Our family time today was a treat for Father's day with a meal at a pub. As it was a country pub, we decided to make an activity of it too and stopped off en route to fly a kite. The kites were presents from my sister in law, as at our last visit we had been talking about simple pleasures and kite flying. A few weeks later some lovely kites arrived for the children courtesy of her, a generous and thoughtful gesture. Although bright it was a breezy day, so perfect conditions to fly a kite. Little Miss got the hang of it very quickly and ran around the field flying her kite. Little man was more frustrated and cross with his kite until we realised one of the sticks had been put in incorrectly and when rectified he too ran and laughed at his kite. As a very unexpected bonus as we looking in the sky at our kites the Red Arrows flew over in formation, I've no idea where they were performing but it was a real treat to see them. Lunch at the pub was lovely, a simple but very happy Father's day.


text:
Leaked Photo of Rumored Microsoft Surface Phone With 2K Resolution (MSFT)
Author: Siraj Sarwar
Microsoft Corporation has been rumored to be building a flagship Surface Phone. The Surface Phone is a hot topic in the tech sector despite the Redmond technology firm hasn't made any official announcements regarding the device. The tech titan has often denied rumors regarding the Surface Phon. Recently, a user posted a photo on Chinese website Baidu to offer the first glimpse at the Surface Phone, Express reported.
Surface Phone Leaks
The photo shows a Surface Phone with a keyboard cover allowing users to type in easy and stylish mode. According to reports, the photo in the user forum of Baidu is believed to be authentic and was uploaded by a source who has a track record of leaking accurate information. The post claims the smartphone will get a 5.7-inch touchscreen with 2K resolution. It will be powered by a Snapdragon 830 processor.
According to rumor mills, the Surface Phone will feature a 20 megapixel rear camera with a Carl Zeiss lens. The smartphone will come with large storage space and RAM. The device will have an 8GB RAM and a Kaby Lake processor. The smartphones is rumored to get a Windows 10 Redstone operating system and Snapdragon 821 SoC.
Moreover, the Surface Phone is reportedly set to have a unique fingerprint sensor. The device is rumored to come with a unique fingerprint sensor. The company's patent filing shows that the scanner will be integrated on the smartphone's display, contrary to fingerprint sensors on the home button or the rear of the handset in most smartphones.
Reports suggest the Surface Phone is likely to be better than Apple's iPhone 7, and might give a compelling reason to iOS and Android users to switch to a Windows Mobile.
Reports have also suggested that the Redmond technology firm is planning to release three different versions of the Surface Phone. The base model of the Surface Phone will come with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, with a mid-range offering coming with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage.
Microsoft To Release Phone Early 2017
Sources told The Wall Street Journal that Microsoft Corporation had planned to launch the Surface Phone in 2012. However, the company scrapped its plans to release a version of the Surface Phone after it acquired Nokia's smartphone business, according to reports.
Earlier, rumors said that Microsoft will unveil the new Surface Phone in sometime 2016. But latest reports claim that the company is set to introduce the device early next year. A report in Mobile & Apps suggests that the new Surface Phone will arrive in March 2017.
iTechPost reported that Microsoft is likely to unveil the new smartphone during the company's event in October 2016. According to the report, the company seems to have finished work on the major specs of the Surface Phone.
Based in Saudi Arabia, Siraj has a strong understanding of and passion for accounting and finance. He has worked for international clients for many years on several projects related to the stock market, equity research and other business, accounting and finance related projects. Siraj is a published financial analyst on the world's leading websites including SeekingAlpha, TheStreet, MSN, and others.
Microsoft Surface Phone Rumored to Include This Special 'Touch' (MSFT)
Caesars Entertainment (CZR)'s Planet Hollywood Books Backstreet Boys Residency

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Unit 3 Lesson 6 What Factors Affect Climate?
a given time and place.
weather conditions over 30 years or more.
are based on distance from the equator.
determines what climate zone it is in.
• Tropical climates are found near the equator.
result, the area gets a lot of direct heat.
temperatures between 10 °C and 18 °C.
• Most temperate climates have four seasons.
are found near Earth's poles.
covered in snow and ice year-round.
climate zones on the map below.
bodies of water, and landforms affect climate.
elevations can make the climate cooler.
side of the mountain in the diagram below.
• Climate affects where organisms can live.
organisms that can live in the area.
• Swamps can be fresh water, salt water, or both.
soak in all the water that reaches the area.


text:
Q: JS: How to generate (random ) ID like ItXaK9gw What is the best way to generate random (pseudo-unique) ID that will include: 1) small chars 2) cap chars 3) digits with JavaScript (browser and node).
I know the solution with small chars register.
return ("00000" + (Math.random()*Math.pow(36,idLength) << 0).toString(36)).substr(-idLength);

I wonder if there is a like straightforward solution for ItXaK9gw like IDs.

A: You seem to already know how to generate a pseudo-random integer, so then all you need to do is base64 encode it.
Be aware though that JavaScript's pseudo-random number generator is not cryptographically strong so an attacker who can run JS in the browser at the same time you're generating your ID may be able to guess with relatively high likelihood the number you generate.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.IO;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading.Tasks;

namespace GeoTiffSharp
{
    public static class ScaleBinary
    {
        public static void Reduce(FileMetadata metadata, float[,] input, Stream output, int desiredPoints)
        {
            // s = scaler to solve for
            // d = desired points
            // (x / s) * (y / s) == d
            // so...
            // s = (sqrt(x) * sqrt(y))/sqrt(d)

            float scaler = (float)((Math.Sqrt(metadata.Height) * Math.Sqrt(metadata.Width)) / Math.Sqrt(desiredPoints));

            int newHeight = (int)Math.Floor(metadata.Height / scaler);
            int newWidth = (int)Math.Floor(metadata.Width / scaler);

            float[,] newMatrix = new float[newWidth, newHeight];

            float noDataValue = float.Parse(metadata.NoDataValue);

            using (BinaryWriter writer = new BinaryWriter(output))
            {
                for (int y = 0; y < newHeight; y++)
                {
                    for (int x = 0; x < newWidth; x++)
                    {
                        float value = input[(int)(x * scaler), (int)(y * scaler)];

                        //if (value != noDataValue)
                        //    value /= scaler;

