News Articles
The Floating Lotus Event
June 23, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Tiffany Haworth
(336) 627-6270
thaworth@danriver.org
A CELEBRATION OF LIFE IN THE SMITH RIVER
(BASSETT, VA) A celebration of life took place when 1,000 lotus flowers, symbolizing memories and celebration of loved ones, were released on the Smith River in Bassett, Virginia at the Floating Lotus event on Saturday, June 23, 2018. The event supported local programs provided by the Dan River Basin Association (DRBA) and Gateway Streetscape Foundation. Almost 100 spectators stood on the banks and bridge in Bassett and cheered as the flowers floated down the river. Each flower was purchased by people as a celebration and remembrance of a special person, pet or event in their lives.
"This is the only event like this in Virginia," said Tracy McKoy, Executive Director of Gateway Streetscape Foundation. "The idea for the event came to me after my mother passed away in January of this year. She loved to sit by the Smith River and found peace along its banks. I wanted to do something in her memory and to give others a way to celebrate their loved ones. I contacted DRBA because they are the experts when it comes to the river and the Floating Lotus event was created."
More than 30 volunteers were needed to help out at the event to put the flowers in the river at the starting point, follow the flowers in kayaks and gather the flowers at the end of the float.
"DRBA wanted to make sure the event did not cause any negative impact to the health of our river," said Brian Williams, DRBA's Virginia Program Manager. "It took a lot of planning and people to ensure both the volunteers were safe and the flowers were collected. It was worth all the planning though, the event was just beautiful and I think everyone who and came out to see the flowers felt inspired knowing that each one of those flowers represented the celebration of someone who was loved very much."
On DRBA's website, people were able to write why they bought their lotus flowers. Flowers were bought in memory of passed loved relatives and pets, for living relatives and friends, and for new births, weddings and special occasions.
"I heard people saying the names of their loved ones as the flowers floated down the river," said Tiffany Haworth, DRBA's Executive Director. "It was an honor to be part of such a unique and beautiful way to celebrate the lives of so many people and I truly hope this becomes an annual event. We can't thank our sponsors and all the volunteers enough for making this event a reality."
The Floating Lotus event major sponsors included Jones/DeShon Orthodontics, Everything Outdoors and EMI Security. Ad Art donated posters and postcards to promote the event, Ridgeway Signs donated the event banner, and Little Caesars of Collinsville and Mountain Valley Brewing for sponsoring the After Party. Other event sponsors included Collins-McKee-Stone Funeral Home, Dam Good Equipment, Hugo's Casual Quality Dining, Red & Mae's Restaurant, Radial and Wright Funeral Services and Crematory.
To learn more about Gateway Streetscape Foundation and its projects that contribute to a healthier environment and create an attractive community, call (276) 634-4674, email tmckoy@co.henry.va.us or visit http://www.henrycountyva.gov/Gateway-Streetscape.html.
To learn more about DRBA's impact and programs that protect and conserve our natural resources, call (276) 634-2545, email drba.va@danriver.org or visit www.danriver.org.
The mission of the Dan River Basin Association is to promote and protect the natural and cultural resources of the Dan River basin through education, recreation, and stewardship. DRBA works to fulfill that mission by building river accesses and trails, educating people of all ages about protecting our natural resources, and protecting our water resources through water quality monitoring efforts. The Dan River basin is 3,300 square miles including sixteen counties throughout Virginia and North Carolina. To learn more about DRBA and how you can protect our natural and cultural resources, visit www.danriver.org.
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Boys & Girls Club Storm Drain Marking, Eden, NC
June 19, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Tiffany Haworth
(336) 627-6270
thaworth@danriver.org
KIDS USE SPRAY PAINT TO HELP KEEP OUR RIVERS HEALTHY
(Eden, NC) Youth attending summer camp at the Eden Boys & Girls Club had the opportunity to wield a spray can in the intersection of Henry and Washington Streets in Eden today. The youth were participating in the Dan River Basin Association's (DRBA) Storm Drain Marking program which uses spray-painted stencils on storm drains to remind people that litter, debris and oil on the roads ends up in our local rivers and streams.
DRBA's Storm Drain Marking programs starts with an interactive presentation about the value of storm drains and the consequences of allowing anything other than water to go down them. Youth learn that what goes into a storm drain flows directly into rivers and streams without being filtered and their drinking water also comes from the river. Youth also learn about different types of pollution such as nonpoint and point-source pollution and brainstorm strategies on how to decrease the amount of pollution that ends up going into storm drains.
With the permission of City of Eden's Public Works, the youth get to go and spray paint a stencil onto a storm drain that reads "Dump No Waste, Drains to River." DRBA provides all supplies necessary to do a storm drain marking project for free and makes the "Storm Drain Marking Kits" available to corporate groups, youth groups, nonprofits, families and clubs interested in doing a fun and unique project that also educates the community about the importance of healthy rivers and streams.
“This was a great opportunity for our kids to learn about how pollution can affect our waterways and drinking water," said Chris LaPrade, Program Director at the Eden Boys & Girls Club. "Also, they loved the chance to get out of the Club and help bring awareness to their community. We are excited to partner with the Dan River Basin Association and help in the important work they are doing in this community and others all along the Dan River.”
DRBA's Storm Drain Marking projects have occurred in Danville, VA, and other towns in Virginia. This is the first DRBA Storm Drain Marking program in North Carolina.
"We are very excited to provide this special program in the City of Eden," said Tiffany Haworth, DRBA Executive Director. "I hope that the youth from the Boys & Girls Club will inspire more groups to come out and do a 'Marking Project' in Eden and other towns and cities in Rockingham County."
The City of Eden is planning on installing permanent medallions on select storm drains in the late Summer to remind people to make sure only water goes down storm drains.
"The work of these wonderful youth from the Boys and Girls Club today is a perfect launch for the City of Eden's Storm Drain Medallions that will be installed in the late summer ," said Cindy Adams, Director of Tourism for the City of Eden. "The more we can remind our citizens to keep litter and debris from entering our storm drains, the healthier our rivers will be for our citizens and visitors to enjoy."
DRBA also provides several other programs that citizens can do to help keep the rivers healthy such as Water Protector Certification, Kids4Rivers, Citizen Water Quality Monitoring and more.
“I learned that it is very important not to litter because it goes into river and the water that we drink comes from the river," said Boys & Girls Club youth, Amonie, age 12, "It was fun because we got to do a physical activity.”
“My favorite part was that when we got to paint we let people know that the pollution runs into the water and we don’t want to drink the water that is polluted so we don’t get sick,” said Boys & Girls Club youth, Skylar, age 10.
To learn more about Storm Drain Marking and DRBA's other programs that protect and conserve our natural resources, visit www.danriver.org
The mission of the Dan River Basin Association is to promote and protect the natural and cultural resources of the Dan River basin through education, recreation, and stewardship. DRBA works to fulfill that mission by building river accesses and trails, educating people of all ages about protecting our natural resources, and protecting our water resources through water quality monitoring efforts. The Dan River basin is 3,300 square miles including sixteen counties throughout Virginia and North Carolina. To learn more about DRBA and how you can protect our natural and cultural resources, visit www.danriver.org.
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