YMCA drops plan to build camp in Chesapeake park
http://hamptonroads.com/2010/02/ymca-drops-plan-build-camp-chesapeake-park

By Mike Saewitz
The Virginian-Pilot
© February 10, 2010

The YMCA is abandoning its plan to build a summer camp in Northwest River Park.
Chuck Harris, CEO of the YMCA of South Hampton Roads, said Tuesday that the decision was made after his organization learned it would have to build a sewage treatment system, which would violate a promise not to create any negative environmental impact to the park.
"We're going to live by that promise," Harris said. Building a sewage treatment center "would not be consistent to our commitment to being environmentally friendly."
The YMCA planned to spend $3 million to build a swimming pool and other facilities on about 5 acres of rezoned land. The City Council approved it last year despite opposition from neighbors and residents who said the rezoning happened without proper notice. A petition to overturn the council vote fell short.
"I am ecstatic," said Lesa Miles, a Chesapeake resident who led the attempt to overturn the vote. "These were issues we brought up. If they had listened to our concerns from the beginning, maybe it would have saved some of their money and problems."
The YMCA already invested $350,000 in the Chesapeake summer camp, one of several planned for South Hampton Roads, Harris said. Consultants initially told the YMCA that only a standard septic system would be required, he said. It was only in the p ast few months that the YMCA was told otherwise. "We're in the evaluative stage of what went wrong and how it went wrong," he said of the consultants' advice.
The YMCA is still looking for a location to build a summer camp in Chesapeake and is working with city officials to identify other properties that might work, Harris said.

Mike Saewitz, (757) 222-5207, mike.saewitz@pilotonline.com

The preliminary agenda for SETC - Atlanta is now posted on the website.
Check out the great line up of trail related programs. If you attended SETC
2006 in Va you will find some of the same great speakers on the agenda. this
year too!

www.southeasternequestriantrails.com
<http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.southeasternequestri
antrails.com%252FSETC_2010_Preliminary_Agenda_2-5-10.pdf&h=6bec01e1deebf2a1a
0feee2ab831d790&ref=nf>

Sally Aungier
Boards:
Virginia Horse Council
Trails & Greenways Task Force, Virginia Outdoors Plan
Southeastern Equestrian Trails Conference (SETC)
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Keep up with current trail events by joining VaHorseTrails. To subscribe
just click on this link: <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Vahorsetrails/>
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Vahorsetrails/

Looking for more information about Virginia Trails - visit
http://www.virginiaoutdoors.com

Feed: DCR Virginia
Posted on: Monday, February 08, 2010 2:49 PM
Author: DCR Virginia
Subject: Trail Section Closed For Bridge Installation

A section of trail at High Bridge Trail State Park will close on Wednesday, February 24th due to installation of a vehicular bridge by Longwood University <http://www.longwood.edu/18563_18568.htm> . Park closures will take place between Farmville Train Station and Buffalo Creek. Temporary closures will also occur periodically until March 3rd.
The Lancer Park project was developed by Longwood University to provide a safer, shorter and more visually appealing commute for students who live at Lancer Park, a community made up of townhouses and apartments. Installation of a pedestrian bridge (see photo) was recently completed.

<http://cdn.content.compendiumblog.com/uploads/user/455706c3-4e63-4b65-af54-3b0f3b300fe5/1fc5cb86-1d3c-41ed-a9b2-edbdabc7dbbf/Image/3a4036acdc9f2a5d4ecc1d41ef66ec03.jpg>

The pedestrian bridge walkway will connect to a vehicular bridge that consists of two lanes, a pedestrian sidewalk and deceleration lanes. This vehicular bridge passes over High Bridge Trail and will be the new entrance to Lancer Park. Completion of the project is expected sometime in late May 2010.

View <http://blog.virginiaparks.org/blog/dcr-virginia/0/0/trail-section-closed-for-bridge-installation> article...

U.S. Forest Service and SCA To Partner on ARRA Trail work
National Forest Trails To Benefit from Federal Stimulus Funding

Roanoke, VA (Feb. 8, 2010) - The U.S. Forest Service and the Student Conservation Association (SCA) will partner to improve numerous trails on the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, using funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). SCA is currently recruiting to fill nine project leader positions and 37 trail team member positions for seven SCA trail teams. During the summer and fall of 2010, these teams will improve up to 175 miles of national forest trails in Alleghany, Augusta, Bath, Botetourt, Craig, Highland, Montgomery, Roanoke and Smyth Counties.