                        writer.Write(value);
                    }
                }
            }

            metadata.Width = newWidth;
            metadata.Height = newHeight;
            metadata.PixelScaleX *= scaler;
            metadata.PixelScaleY *= scaler;

        }

    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Posted inPublic Safety
Georgia's Illegal Gaming Machine Payoffs Raise Probability of New Limits
Problems cited include illegal cash payouts, 'bad actors'
by Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder September 24th, 2020 Updated October 21st, 2020
Photo by Soumil Kumar on Pexels.com
Sen. Larry Walker, a Perry Republican, said counties in his middle Georgia district have had problems with illegal cash payouts and "criminal activity surrounding sort of the bad actors in this industry." Screenshot of Georgia Senate livestream
A push to curb illegal cash payouts for slot machine-like gaming is bringing state lawmakers and industry players together to mull potential regulatory changes.
This story also appeared in Georgia Recorder
At issue are gaming machines that resemble those clustered in abundance at casinos, but in Georgia, they are found at VFWs, convenience stores, restaurants and other locations. Unlike the machines in Las Vegas, a player in Georgia is not supposed to walk away with cash winnings.
But Sen. Larry Walker says that is what is happening back in his middle Georgia district. In Georgia, winners playing on any of the nearly 25,000 machines in Georgia are only eligible for credits that can be redeemed for lottery tickets, fuel and store merchandise. The winnings cannot go toward alcohol, cigarettes, firearms and other off-limits items.
"The counties I represent – Laurens, Bleckley, Pulaski and Houston in middle Georgia – we've had problems with cash payouts and criminal activity surrounding sort of the bad actors in this industry," Walker said at a meeting held Wednesday. "It's been a problem for a quite a while."
Some state lawmakers called on their colleagues to expand gambling in Georgia during the 2020 General Assembly. But now lawmakers find themselves in the legislative off season contemplating whether they should tighten up the rules for coin-operated amusement machines.
Walker, a Perry Republican, sponsored a bill this year that would let cities bar any location from having more than three machines. Today, as many as nine machines are allowed at any one spot.
His proposal also aimed to increase the amount of gaming proceeds dedicated to public education through the Georgia Lottery Corporation by dipping into the share of the money going to the license holder and local operator.
All told, the Georgia Lottery chipped in $1.2 billion to education last year – with $91 million of that coming from the lottery's 10% take from the machine gaming. The state lottery funds pre-K education and HOPE college scholarships.
Players spent more than $3 billion on the games last year and about $2.1 billion was redeemed.
Walker's bill made it out of a Senate Committee in March before the session was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. When lawmakers returned in June, they opted instead to send the matter to a study committee. That panel, which started its work Wednesday, could offer up recommendations for the legislative session that starts in January.
The machines have been around in Georgia for decades, often tucked in the back of convenience stores, and they have not always been regulated. The industry has been overseen by the Georgia Lottery since 2013.
Gretchen Corbin, who is the lottery corporation's president, said the agency hands off potential criminal cases to local and state law enforcement. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation, for example, announced this summer that it conducted a raid in Valdosta and Boston and found businesses that were doling out cash to winners.
The corporation has rolled out a pilot program that lets players load their winning credits onto an official Georgia Lottery gift card. Corbin said she hopes the gift cards will tamp down on the illegal cash payouts.
"Our responsibility is to serve as regulator and our desire is to be the best regulator possible, to hold up the statute that is provided to us while being the best business-friendly business partner that we can be," said Corbin, who has led the Georgia Lottery since 2018.
The state agency collected $9.3 million in fines and fees last year, up significantly from previous years because of a couple settlements. Violations include offering cash payouts, a store earning more than half of its revenues from gaming "redemptions" and manipulating the machines.
The state also collected $11.2 million in licensing and fees from gaming operators last year.
Warnock, Walker ride eye-popping fundraising totals into Georgia's Senate election homestretch
Georgians can vote Saturday after Thanksgiving with state Supreme Court ruling in GOP challenge
In "Courts"
Millions flow to top Georgia campaigns, candidates down the ballot as midterms near
Tagged: Gambling, Georgia, Public Safety
Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder
jnolin@georgiarecorder.com
Jill Nolin has spent nearly 15 years reporting on state and local government in four states, focusing on policy and political stories and tracking public spending. She has spent the last five years chasing... More by Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder
by Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder, The Current

Georgia's Illegal Gaming Machine Payoffs Raise Probability of New Limits

by Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder, The Current
September 24, 2020

Sen. Larry Walker, a Perry Republican, said counties in his middle Georgia district have had problems with illegal cash payouts and "criminal activity surrounding sort of the bad actors in this industry." Screenshot of Georgia Senate livestream

A push to curb illegal cash payouts for slot machine-like gaming is bringing state lawmakers and industry players together to mull potential regulatory changes.

At issue are gaming machines that resemble those clustered in abundance at casinos, but in Georgia, they are found at VFWs, convenience stores, restaurants and other locations. Unlike the machines in Las Vegas, a player in Georgia is not supposed to walk away with cash winnings.

But Sen. Larry Walker says that is what is happening back in his middle Georgia district. In Georgia, winners playing on any of the nearly 25,000 machines in Georgia are only eligible for credits that can be redeemed for lottery tickets, fuel and store merchandise. The winnings cannot go toward alcohol, cigarettes, firearms and other off-limits items.

"The counties I represent – Laurens, Bleckley, Pulaski and Houston in middle Georgia – we've had problems with cash payouts and criminal activity surrounding sort of the bad actors in this industry," Walker said at a meeting held Wednesday. "It's been a problem for a quite a while."

Some state lawmakers called on their colleagues to expand gambling in Georgia during the 2020 General Assembly. But now lawmakers find themselves in the legislative off season contemplating whether they should tighten up the rules for coin-operated amusement machines.

Walker, a Perry Republican, sponsored a bill this year that would let cities bar any location from having more than three machines. Today, as many as nine machines are allowed at any one spot.

His proposal also aimed to increase the amount of gaming proceeds dedicated to public education through the Georgia Lottery Corporation by dipping into the share of the money going to the license holder and local operator.

