I spotted these raccoon tracks in the snow this morning.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Volunteer Jerry Austin, helps clear ML trails
A big thanks goes out to Jerry Austin from Pembroke, VA. For the past couple months, Jerry has contributed his time to help remove fallen trees off various ML trails. Jerry is a certified sawyer with the Appalachian Trail and volunteers with various trail clubs in the community. Over 22 miles of trails need constant maintenance and The Mountain Lake Conservancy relies solely on volunteer efforts to accomplish this. We will be holding a Volunteer Trail Day on the weekend of March 21 for area clubs, students and community members to come up for a weekend of rewarding trail work. Please check the volunteer tab on our website for more information.
I spotted these raccoon tracks in the snow this morning.
I spotted these raccoon tracks in the snow this morning.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Panoramic View from the North Side of the Lake
We have received a lot of rain this week and the lake levels have risen a bit more. This picture was taken 1-7-09. As I walked down to take this picture, many springs were gushing. We have about an inch of snow on the ground today.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Chilly temps freeze lake
When we arrived to work yesterday, our thermometer read zero...this morning, it was a chilly 18 degrees. The lake has frozen in an interested oblong shape. I have attached some pictures below.
The springs are running, breaking up chunks of frozen mud.
When temps drop, rhododendron leaves curl up tightly. As the soil begins to freeze up and water uptake becomes more difficult for roots and as the dry, cold air above ground begins to sap moisture from plants, rhododendron and many other plants take precautions to conserve their moisture.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Local School Reaches Out To Galveston
Betty Massey, Executive Director of The Mary Moody Northen Endowment, sent me this story today. The MMNE owns and operates Mountain Lake and is located in Galveston, TX.
When Terri Robertson challenged her Virginia middle school to get involved in a civic project this year, she hardly imagined it would have her sliding through a Texas snowstorm in a U-Haul truck.
But that's what the principal of Ben Franklin Middle School in Rocky Mount, Virginia, and her husband did, driving to Galveston in a truck loaded with nearly 600 Christmas gifts for the students and faculty at Central Middle School.
It all began innocently enough, when Robertson asked her faculty to inspire students to take on a civic project to teach them more than the three Rs.
When she saw Hurricane Ike rise out of the Gulf of Mexico September 13, she knew her school had a mission.
"I went online and looked at Galveston, at the damage from the storm and then schools," she said. "Central Middle School caught my attention because its students seemed so similar to ours back home. We're a bigger school, 1,700 students, but our kids share so many things in common."
Robertson's first step was to contact Central Principal Connie Herbert and ask what would help most.
"It started out small, just our immediate needs," said Herbert. "We needed copy paper, for example. Mrs. Robertson sent boxes and boxes. We mentioned basic school supplies and equipment, pencils, paper, notepads and the like. She sent a trailed loaded with computers, phones, coffee pots, towels, school supplies, and cases of bottled water."
The the kids in Rocky Mount got involved. First they set personal, individually addressed Thanksgiving cards to every student and teacher.
Then they got their hands on 560 cereal boxes, filled them with gifts and wrapped each with care...most with a personal note, best wishes, hopes for recovery. There were contests to see who could make the most special package, and the packages reflected the personalities of the students who wrapped them.
"We all wanted to reach out to Galveston, to connect," Robertson said. "That's when my husband Mike and I decided to rent a truck and bring the gifts down here ourselves."
Three days, 1,250 miles and an uncommon snowstorm later, they arrived in Galveston and delivered their sleighful of kindness at Weis Middle School, where Central's students have been sharing space since the hurricane.
"It came on an important day," Herbert said. "It was the day we read in the paper that Central wouldn't be opening for a long while, maybe not until next year, and we all needed a boost. We love our school, we love each other, and this was just what we needed that day."
Galveston did her best to return the Robertson's kindness. There were tickets to museums, a comfortable room at the San Luis Hotel, a christmas party with the Central and Weis faculties.
Betty Massey, executive director of Galvestons, Mary Moody Northen Endowment, said everyone she contacted for help responded generously.
"Paul Schultz at the San Luis was a wonderful host," she said, "and the Robertsons really appreciated it- they said the San Luis was one of the finest hotels they'd ever stayed in, and hoped they could return on vacation. The Galveston Historical Foundation hosted them at their museums, everyone pitched in to help show our gratitude for such an incredible gift."
"We all care so much for our children," she said, "and we're overwhelmed that someone from so far away could do so much. It makes you wonder what we can do ourselves, right here at home."
When Terri Robertson challenged her Virginia middle school to get involved in a civic project this year, she hardly imagined it would have her sliding through a Texas snowstorm in a U-Haul truck.
But that's what the principal of Ben Franklin Middle School in Rocky Mount, Virginia, and her husband did, driving to Galveston in a truck loaded with nearly 600 Christmas gifts for the students and faculty at Central Middle School.
It all began innocently enough, when Robertson asked her faculty to inspire students to take on a civic project to teach them more than the three Rs.
When she saw Hurricane Ike rise out of the Gulf of Mexico September 13, she knew her school had a mission.
"I went online and looked at Galveston, at the damage from the storm and then schools," she said. "Central Middle School caught my attention because its students seemed so similar to ours back home. We're a bigger school, 1,700 students, but our kids share so many things in common."
Robertson's first step was to contact Central Principal Connie Herbert and ask what would help most.
"It started out small, just our immediate needs," said Herbert. "We needed copy paper, for example. Mrs. Robertson sent boxes and boxes. We mentioned basic school supplies and equipment, pencils, paper, notepads and the like. She sent a trailed loaded with computers, phones, coffee pots, towels, school supplies, and cases of bottled water."
The the kids in Rocky Mount got involved. First they set personal, individually addressed Thanksgiving cards to every student and teacher.
Then they got their hands on 560 cereal boxes, filled them with gifts and wrapped each with care...most with a personal note, best wishes, hopes for recovery. There were contests to see who could make the most special package, and the packages reflected the personalities of the students who wrapped them.
"We all wanted to reach out to Galveston, to connect," Robertson said. "That's when my husband Mike and I decided to rent a truck and bring the gifts down here ourselves."
Three days, 1,250 miles and an uncommon snowstorm later, they arrived in Galveston and delivered their sleighful of kindness at Weis Middle School, where Central's students have been sharing space since the hurricane.
"It came on an important day," Herbert said. "It was the day we read in the paper that Central wouldn't be opening for a long while, maybe not until next year, and we all needed a boost. We love our school, we love each other, and this was just what we needed that day."
Galveston did her best to return the Robertson's kindness. There were tickets to museums, a comfortable room at the San Luis Hotel, a christmas party with the Central and Weis faculties.
Betty Massey, executive director of Galvestons, Mary Moody Northen Endowment, said everyone she contacted for help responded generously.
"Paul Schultz at the San Luis was a wonderful host," she said, "and the Robertsons really appreciated it- they said the San Luis was one of the finest hotels they'd ever stayed in, and hoped they could return on vacation. The Galveston Historical Foundation hosted them at their museums, everyone pitched in to help show our gratitude for such an incredible gift."
"We all care so much for our children," she said, "and we're overwhelmed that someone from so far away could do so much. It makes you wonder what we can do ourselves, right here at home."
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