The Harvest Foundation awarded a one year grant to Gateway Streetscape Foundation for enhancements to the Uptown Business District.  The grant funds were awarded for a custom trail shelter, unifying mulch for the uptown business district, four custom leaf sculptures, signage, safety lights and landscaping. The Uptown Rail Trail is located on the old railroad spur line in the area of Depot Street and Lester Street. The City of Martinsville had previously cleared and paved the trail. 

            Gateway added a custom gazebo and it now contains original art enhancements.  Mr. Ed Dolinger, a local sculpture, was commissioned to do the work and he also constructed the four custom leaf sculptures for the trail.  The gazebo is in place, the concrete pavers were installed and the areas around the gazebo have been landscaped.

            Landscaping was completed in the late spring and included twenty seven trees and forty three shrubs.  Many of the plants selected were conifers so they will provide year round color for residents that use the trail.  Different gardens were designed and planted along the trail.  An edible garden was started at the trail head on Franklin Street and it includes a variety of fruit trees, asparagus, blueberry plants and raspberry plants.  It will eventually have herbs as well so that visitors can experience the aroma of herbs. 

            Other gardens that have been developed include a butterfly garden, a tropical garden and a Japanese influenced “stream bed.”  The stream bed includes limestone boulders and a meandering stream made of stone.  It had been enhanced with annual and perennial plants that were grown in Gateway’s greenhouse.  The annuals will be changed out seasonally so trail users will enjoy floral displays year round. An old Sycamore tree has been saved as a “hugging tree.”

            The whole trail enhancement part of the grant started with the involvement of the Boys and Girls Teen Club that was located on Franklin Street.  Mr. Dolinger and Lois Christensen met regularly with the teens to develop ideas for the trail landscaping and the original artwork.  Other partners involved in this project included the City of Martinsville, the Martinsville Sheriffs Department, Martinsville Electric Department, Martinsville Uptown Revitalization Association and the Martinsville-Henry County Historical Society.

Stanleytown Ruritans
Making a Difference

The Stanleytown Ruritans asked Gateway’s Director to speak to them last winter. They were interested in doing a community service project for the Stanleytown and Bassett area. They were especially interested in reinvigorating the sides of Fairystone Park Highway from the new Henry County Service Center to the business district of Bassett. Dogwood trees had been planted years ago along this stretch of highway and have died of old age or disease.

Gateway and the Ruritans have been working towards the replacement of the trees for most of 2009. They are a group of citizens that really are interested in making a difference and are interested in working towards that goal. There have been many obstacles to overcome along the way, but progress is being made. Special thanks go to Henry County Administrator Benny Summerlin for arranging a meeting with the railroad and to Wade Nester with engineering and mapping for pushing this ahead. We hope to be using American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to accomplish the planting in 2010.

While working on the road project, the Ruritans also had a sign carved to welcome residents to the Stanleytown area and Gateway assisted them with landscaping once the sign was in place. Hats off to a group that wants to do something that will brighten many residents day and are willing to do the work associated with realizing the end result. They are a delightful group and a model for volunteer groups everywhere.

STOP TOPPING TREES!

            There are numerous reasons why you should not top your trees.  Trees depend on their leaves for their manufacture of food and when you remove more than ¼ to ½ of the crown, you cut off its food-making ability.  The tree’s crown is like a sunshade that protects the bark from the direct rays of the sun and when you remove its top, you expose it to scalding and death.  Leaving behind large stubs at the end of the limbs leaves them exposed to disease and insects.  Think of it like leaving a large wound open on your skin and not protecting it with a Band-Aid.  The weak sprouts that develop from the large limbs are weaker and more prone to disease.  These “water sprouts” grow rapidly and form a weaker crown than what the tree developed naturally. 

Trees are a valuable asset.  A topped tree is just plain ugly and the tree never regains its original grace and character.  There are some valuable points to remember about topping.  The first is don’t ever top a tree.  Be sure to plant trees where they can grow naturally and won’t interfere with wires or buildings.  If pruning is necessary, consult a certified arborist or pick up a brochure and read about pruning.  The County Extension office has some excellent brochures on pruning and they are free!  If a tree has outgrown its space, don’t torture it, just cut it down.