All told, the Georgia Lottery chipped in $1.2 billion to education last year – with $91 million of that coming from the lottery's 10% take from the machine gaming. The state lottery funds pre-K education and HOPE college scholarships.

Players spent more than $3 billion on the games last year and about $2.1 billion was redeemed.

Walker's bill made it out of a Senate Committee in March before the session was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. When lawmakers returned in June, they opted instead to send the matter to a study committee. That panel, which started its work Wednesday, could offer up recommendations for the legislative session that starts in January.

The machines have been around in Georgia for decades, often tucked in the back of convenience stores, and they have not always been regulated. The industry has been overseen by the Georgia Lottery since 2013.

Gretchen Corbin, who is the lottery corporation's president, said the agency hands off potential criminal cases to local and state law enforcement. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation, for example, announced this summer that it conducted a raid in Valdosta and Boston and found businesses that were doling out cash to winners.

The corporation has rolled out a pilot program that lets players load their winning credits onto an official Georgia Lottery gift card. Corbin said she hopes the gift cards will tamp down on the illegal cash payouts.

"Our responsibility is to serve as regulator and our desire is to be the best regulator possible, to hold up the statute that is provided to us while being the best business-friendly business partner that we can be," said Corbin, who has led the Georgia Lottery since 2018.

The state agency collected $9.3 million in fines and fees last year, up significantly from previous years because of a couple settlements. Violations include offering cash payouts, a store earning more than half of its revenues from gaming "redemptions" and manipulating the machines.

The state also collected $11.2 million in licensing and fees from gaming operators last year.

This article first appeared on The Current and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.


I was married in 2018 and during the Spring months my bridesmaids, close friends and I opted to get away to my favorite, gorgeous, and charming Southern city of Charleston, SC to enjoy a three day weekend of pretty festivities.
As a planner and designer, I wanted to ensure that this group of my closest friends enjoyed this Charleston bachelorette party to the fullest, as well as experience a trip filled with thoughtful details and beautiful gifts to thank them for being a part of my life and Sean's, and my upcoming wedding day. My fabulous Maids of Honor worked over a period of three months to put together the most epic weekend with me. To this day, everyone claims that it was not only the best Bachelorette party they ever attended, but one of the best weekends of celebration they had ever experienced. And fortunately, one of my good friends and guest, Meredith Kerr, who is also a wedding photographer, offered to capture the entire weekend.
The theme of the weekend was Pastels and Palmettos inspired by the shades of Rainbow Row in Charleston and South Carolina's symbol of the Palmetto. The color palette featured rainbow pastels including pastel pink, pale blue, soft green, lilac, dove gray, white, and accents of gold. Each attendee received a custom invitation by Amanda Day Rose Stationery including calligraphed envelopes by Becca Joas, a palm tree blush wax seal, and a drawn map enclosure of Rainbow Row featuring the itinerary for the weekend, which helped our guests determine what to pack for their trip.
Guests stayed in a charming white home in the Canonborough area of Charleston nearby the Citadel. Activities included a horse carriage ride throughout the town, brunch, and tour of Boone Hall Plantation (the plantation in the The Notebook), a walk along Rainbow Row, and the Battery with honey lavender lattes, brunch at the famous Poogan's Porch, cocktails and appetizers at the renowned Husk Restaurant, cupcakes at Sugar Bakeshop, shopping at Canonborough Collective and Candy Shop Vintage, and dinners at Leon's for oysters and High Cotton for low country cuisine.
Champagne Hellos: The ladies arrived to our charming Charleston rental home with the beautiful porch, "Haint" blue ceilings, and porch swing. They were greeted with champagne and a surprise custom canvas tote bag in their guest rooms filled with pastel goodies, including gold Charleston Rice Bead earrings from Candy Shop Vintage, Champagne Diet t-shirts, bath bombs from a local shop, pastel pink lollipops with gold leafing, a personalized coffee cup, and celebration cup for champagne. Talk about the perfect start to our Charleston bachelorette party!
A Charleston Welcome Dinner: After all guests had arrived, we headed to our late night dinner of oysters, seafood dishes, and cocktails at Leon's, a charming restaurant with some of the best seafood in Charleston. The restaurant has an outdoor patio and bar as well to enjoy cocktails after dinner.
Morning Beauty + Coffee: In the morning, all of the ladies had appointments booked for blow outs at Tease Salon with mimosas and local doughnuts, followed by shopping on King Street. We popped into boutique shops Skinny Dip Charleston and Kittsona, which are filled with local favorite accessories, clothing, and home decor.
Brunch at Poogan's Porch: Brunch was hosted at Poogan's Porch for the best brunch fare in the city, with a menu of sweet Southern Biscuits, fried green tomatoes, chicken and waffles and rose sangria.
A Private Carriage Tour: A private carriage tour will take everyone around the city to share the history of the city and provide sightseeing opportunities from Rainbow Row to the Battery to the Market, the history filled streets called Church St, Broad St, Meeting Street and more.
Cocktails and Appetizers at Husk: Rather than a full dinner, guests enjoyed craft cocktails and delicious heavy hors d'oeuvres at Husk on their patio for a few hours of laughter and relaxing.
An Evening Out: After Husk we went back to the house to freshen up and head out to a bar called the Cocktail Club to enjoy the nightlife of Charleston.
Picnic under the oaks: Guests headed over to Boone Hall Plantation in Mt. Pleasant, where guests enjoyed a brunch picnic under the Spanish Moss covered oaks complete with rosé, local pastries and artisan sandwiches. Afterwards, the ladies enjoyed a tour of the plantation and the gardens.
Cupcake and Shopping Stroll: Guests stopped by Sugar Bakeshop on the way home for some of the best cupcakes in Charleston (try the Vanilla Blueberry cupcake with sugared Blueberry garnish), and a stop at two charming and girly boutique shops called Candy Shop Vintage and the Canonborough Collective.
Downtown Dinner: After the plantation guests freshened up and headed to High Cotton, an iconic Southern low-country restaurant featuring a menu of She Crab Soup, Shrimp and Grits and biscuits for the final dinner of the weekend.
An Au Revior to Charleston Coffee Stroll: To finish off the perfect Charleston Bachelorette Party, Honey lavender lattes and a final morning walk along Rainbow Row and the Battery for final photos and hugs together before heading to the airport. Until next time, Charleston.
Now, doesn't that look fun?!