This project will provide work opportunities through SCA, the country’s leading conservation service organization. SCA partners with public land managers to build conservation leaders and engage young adults in hands-on environmental stewardship. Trail teams live and work together in the backcountry. Team members receive a living allowance, food, and housing; while learning trail skills, outdoor leadership, wilderness first aid, and Leave No Trace outdoor ethics.

“We welcome this opportunity to work with SCA to provide jobs and accomplish important natural resource work,” said Henry Hickerson, Acting Forest Supervisor. “This work would not be possible without federal stimulus funding.” Hikers, backpackers, horse riders, bicyclists, and motorized recreation enthusiasts enjoy more than 2,100 miles of trails on the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests.

Information sheets for the SCA project leader and trail team member positions are available from local U.S. Forest Service offices. Detailed information and applications are available at the SCA website, www.thesca.org
Additional information about ARRA is at www.recovery.gov
and www.fs.fed.us/recovery/


State Forest Use Permit
As of 7/1/09 the State Forest Use Permit is required for anyone 16 years and older who hunts, fishes, traps, rides mountain bikes or horses in one of Virginia’s 19 State Forests. Anyone walking, hiking or canoeing will not need the Use Permit. The State Forest Use Permit is available online or at authorized retailers who sell the Virginia state hunting license for a cost of $15, good for one year.

SEAT Attire:  A variety of shirts are currently available, contact Casey Shackleford, 421-2799.

WANTED:  SEAT members who would like to take part in a committee to help run SEAT functions, parades, or membership/sponsor drives.  This is a perfect position for anyone who has joined the club but for whatever reason, is unable to ride at our functions, but wants to be a part of our horse loving community.  This is a great way to meet new people and to really make a difference.  Feel free to contact Dana Goheen at 757-619-7387 if you are interested or would like more information.

Northwest River Park needs your support; by buying an individual or family membership is the only way that the park can show the city of Chesapeake that the horse community is interested in keeping the trails open to equestrians.  An individual membership is only $15 and a family membership is only $30 for a whole calendar year. The park is open all year from 9 AM until sunset, every day of the week. Please buy a membership so that we can take advantage of these trails for years to come.

Free for trail riders: The Equine Network offers a free online newsletter for trail-riding enthusiasts. Called “On the Trail”, it features tips, advice, and ideas to help you enjoy the great outdoors with your horse. To sign up to receive it, go to HorseandRider.com and type On the Trail Newsletter Sign Up into the search box.

Our Website is being updated! If you find things missing or links that don't work, please feel free to email Taunya, our webmaster at webmaster@seat-va.org, Thank you!

2009 GRAVES' MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL OF MUSIC STABLE INFORMATION

*The Main Camping Field will be closed for the Graves' Mountain Festival of Music from Tuesday, May 19 through Tuesday, June 2.
*Apple Barn Field will be open Tuesday, May 19 until Monday, May 25 at 12:00 p.m., noon.
*After 12:00 p.m., noon on Monday, May 25, all horses must be a stall rental at the stables. The Apple Barn and Field will be closed and locked.
*Anybody field camping after 12:00 p.m., noon on Monday, May 25, must have a 3-day ticket for the Bluegrass Festival.
*Absolutely no horses are allowed in Bluegrass Camping Field at any time.
*All stable rentals must have a 3-day ticket from Monday, May 25 through Sunday, May 31.
*Some trails will be closed due to the Bluegrass Festival. *All horseback riders who want to ride on Graves' property must have a 3-day ticket. This requirement is for the dates starting on Monday, May 25 until Sunday, May 31, 2009.

SEAT JUDGED TRAIL RIDE

SEAT held our Judged Trail Ride at Northwest River Park in Chesapeake Saturday, November 22, 2008.  We had postponed our event from our original November 8 th choice because of rain couple days prior and not wanting to destroy the trails at the park.  We had 18 riders, a load of volunteers, and the enthusiast David Cynar Band on a sunny, frigid day.  Layers were a must!  Upon arriving home that night, the news said we set a record of 39 degrees for a high that day.  The average temperature they claim for that time of year is mid 50s!  So members, should we decide to do a judged trail ride again, I think early November is still a great choice.  Riding season for most organizations is winding down by then and typically the temperatures are still moderate. 

THANK YOU to all of our volunteers, judges, sponsors, and riders for making the day what it was ~ fun!!  It was a wonderful feeling to know we, SEAT, put on a fun competition, close to home in one of our local parks.  Without all of our volunteers, this event would not have been possible.  NWRP Rangers Paul Wilee and Peggy Froehlich were instrumental in helping make our event happen.  Your support is greatly appreciated!  Thank you to all of our members who helped ~ from distributing flyers starting in September to attending numerous planning meetings, and from setting up obstacles to clean up after the event, it was a team effort and those efforts are much appreciated!! 