Gateway Streetscape 2009
“Trash to Riches” Recycling Contest

Elementary School Winners:

First Place:

Daniel Baker  (Rich Acres Elementary School)

Project: “Aquarium” made with CD’s, packing peanuts, cardboard, plastic and paper 

Second Place:

Isaac Locklear  (Rich Acres Elementary School) 

Project: “Airplane” made with aluminum cans, aluminum, and cardboard 

High School Winners:

First Place:

Nichole Cassell and Andrew McCain  (Center for Community Learning)

Project: “Recycling Roundup Ranch” made with styrofoam, construction paper, newspaper & magazine clippings, popsicle sticks, pencil shavings, rocks, dirt, aluminum foil, cardboard, paper towels, paper bowl, plastic tape holder, plastic milk carton, pipe cleaners, cotton balls, beads from a necklace, grass, mulch, paper towel wrapper, sticks and thumb tacks

Second Place:

William Cannaday  (Martinsville High School)

Project: “Snake” made with a bike chain, ball bearings, staples, scrap metal and copper

Arbor Day Celebrated At Historic Henry County Courthouse

            Arbor Day was celebrated on the lawn of the Historic Henry County Courthouse on April 25, 2009.  Gateway awarded $265.00 in prize money to local students for their original tree poetry. Mr. Wayne Knox was our guest speaker and he did a wonderful job talking about our urban forest.

High School Winners
Left to Right – Kathy Lawson, Martinsville City Mayor, DarRius Estes, 3^rd place winner; Quiana Hairston, 2^nd place winner; Kristen Swinney, 1^st place winner; Lois Christensen, Gateway Streetscape Executive Director

Middle School Winners:
Left to Right – Kathy Lawson, Martinsville City Mayor; Jennifer Winn, 1^st place winner; Austin Reed, 2^nd place winner; Cody McVey, 3^rd place winner; Lois Christensen, Gateway Streetscape Executive Director.

            Gateway was one of the first local organizations to run a golf tournament as a fundraiser.  Not unusual, if something is successful, it is copied.  Now the area has fewer golfers and there is a glut of tournaments.  Therefore we have developed a new fundraising idea.  Advertising is very expensive as many of you know.  Our F250 truck has a very large Thieman tailgate.  We have had a channel installed around the edge of the tailgate which enables us to install a communication board which can be used to advertise your company, your events or your messages.

            We have been using it to advertise our events and it has been very successful.  The printed area is 50” wide by 18”tall and can include color pictures and your logo.  This program will be beneficial for any local business because we cover all of Martinsville, Ridgeway and Henry County.  The cost of the ad will be $125 for a week of exposure on the back of the truck.  All of the tee sponsors used to pay $100 for a four hour golf tournament, so this new sign program will give you much more exposure for a much longer amount of time.

            The best part is you will be able to help your company or organization and be helping Gateway too.  If you are interested in this new fundraiser please call for more details and we can send you the form.

Great Job Recycling        

Gateway Streetscape Foundation is the reporting agency for the City of Martinsville, the Town of Ridgeway and Henry County for environmental information that is required by the State of Virginia.  Gateway was recently notified that our 2008 Recycling Rate Report was accepted.  Our calculated recycling rate of 31.9% was accepted by the Department of Environmental Quality.  Last year our rate was slightly higher at 32.1%. We are happy with our recycling efforts and hope all individuals and companies will continue to promote recycling even more.

            State law requires that each city, county, town or region maintain a minimum of twenty-five percent of recycled materials. Rural areas such as the one we live in are only required to achieve fifteen percent. The data is collected according to calendar years and is due at the Department of Environmental Quality by April 30th each year.  The rates are calculated using (PRM) Principal Recyclable Materials, (SRM) Supplemental Recyclable Material and (MSW) Municipal Solid Waste.  Included in the PRM category are paper, metal, plastic, glass, commingled, yard waste, waste-wood and textiles.  Included in the SRM category are waste tires, used oil, used oil filters, used antifreeze, abandoned automobiles removed, batteries, sludge(composted), electronics and tree stumps that are greater than 6”in diameter. It also includes food waste which is in solid or liquid form. Included in the MSW category are household, commercial and institutional waste.

            We were able to achieve our rate because of all the recycling that takes place on a daily basis in Henry County, Martinsville and Ridgeway.  It takes the local governments, local businesses and local citizens all working together to do what we need to do to protect our environment.  Thanks to all the people that keep track of what is being recycled so that we can prepare the report and make it possible to surpass our goals.