text:
Our Protected Land
Our Public Rec Access
Arbuckle's Fort
Bickle Knob
Camp Bartow
Gauley River Canyon
Jenkinsburg Recreation Area
Mammoth Preserve
Marie Hall Jones Ancient Forest Preserve
Moon Rocks at the Yellow Creek Preserve
Needleseye Park
Toms Run Preserve
Wallace Hartman Nature Preserve
Coffee Collaboration
Clean Water Collaborations
Blue Jean Ball
Special Places Celebration
Shop Local – Protecting our Partners
Media inquiries contact:
Jessica Spatafore, Director of Development & Communications at (304) 413-0945 or email jessica@wvlandtrust.org
Adam Webster, Conservation & Communications Coordinator at (304) 413-0945 or email adam@wvlandtrust.org
New Public Trail Available to Morgantown Community
The West Virginia Land Trust, in partnership with the Mon Valley Green Space Coalition, BOPARC, and the City of Morgantown, are pleased to announce the creation of Morgantown's newest public trail – the Marilla Park Connector. The trail is just over 0.5 miles in length and greatly improves access to Marilla Park from the South Hills neighborhood. As a critical link in a larger connector trail system that will connect Greenmont to Marilla and the Deckers Creek Rail-Trail, the trail has been "a labor of hard work and love" according to Dr. Rick Landenberger, WVLT Science and Land Management Specialist who designed the trail and led the volunteer groups.
Dr. Brent Bailey, West Virginia Land Trust Executive Director and local trail advocate points out that "Local trails are one of the most popular community features that people look for when deciding where to live. The West Virginia Land Trust supports their development, and not just on its own properties. This connector works on so many levels: for recreation, for education, for alternative transportation. Morgantown is lucky to have the properties and the people that make this possible."
The idea to better connect the southern neighborhoods of Morgantown to the Parks and Rail-Trails started two decades ago when Greg Good, then President of the Mon Valley Green Space Coalition, and Landenberger, then a Ph.D. student in the WVU Forest Resources Science program, began scouting the area for possible routes from the local neighborhoods to schools and parks. Recently, Landenberger picked the project back up, forming a partnership with the Mon Valley Green Space Coalition, BOPARC, and the City of Morgantown
According to Assistant City Manager Emily Muzzarelli "We've been continually working to expand our trail network and enhance outdoor recreation in the City. Now, more than ever, we see just how important these resources are to the community. It has been fantastic to see the efforts from volunteers and citizens to complete this project in Marilla Park."
Landenberger began working in summer 2016 with young volunteers from the BOPARC YETI (Youth Engagement Through Involvement) Summer Camp program. Other volunteer groups include the Charlie's Angels Hash House Harriers and WVU iServe students.
"Success in many areas is largely dependent upon partnerships such as the one represented by this project. This trail is a wonderful addition to our City park system and we are excited to share it with the community", said BOPARC's Director Melissa Burch.
"Cooperation among the partners facilitated the timely completion of this trail project," commented Dr. JoNell Strough, current chair of the Mon Valley Green Space Coalition. "By working together, we built a trail that not only serves community needs for transportation and recreation, but also provides a space for people to put their cares aside as they take in the beauty of the forest."
For more information, contact WVLT Land Management and Science Specialist Rick Landenberger at rick@wvlandtrust.org.
OMG Acres!
"We call this land OMG Acres. OMG stands for 'Ouellette, Mueller, Glasson' – the last names of the three co-owners – and it also stands for 'Oh My Gawd' for the sanctuary it offers from society's craziness that too often carries us away from what is truly important and meaningful. This land is beautiful and peaceful in all seasons. Our goal is to protect, preserve and expand this land and its wildlife. As these beautiful lands and wildlife become more threatened by encroaching development, subdivisions and mining, this land should continue to evolve as a place supporting healthy ecosystems, forest land, biodiversity, and wildlife habitat while also allowing sustainable farming when needed now and into the future," said Mark Mueller, one of the owners of OMG Acres.
Together, three landowners – Mark Mueller, Avery Ouellette and Dan Glasson – approached the West Virginia Land Trust (WVLT) early this year in hopes to protect their farm in perpetuity. With a conservation easement, the WVLT can do just that. This property is now the second conservation easement held by the WVLT in Pendleton County.
OMG Acres is comprised of 330 acres along the South Fork River (which flows into the South Branch of the Potomac), with a mosaic of open fields and woodlands. It includes three historical structures – an old farmhouse, log cabin, and church – which the landowners are in the process of renovating and hope to preserve. In addition to these structures, the easement protects ½ mile of river frontage and defined buffer areas along streams. The property is the most upstream of three other WVLT-conserved sites along the river. This project also protects biodiversity including wood turtles, Virginia big-eared bat, and a sandstone "pavement" pine habitat.
(Church restoration project. Photo above is the "before" and photo below is the "after!")
The landowners are based in the DC area, but the farm has been their refuge during the pandemic. "We feel immensely grateful to have access to this beautiful property that allows us to continue enjoying our outdoor passions while isolating from others," shared Avery Ouellette and Dan Glasson. "Watching the daily rhythms of nature and spending time each day working on projects to preserve the unique features on this property have given us a much-needed respite."
Working on the conservation easement during this time period also allowed Mark, Avery, and Dan to look beyond the daily challenges of COVID-19 and think about their future legacy. This was particularly important given that Mark was diagnosed with cancer in the Spring. "We can't thank Amy Cimarolli and WVLT enough for their thoughtfulness and dedication in helping us realize our shared conservation goals. We are also so grateful for the support of Severn Bank and their willingness to work with us in putting this conservation easement in place on our property. We are thrilled that the land will be conserved long after us."
When asked about Severn Bank's involvement with conservation projects, President and CEO Alan Hyatt stated, "Since Severn Bank is headquartered with all of its operations in a fragile environment, we realize what is at stake with the health of the Chesapeake Bay, the water ways, connecting lands, our environment, and the many surrounding states that are affected by its health. We feel we have a responsibility to do our part to preserve our natural resources, and we take this responsibility very seriously. This includes Severn's Westgate Circle headquarters with a state-of-the-art "green roof" that captures and absorbs runoff water that would typically challenge our infrastructures and pollute our waterways. We also show our support with frequent donations to many environmentally oriented organizations, backing people and organizations who share our love of the land and water, and protecting properties for future generations."