SEAT had 5 successful work days at Northwest River Park in 2008.  If you haven't ridden at the park in a while, you should check out the trails between rains and muddy spells.  For many members, this park is close to home.  Use it and enjoy it!  Visit the park office for your membership or call the park at (757) 421-7151.  With all of our members' efforts, trails have been tuned and pruned, additional markings on trails, and there's a trail again on the right side of park ~ the SEAT Trail.  Thank you members for all your hard work!

Pictures from our event can be viewed at the following link.  http://www.flickr.com/photos/ christopherbollingphotography/ sets/72157609915076687/

Thanks again to everyone who helped and supported our event!!  ~ Kim B Vaughan  :)

Of Local Interest. . .

At the Chesapeake Public Library

~ Equine services directory  by Tidewater Horse Council (636.104 EQU 2006/08) is available at the Central Library
(Great Bridge ).

~ “Equus” and “Horse & Rider” magazines can be found at the Central Library ( Great Bridge ) and Major Hillard Library (Deep Creek).

~ If you search the catalog for the “horse” in the title, you will find 620 books! Searching “equine” yields 11 more and searching “equestrian” gets another two. These include fiction, non-fiction, adult and juvenile literature - everything from …

Black Beauty or Billy and Blaze to Richard Adams' Traveller and Rita Mae Brown's Riding Shotgun ~or~

The world according to horses : how they run, see, and think (J 636.1 BUD) to Two minutes to glory: the official history of the Kentucky Derby (798.4 BRO 2007)

The Virginia Wild Horse Rescue needs your help!

Dedicated to “Saving our American Heritage for Future Generations, the organization was founded in 2006 by Gene and Donna Snow of Virginia Beach for the purpose of preserving and protecting the free roaming wild horses in the NC/VA coastal area. The state of VA is working on a sanctuary in Virginia Beach . In the mean time, the group is working on getting memberships, sponsorships and/or donations to help with the cost of shots and gelding. They really need a first aid kit ( Bute , Rompen, vet wrap, wormer, Ace, Banamine etc.). They also have shirts with a full color front & back picture of "Timothy Red Feather" eating dun grass on the beach. They sell for $15.00 each. Any and all donations are accepted. For more information, call 721-7786 or go to the website for more info: http://www.virginiawildhorserescue.com/Welcome.asp .

Dismal Swamp Canal Trail update

The present “plan” is to leave the trail as is. Eventually, the city plans to create a separate 4 - 8 ft. wide stone dust path on the canal side. Keeping the horses on the outside edge also gives the horses a little more room to maneuver if needed. This information came from Eric Martin the City Engineer in charge of the program. For more information, go to: http://www.chesapeake.va.us/ - Chesapeake homepage - look on the right bar, or http://www.dsctdesign.net/ - The DSCT design webpage with link (click here) to go to the actual PowerPoint presentation (http://www.dsctdesign.net/downloads/pub_mtg_030608.pdf).

HORSE FEED RECALL - Eastern U.S. Feed Product Retrieval

* * For more details, go to: http://www.purinamills.com/ - on the right, click on the voluntary retrieval update; scroll to the bottom and click on the plant link. This will give the exact lot number found on your feed tags.* *

Land O'Lakes Purina Feed LLC has implemented a voluntary product retrieval of certain feeds manufactured between November 3, 2007 and February 8, 2008 at our Statesville , N.C. , feed plant; between January 1, 2008 and February 8, 2008 at our Harrisburg , Penn. , feed plant; and between January 1, 2008 and March 10, 2008 at our Guilderland , N.Y. plant.

This voluntary retrieval was initiated due to the possible presence of aflatoxin contamination above acceptable levels. To date, we have received no confirmed aflatoxin-related animal health complaints involving any of the retrieved products. Nevertheless, we have taken such precautionary action as our utmost priority continues to be our customers and the well-being of their animals.

All dealers who purchased any of the retrieved products directly from Land O'Lakes Purina Feed LLC have been notified. These dealers are located in the following states: Connecticut , Delaware , Georgia , Maine , Maryland , Massachusetts , New Hampshire , New Jersey , New York , North Carolina , Pennsylvania , Rhode Island , South Carolina , Tennessee , Vermont , Virginia and West Virginia .

Our investigation and product testing identified one ingredient of concern, which originated from a single supplier. We have discontinued purchasing from this supplier. Other feed companies that purchased from this supplier are facing a similar situation.

For more information about specific products included in the retrieval, contact the Statesville , N.C. , Feed Plant at 704-924-5100 or the Harrisburg , Penn. , Feed Plant at 717-737-4581 .