Spring Arrives on the Parkway!
Dear Friend,
While others are drifting outdoors after a long winter, FRIENDS has been actively getting the Blue Ridge Parkway ready for another spring season. And, FRIENDS chapters spent the winter months planning several events and projects.
The Roanoke Valley and Asheville chapters completed two very successful seedling plantings over two March and April weekends.
FRIENDS Rocky Knob Chapter just completed repairing all of the snake fences at Smart View, milepost 155 on the Parkway!
The Fisher Peak chapter again hosted Notre Dame students over their spring break.
FRIENDS Appalachian State University chapter built water bars, busted debris dams, excavated and reinstalled a wooden bridge at the Boone Fork Trail in Price Park.
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Ukrops Golden Gift Program
Don't forget to send Ukrops your Valued Customer Card points before May 28 and designate that they be donated to FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway! The program end ed March 29, and Ukrops will now send out certificates with a tally of your points. You can then donate these points to FRIENDS for help with Parkway programs and projects that are ramping up this spring. Please don't forget FRIENDS when you shop at Ukrops! View Ukrops' website for more information.
FRIENDS has new merchandise in the Online Store. Click the picture collage below to shop at FRIENDS!
We have reduced the prices on our front license plate from $15 to $8.99 and the bumper stickers have dropped from $5 to $4.
FRIENDS has a new Lapel Pin that can proudly be worn by all FRIENDS members and volunteers. This beautiful pin sells for only $10.
Visit our online store today.
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Parkway News
Junior Ranger Day Event at New Destination Center
In observance of National Junior Ranger Day, a special National Park Service event for children will take place on Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Blue Ridge Parkway’s new Destination Center located on the Parkway at milepost 384. Click here for more information.
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 Parkway Announces Two Mile Road Closure for Two Months
(Sparta, NC)—A 2.2 mile section of the Blue Ridge Parkway will be closed between Milepost 223.1 on the north end and Milepost 225.3 on the south end. The detour will begin for visitors traveling south at Saddle Mountain Church Road to Glade Valley Road to Shaw Town Road then to Mountain View Road which connects back to the Parkway at Milepost 225.3. Reverse this order for northbound Parkway traffic.
Parkway officials said this closure is necessary to facilitate painting the bridge superstructure, replace bridge expansion joints and perform related miscellaneous work. These repairs are estimated to take approximately 2 months to complete.
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Parkway Seeks Public Input
For Vista Management within Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel Habitat
(Asheville)—The Blue Ridge Parkway (Parkway) is seeking public input, through May 20, on an
Environmental Assessment (EA) for managing vistas within Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel (CNFS)
habitat along the Parkway. Listed as an endangered  species in 1985, some 25-30 years after the
construction of the Parkway through its habitat, the CNFS now receive additional protection through the
Endangered Species Act and through NPS Management Policies.
For more information on this article, click here.
With visits to the Parkway increasing, it makes sense to support FRIENDS' programs such as Saving Parkway Views and Volunteers in Parks (VIP). Help us keep the Blue Ridge Parkway a beautiful vacation destination for tens of thousands of visitors each year! Click on the button below to make a contribution.
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Mountains to Sea
Mountains to Sea Trail
http://www.ncmst.org
Educational Workshop for FMST Volunteers:
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) is hosting a trail building workshop at Warren Wilson College during the weekend of May 3-4th. This workshop has been opened up to any FMST volunteer that would like to attend for FREE! This free educational workshop is a great way to learn about the art and science of sustainable trail building. Click on the PDF file for more details.
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Chapter News
Appalachian State University Chapter - If you are interested in getting involved with this chapter, contact Heather Preston at prestonhp@appstate.edu.
The Asheville Chapter - The Asheville Chapter is under consideration by the NPS for the invasive species project in the Asheville corridor of the Parkway. It would involve eradication of invasive species, such as bittersweet, which are suppressing desirable species. If you would like to join the Asheville chapter, please email Tom Morgan, co-chair of the Asheville Chapter, at tmorgan51@bellsouth.net.
Fisher Peak Chapter
-
If you would like to join the Fisher Peak chapter, contact Dottie Bramley
- Volunteer Coordinator
at pdbramley@valink.com or call (276) 236-7658.
Roanoke Valley Chapter - The Roanoke Valley Chapter is looking for new members to expand the chapter.
For more information regarding the Roanoke Valley Chapter, contact the FRIENDS office at staff@friendsbrp.org for more details.
Rocky Knob Chapter - With all the clean-up needed on the Parkway, the Rocky Knob Chapter just finished repairing the snake fences at Smart View, milepost 155. They are headed to a new site at milepost 164.5 where they will repair more fencing and help clean up the campgrounds. For more information about this chapter, contact Gloria Hilton at gjhilton1@yahoo.com
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VA and NC State Employees Support FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway
NC State Employees Campaign
FRIENDS will be receiving approximately $4,000 for the 2007-2008 NC State Employees Campaign to be distributed quarterly. On March 31, 2008, FRIENDS received a check in the amount of $543.98 representing the first distribution.
Commonwealth of Virginia Employees Campaign
FRIENDS participated in the 2007 Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign. Employees of the Commonwealth designated $826.00 to FRIENDS for the 2007 Campaign.
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National Public Lands Day
Please start thinking about how you can support your national park in September! National Public Lands Day is the nation's largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance the public lands. In 2007, 110,000 volunteers built trails and bridges, planted trees and native vegetation, and removed trash and invasive plants.
If your chapter or group would like to join the 15th annual National Public Lands Day on September 27, 2008 please visit the NPLD website at www.publiclandsday.org and send an email to staff@friendsbrp.org to let us know your plans.
National Trails Day
 American Hiking Society's signature trail awareness program, National Trails Day® (NTD), inspires the public and trail enthusiasts nationwide to seek out their favorite trails to discover, learn about, and celebrate trails while participating in educational exhibits, trail dedications, gear demonstrations, instructional workshops and trail work projects.
NTD also provides an opportunity to thank volunteers, land managing agencies, and outdoor-minded businesses for their support in developing and maintaining trails.
For more information on this summer's National Trail Days, please click on the link below:
National Trails Day
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FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway offers young and old, together, the opportunity to connect with friends and family to save the Blue Ridge Parkway for their continuing enjoyment - and for future generations. The Blue Ridge Parkway connects the Shenandoah National Park with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is America's most scenic drive encompassing 469 miles traversing 29 counties in Virginia and North Carolina. Over 20 million people touch its borders annually - making it America's most frequented park treasure!
By joining Preserving the Legacy you will be supporting projects that will protect this extraordinary Parkway and adjacent land and views for yourselves and for future generations. FRIENDS is an official National Park Service partner. Please join us by choosing one of our deserving Programs today!
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Washington, DC –The White House welcomed Take Pride in America volunteers as special guests at the annual White House Easter Egg Roll, and a senior White House official honored one outstanding Take Pride in America volunteer with the President’s Volunteer Service Award.
For more on this story, click here.
For more information, visit www.TakePride.gov.
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