The purpose of conservation easements is to protect forests, scenic beauty, wildlife habitats, and working farms in perpetuity by placing permanent restrictions on the property. All of these values are protected at OMG Acres. In addition, the landowners committed to keeping trees growing along the banks of the South Fork to support clean water in the Potomac River, which benefits neighbors downstream.
Conservation easements are specifically tailored to meet the needs of each landowner; few conservation easements look alike because few properties are the same, and few landowners want exactly the same provisions. WVLT specifically tailors its conservation easements to meet the goals of the landowners and maintains a life-long authority and obligation to enforce the terms of the easement in perpetuity. Landowners still own their property and may use, sell, or leave it to heirs, but the restrictions of the easement stay with the land forever.
Cliff Canyon – A Big Partnership to Conserve a Big Place
https://www.wvlandtrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Cliff-Canyon-1080p-201110.mp4
Cliff Canyon is one of the most rugged places in West Virginia, and 755 acres are now protected forever by a conservation easement with the West Virginia Land Trust.
Steve Callen currently owns Cliff Canyon and had a desire to keep this place wild, undeveloped, and protected forever. He convened three of West Virginia's conservation organizations and asked for help and advice in achieving his goal. The West Virginia Land Trust, The Nature Conservancy, and the Potomac Conservancy joined forces to bring this vision to completion. The property remains privately owned, but its conservation features are permanently protected by a conservation easement.
Located about 20 miles south of Moorefield, near Milam, in Pendleton County, Cliff Canyon is mostly comprised of limestone. The limestone geology forms rich soils and, combined with very steep slopes and its location in the "rain shadow" of the Appalachian Plateau, a very dry and harsh environment is created where only specific plants and animals are best adapted to survive. River enthusiasts and kayakers may know this site by its other name, Moorefield Gorge, challenging its Class 2 and 3 whitewater in the spring of the year.
"The Nature Conservancy, West Virginia Land Trust and Potomac Conservancy share a vision of protecting West Virginia's important and special places. Together, we are working to provide a backdrop that makes people want to live, recreate and enjoy the natural wonders of our great state," said Mike Powell, TNC Director of Lands. He went on to say, "TNC is happy to work on another project with the WVLT where both conservation and West Virginia win by protecting habitats of rare and unique species in an important landscape for nature-based recreation and tourism."
"I believe that we are all called upon to be good stewards of all life. While there are many environmental threats, it seems clear that the single greatest threat to nearly all life except man is the lack of suitable habitat. I consider it a great privilege to be able to participate in the permanent protection of a unique and relatively undisturbed habitat that supports a large suite of terrestrial and riparian species. The legal protections provided by the easement combined with the onsite physical barriers give me confidence that, at least in this unique canyon, life as intended can continue toward perpetuity," said Steve Callen, owner of the property.
Biologists and kayakers have known about the property, but the hillsides are so steep that most people rarely venture into this rugged canyon on the South Fork River in Pendleton County. Biologists were eager to see the canyon protected because of the many globally rare plant communities, such as the Southern Appalachian Northern White Cedar Woodland (less than five known occurrences worldwide), and the habitat to many other rare species associated with this dry forest type. The federally threatened Virginia big-eared bat is also known to reside in this remote place, adding to the critical need to keep this location protected. In total, 18 rare species and plant communities occur here, largely due to the limestone geology.
"Cliff Canyon is one of the most exciting places I've seen in the Appalachian region, and to find it nestled just out of sight on a common country road is remarkable. I'm thrilled to see this team come together to permanently protect such an extraordinary property," said Emily Warner, Senior Director of Land Conservation at Potomac Conservancy.
This Cliff Canyon property also secures over three miles of river habitat, protecting water quality, aquatic species, and riparian habitat. West Virginia's headwater streams (such as the South Fork River) supply clean drinking water to many people downstream. Conservation partnerships and conservation projects like Cliff Canyon benefit nature and people in so many ways.
The Nature Conservancy, West Virginia Land Trust and Potomac Conservancy each played a key role in securing the financial resources and stewarding the project to completion. The three organizations jointly applied to the West Virginia Outdoor Heritage Conservation Fund (OHCF) for financial assistance to protect the Cliff Canyon site.
In 1985, the West Virginia Legislature created the OHCF to invest in the conservation of unique and important wildlife habitats, natural areas, forest lands, farmlands, and lands for hunting, fishing and recreation. The OHCF receives applications from qualified conservation organizations for projects like Cliff Canyon each year.
"This project encompasses so many good qualities, but what stands out to me is the ruggedness of the land and the solitude one feels in this canyon. It is nice to know it will always stay and feel this way," says Ashton Berdine, Lands Program Manager for WVLT.
Reunited and it Feels so Good!
Reunited and it feels so good! After six months of working from home, the West Virginia Land Trust had our first in-person staff meeting. We wore our masks, used hand sanitizer, met outside, and enjoyed lunch over an open fire. This year has been a huge adjustment for us to "shelter in place"… I mean come on… we are outdoor people, what does staying home even mean?!
This is our new normal and we are adjusting. We have worked remotely, held Zoom meetings with folks from all over the country, and met outside in small groups when necessary. Our recent virtual Special Places Celebration allowed us to connect with people from all over the country and they showed up in a big way – donating to help us continue our important work.
Speaking of Special Places… our title sponsor Bailey & Glasser along with the WVLT Board of Directors offered to match all gifts up to $20,000. We are only $5,000 short of our goal! They extended the deadline through this Sunday, Oct. 4. Can you help us out? Make a donation today at www.wvlandtrust.org/donate to support our important work.
Hope to see you outside soon!
Jessica Spatafore
WVLT Director of Development & Communications
Mammoth Dreams Start Here!
New West Virginia Land Trust preserve a Mammoth undertaking
Charleston Gazette
By Rick Steelhammer
A 5,000-acre expanse of woodland and former surface mines along the Kanawha-Fayette County line east of Mammoth is being repurposed as a public recreation area and a demonstration site for post-mining reforestation and stream restoration by its new owner, the West Virginia Land Trust.
