS, in cooperation and partnership with the National Park Service Blue Ridge Parkway, would like to celebrate your Parkway journey! If you have experienced all 469 miles of the Parkway from beginning to end, whether by automobile, bicycle, motorcycle or by foot - we want to hear from you. FRIENDS is asking all Parkway travelers who have made the journey to complete the FRIENDS' application and receive recognition for your accomplishment. Click here for more information.
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South African Visits the Blue Ridge Parkway The staff at the FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway office received an email from a Parkway visitor who traveled from Pretoria, South Africa. He stated, "What a fantastic experience! Thank you for the excellent condition of the Parkway." The staff at FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway would like to pass on his gratitude to all who volunteer to keep our beloved Parkway beautiful. Thank You!
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Blue Ridge Masters of Guitar, Banjo and Fiddle
The Musical Heritage of the Blue Ridge Showcases the Blue Ridge Masters of Guitar, Banjo and Fiddle. The last of the shows will be held on Sunday, October 19, 2008 from 2-3 p.m. at the Blue Ridge Music Center in the Indoor Theater on the Blue Ridge Parkway, Milepost 213. Admission is free but seating is limited to 95. Come early. On October 19 Jimmy Edmonds, Richard Bowman, and Eddie Bond will be featured.
Blue Ridge Music Center The museum has a new travelling exhibit - Crooked Road Royalty - featuring rare film footage and photographs. It is open 9-5 daily through November 2, with informal music presentation most afternoons. Call for schedules and more information: 276-236-5309 or visit the website www.blueridgemusiccenter.net.
The Blue Ridge Music Center is located near Galax, Virginia, at milepost
213 on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
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October is MST Month Governor Mike Easley just proclaimed October as Mountains-to-Sea Trail Month. Celebrate the occasion by joining us at one of more than 50 events from Clingmans Dome to Jockey's Ridge. You can enjoy the trail where it's already built, or you can explore places where it's planned for the future. Guided dayhikes, overnight backpacks, paddling, biking, or purchasing a raffle ticket for outdoor equipment are just some of the ways you can participate.
Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail will conduct a raffle throughout October with all proceeds going towards efforts to extend and maintain the trail across North Carolina. Buy your ticket at any Great Outdoor Provision Co. store, located in eight cities across North Carolina, or at the Johnson Subaru dealership in Cary. Prizes include a chance to win a $300 gift certificate from Great Outdoor Provision Co. and a grand prize drawing of a Yakima Sky Box (luggage carrier) filled with great outdoor equipment!
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"Simply Beautiful" - A New Blue Ridge Parkway Book Published By Scott Nicholson"Simply Beautiful" is a new book about the Blue Ridge Parkway. Cara Ellen Modisett is the author of "Blue Ridge Parkway: Simply Beautiful," drawing on the region she loves and which she's covered as a writer and editor for years. The book focuses heavily on photographs from a husband-and-wife team who are veterans of regional outdoor photography, Chuck and Pat Blackley.
"The Blackleys have a talent for capturing the huge views, but also the small details. They have the eye for it.", Cara said. The book is published in connection with FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. FRIENDS provided a preface for the book to share its mission with readers. Contact FRIENDS by email for more information on this book: www.BlueRidgeFriends.org.
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Photo Contest Wrap-Up
This is the final month to enter the FRIENDS of the Parkway
Photo Contest. The deadline for entries is October 30, 2008. So grab your camera and capture the Parkway in its fall best.
Click here for more information about the contest and how to enter.
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