Mountain bike and hiking trails are among recreational amenities initially planned for the property, with the first trails likely to take shape in the un-mined segments that make up about half of the tract, named the Mammoth Preserve.
"It's not wilderness, but it looks pretty wild," said Ashton Berdine, lands program director for the West Virginia Land Trust, as he took in a miles-long view of wooded ridges and hilltops from one of the new preserve's highest ridges. At the bottom of a narrow valley between the steep, tree-cloaked spines, the path of Hughes Fork could be seen twisting its way toward the Gauley River, along with the grassy slopes of re-contoured highwalls and mine benches.
"We will be managing this preserve for wildlife habitat, water protection and recreation access," Berdine said.
"Mountain biking is only going to grow, and here we have room for maybe 50 or more miles of trail," Berdine said. Trails for hiking are also planned, and paths for horseback riding and sites for camping will likely be considered, he said.
"The preserve also gets us involved with restoration," he said. "We're proud to be a part of the restoration of this land and having the opportunity to make it available to the public for recreation and to benefit the local economy."
The West Virginia Land Trust was given the land and its management responsibilities by another nonprofit, Appalachian Headwaters. Appalachian Headwaters received the tract to use as a demonstration project for reforestation and stream restoration techniques as part of a settlement agreement in a stream pollution lawsuit against Alpha Natural Resources. The suit was filed by the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, West Virginia Highlands Conservancy and the state chapter of the Sierra Club, represented by attorneys from Appalachian Mountain Advocates.
Appalachian Headwaters, based in Lewisburg, was formed four years ago to support reforestation of native hardwood forests and restoration of streams on former surface mines. It is working with scientists at Green Forests Work in Lexington, Kentucky, to plan the mix of trees to be planted on mine lands at the Mammoth Preserve.
"The goal is to return the mined land to the closest possible approximation of the forest that was here before the mining took place," said Mike Becher of Appalachian Headwaters.
Once the blend of nursery-raised young trees is in the ground and growing on about 2,000 acres of former mine land in the preserve, it will be one of the largest, if not the largest, legacy mining reforestation site in Appalachia, according to scientists at Green Forests Work.
Preparation work for reforestation is already underway on about 300 acres of the preserve, where thickets of non-native autumn olive and Russian olive have been dozed into large piles, where they await burning. The two brushy plants do well in rocky, compacted soil, sometimes reaching heights of 20 feet or more, which is why they have been used extensively in the region to satisfy post-mining ground cover requirements.
The preserve lies adjacent to the remnants of Bullpush Mountain, the nation's first mountaintop removal mine site, which Cannelton Coal began operating in 1970. Most of the mining that took place on the preserve also occurred decades ago, according to Becher.
"Past mine restoration throughout Appalachia often focused on getting anything to grow on these mine sites," according to Berdine. The two olive species, both native to Asia, have frequently been planted on reclaimed strip mines, along with black locust, pine and certain hardy grasses and legumes, to help anchor the soil.
Where thickets of autumn and Russian olives have been scraped off old reclamation jobs at the Mammoth Preserve, dozers pulling giant, hydraulic "ripper" spikes tear up compacted soil to accommodate the successful planting of young hardwoods. The ripping is done in a crisscross pattern, at least three feet deep into the hardened soil.
"To get trees to grow in the compacted ground, you have at the Mammoth Preserve and other mine sites that were reclaimed as grasslands in the '80s, you have to rip up the soil," said Chris Barton, a professor of forest hydrology and watershed management at the University of Kentucky. "Ripping allows the natural infiltration of water to occur again," he said. "It gives young trees the water they need for growth, and allows seeds from native plants to germinate."
Without ripping and reforestation with native tree species, former mine sites like the Mammoth Preserve remain in "a state of arrested succession," said Barton, who founded the non-profit Green Forests Work to help owners of former surface mines plan reforestation. "Our goal is to speed up the natural process," he said.
Starting in March or early April, young trees will be planted in the land now being processed for reforestation. "We try to mimic the native forest with a blend of 20 to 30 species of trees and native shrubs found in an oak-hickory forest like the one at the Mammoth Preserve," Barton said.
The return of a natural hardwood forest canopy above the former mine land will also improve water quality in streams crossing the new preserve.
Leaves in the canopy can absorb large volumes of rainwater while dissipating rainfall before it reaches the soil, Barton said, "and trees are deep-rooted and use a lot of water. That means less runoff and less erosion."
"There are five or six guys operating heavy equipment here now, and later a dozen or so tree planters will be hired," said Becher, as he watched a dozer with a ripper bar slowly ascending a small slope. "That's the start of the sustainable economic activity that we're wanting to make possible on this site. We want to do good for the environment while creating economic benefits for the community."
"In the long term, we'll be working with the local towns and county government to find out what they would like to see happening with the preserve and how we can draw more people to the Upper Kanawha Valley," said Berdine.
Trail development at the Mammoth Preserve "ties into a local initiative Montgomery and Smithers have for new trails on both sides of the Kanawha," said Smithers Mayor Anne Cavalier, who visited the preserve with West Virginia Land Trust officials on Monday.
"This would be another place to hike and bike you can reach without having to drive for hours," she said, and maybe stop in Smithers or Montgomery afterward to get a bite to eat. "The best industry to support new development is the tourism industry."
The preserve stretches from Hughes Creek, a Kanawha River tributary, in the west to a point within one mile of the Nicholas County line in the east near the town of Dixie. Bells Creek forms much of its northern boundary. All but a 400-acre arm of the preserve that extends into Fayette County in the Mount Olive area lies in Kanawha County.
In addition to the Mammoth Preserve, the West Virginia Land Trust has protected more than 10,000 acres of land in the state, including seven public preserves, since it was created in 1994.
Original story: https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/new-west-virginia-land-trust-preserve-a-mammoth-undertaking/article_f1e21305-a027-5074-b898-775a99c87743.html
Hold the Fort… Arbuckle Fort!
Effort underway to preserve Revolutionary War-era fort site in Greenbrier County
Charleston Gazette-Mail
ALDERSON — A crowdfunding campaign is underway to protect the site of one of the strongest in a series of frontier forts built to protect colonial settlers in the Greenbrier Valley from raids by American Indians before and during the Revolutionary War.
The Archaeological Conservancy, the West Virginia Land Trust and the Greenbrier Historical Society are seeking to raise $125,000 — $60,000 of it from the crowdsourcing effort — to buy the fort site and a 25-acre parcel of land surrounding it. The three groups would then work together to create a public historical preserve, with signs, trails and exhibits pointing out the cultural and natural points of interest being protected from development.
The Outdoor Heritage Conservation Fund has committed $25,000 to manage the preserve.
While the location of the fort was known, no written description of it is known to exist, and no trace of the fortification could be seen above the surface of the pasture that covers it. Much of what is known about the structure and the activities that took place inside it was uncovered during a series of excavations conducted in the 1990s by archaeologists Stephen and Kim McBride.
The McBrides, both Greenbrier County natives with doctorates in archaeology, were assisted by students from public schools in Greenbrier County, students from the University of Kentucky, Concord and West Virginia University, and local volunteers.
Arbuckle's Fort was built in 1774 by a local militia company commanded by Captain Matthew Arbuckle on a knoll overlooking the point where Mill Creek flows into Muddy Creek, about 5 miles north of present-day Alderson. It was one of a series of forts built by militiamen to station troops and protect settlers from attack by native tribes who had caused them to abandon two earlier attempts at settling the area — one in the late 1750s and the other in the early 1760s. A third wave of settlers began arriving in, or returning to, the Greenbrier Valley in 1769.
"For the European settlers who lived here in the 1770s, this was the wild west," said Gordon Campbell, president of the Greenbrier Historical Society, during a recent visit to the site.
Built on land claimed by John Keeney and family, who first arrived at the site in 1755, Arbuckle's was one of the first frontier forts in the area to be built as a freestanding, military structure and not a fortified component of a home. In addition to building more substantial forts at sites with topography that enhanced their defense, the militia-built forts of the mid-1770s were spaced closer together than those built in previous decades. By the start of the Revolutionary War, forts in the Greenbrier Valley were sometimes built within 3 miles of each other.
The fort was built near the site of the July 1763 Muddy Creek Massacre, in which a raiding party led by Chief Cornstalk of the Shawnee killed three settlers and kidnapped a woman and three children.
Historic records indicate that Arbuckle's Fort provided protection for many of the more than 40 families living in the Muddy Creek area at the time of its construction. During the growing season, families spent much of their time at the fort, with one group of male settlers moving from farm to farm, communally planting and harvesting crops, while another group was on alert for Indian attack.
The first military action at the fort took place in August 1774, within weeks of its completion, when Muddy Creek settler William Kelly was attacked by tomahawk-wielding Native American raiders about a half-mile outside the stockade. Sounds of the attack reached militiamen inside the fort, who ran to the scene and retrieved the deeply cut settler, who soon died of his wounds. The next day, American Indian raiders shot at a sentry standing watch at the fort, but missed their mark.
In September 1774, just after the fort was completed, Arbuckle and his troops guided Colonel Andrew Lewis and his force of nearly 1,000 Virginia militiamen to the Kanawha River, which they followed downstream to Point Pleasant.
From there, they planned to attack several native villages in Ohio as payback for raids on Virginia settlers. Instead, they encountered a like-sized force of warriors led by Chief Cornstalk, and the Battle of Point Pleasant ensued, ending in a narrow victory for the militiamen.
The only other record of Arbuckle's Fort coming under attack took place in September 1777, when native raiders shot at the fort, but caused no casualties. It is believed that the raiding party was the same one that attacked a farmhouse at Lowell, about 20 miles to the north in Summers County, the previous day, killing three settlers and taking one prisoner.
The fort was occupied throughout much of the Revolutionary War, during which the British encouraged native attacks on the Virginia settlers, but 1783 was apparently the final year that the fort was garrisoned by militiamen.
Excavations by the McBrides showed that a diamond-shaped stockade wall of vertical logs enclosed a quarter-acre area containing a blacksmithing site, cooking hearth, blockhouse and powder magazine. Bastions topped with observation decks were built at the north and south ends of the fort.
Artifacts uncovered during the excavations included a pair of dime-sized, eight-sided metal discs, one of which was engraved with an "X," found in the blacksmith area. Similar discs have been found at a number of slave house sites across the South, and "suggest an African-American presence" at Arbuckle's Fort, according to Kim McBride. "Tax records show that Matthew Arbuckle owned two slaves" at the time the fort was in use, she said.
A large quantity of assorted animal bones found in the cooking area indicated that meat formed a large portion of fort occupants' diets. Hogs and cattle accounted for most of the bones, but deer, black bear, raccoon, rabbit, squirrel and groundhog bones were also found. An ethnobotanical study of samples of vegetable material found in the cooking area indicated that corn, fruits, nuts and berries were also consumed there.
A rifle sight, lead balls of various calibers, and gunflints of both domestic and European origin were among the defensive artifacts uncovered.
A small glass document seal that imprints the word "Liberty" was also unearthed, providing a tangible link between the militiamen who occupied the fort and the struggle for independence from Britain that was taking place when the fort was in use.
The seal would probably have been set in a ring or a cufflink, or something that could be worn on a chain or strap around the neck, according to McBride. The artifact "makes a wonderful link," she said, to a 1776 letter Arbuckle sent to Col. William Fleming, a wounded veteran of the Battle of Point Pleasant, who was serving as a Virginia state senator when the letter was mailed.
"My country shall never have to say I dare not stand the attacks of the Indians," or flee the cause his countrymen "are so justly fighting for," Arbuckle wrote. "On the contrary, I will loose the last drop of my blood in defense of my country when fighting for that blessed enjoyment called liberty."
The excavations at Arbuckle's Fort also produced numerous artifacts left by the site's earliest occupants, the region's native people. Projectile points dating back to the Archaic era — 3,000 to 10,000 years ago — were found at the fort site and in the field surrounding it.
"In this little nook, 10,000 years of history can be found, "said Campbell. "We're excited to be a part of it."
The preserve will also encompass the remnants of a dam built to divert water for at least one of two gristmills that operated on Mill Creek. The first was Keeney's Mill, in operation when the fort was built in 1774. It was replaced by Blaker's Mill, built in 1794, which continued to operate well into the 20th century. It was moved to WVU's Jackson's Mill facility in the 1980s.
"Blaker's Mill became the center of a small community that sprang up around it," said Margaret Hambrick, secretary-treasurer of the Greenbrier Historical Society.
According to Hambrick, preliminary plans being considered for the preserve include building a small parking area, where signs will direct visitors where to see, and how to walk to, points of interest on the preserve. A path would follow Mill Creek past the Blaker's Mill site and then ascend a gentle slope to the fort. Additional signage would be installed along along the trail.
While the preserve is not expected to draw vast crowds, "it adds another place for people to stop and see, and learn about the area's history," she said.
The Archaeological Conservancy, a national organization based in New Mexico, owns three other preserves in West Virginia, all them protecting the sites of prehistoric burial mounds. It previously owned another frontier fort site, Fort Evans in Hampshire County, that was later sold at cost to the Town of Capon Bridge.
"Our mission is broad," said Ashton Berdine, lands program manager for the West Virginia Land Trust, better known for preserving natural areas, farms and forest tracts. "There are many places in West Virginia in need of protection. With Arbuckle's Fort, we hope to provide public benefits for education and add economic value to the area."
To donate to the effort to preserve Arbuckle's Fort, visit https://give.archaeologicalconservancy.org/campaign/arbuckles-fort-archaeological-site/c289358. Each donation of $30 or more entitles the donor to a year's membership in the Archaeological Conservancy, including a subscription to the quarterly magazine American Archaeology.
Original story: https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/effort-underway-to-preserve-revolutionary-war-era-fort-site-in-greenbrier-county/article_cb366d58-7342-5b2a-8320-dedc0d6f4216.html
Toms Run Preserve – unofficially open to the public!
Toms Run Preserve is 318 acres located 10 minutes south of Morgantown. The West Virginia Land Trust has spent the last five years working hard to open this preserve to the public for hiking and nature study. We are sincerely thankful to all of our Blue Jean Ball supporters who supported this project! With the help of all of our grant funders, supporters, volunteers, staff and families, we are FINALLY ready to open this to the public! But in light of our current social distancing situation, we have to postpone our grand opening which was scheduled for April 2020. We hope to celebrate with you soon. Stay tuned for details on our celebration!
Click here for more details about Toms Run Preserve!
WVLT and TNC have teamed up!
Signed, Sealed, Delivered… It's Yours!
Last week, The Nature Conservancy in West Virginia (TNC) signed over the deed to a nearly 500-acre tract of land in Monroe County to West Virginia Land Trust (WVLT) for ownership.
Mike Powell, TNC director of lands, said this about the donation of land, "This property in Monroe County is special on many levels. However, it is outside our focus area and meant to be managed as a nature preserve. Therefore, we turned to our partners at the WVLT as the best stewards to manage this property and ensure the public can access it and enjoy it for years to come. It's a win-win for us all and will result in a resilient, protected and publicly accessible piece of nature."
The Nature Conservancy is a global environmental organization whose mission is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. Here in West Virginia, the organization works to protect and restore the sweeping forests and wild rivers, to ensure West Virginia's resources sustain both people and nature across the region for years to come.
Donated to TNC through an estate gift, the property is an important piece of an identified climate resilient networks of lands that connect the blue ridge to the boreal forests of Canada along the Appalachian Mountains. Conserving special places like this will benefit wildlife as the move to higher elevations, while also filtering air and water for people.
"The property has a forest of beautiful mature oak and white pine. The preserve also has interesting historic features, such as an old carriage trail lined with a massive stone wall, creating a ready-made hiking trail. This main trail is a leisurely hike for visitors and provides a wonderful place for nature lovers, birders and weekend hikers," said Ashton Berdine, WVLT lands program manager.
West Virginia Land Trust plans to explore how this preserve can serve other community needs, such as recreational opportunities for mountain bike trails, but this would come much later after developing a management plan and working with local partners.
"We'd like to see a network of these kind of preserves all over the state, and we'll achieve that with the support of people who love West Virginia and from conservation partners like The Nature Conservancy," said Brent Bailey, WVLT executive director.
The West Virginia Land Trust is a statewide nonprofit dedicated to protecting special places, focusing on projects that protect scenic areas, historic sites, outdoor recreation and drinking water supplies by protecting land that borders rivers and streams.
Needleseye Park Ribbon Cutting
Property Transferred to the City of Oak Hill
By: Steve Keenan/The Register-Herald
Continuously adapting, expanding and trying new approaches has become the norm for businesses which want to survive in today's economy.
Municipalities can also be included in that list.
The City of Oak Hill cut the ribbon Tuesday on Needleseye Park, a rock climbing, hiking and mountain biking park on a large tract of land around the Minden area. The West Virginia Land Trust partnered with the city to purchase 283 acres of land from Berwind Land Co. for public recreational use.
West Virginia Tourism Commissioner Chelsea Ruby visited Fayette County for Tuesday's ribbon-cutting, a fact which Oak Hill City Manager Bill Hannabass called "huge."
While offering her thanks to the various entities involved in the process, Ruby thanked "most importantly, the community here, because you all have such a strong community when it comes to outdoor recreation, when it comes to tourism."
When she attends events involving people in the region, Ruby said she knows there are going to be people who are passionate about tourism, growing the tourism economy, and outdoor recreation in the area.
"Day in and day out, you guys are the people who are on the ground."
Ruby said Gov. Jim Justice's administration has expanded the duties of the tourism office to include economic development, to look at ways to grow the state's tourism economy.
"Everyone here knows how important tourism and outdoor recreation is to the state. I don't have to tell you guys it's a $4.3 billion industry in West Virginia. I don't have to tell you that it brings in over $500 million in taxes. And I don't have to tell you there's 45,000 tourism jobs in West Virginia.
"Those are the reasons that we are all here today. It's projects like this; it is growing the economy and adding new things to our list to promote."
Outdoor recreation is consistently one of the main draws in the state, she said.
"When climbing really started to take off in the '80s here, people, of course, started off near the (New River Gorge) bridge," recalled Gene Kistler, president of the New River Alliance of Climbers. "This place eventually got discovered here in the '90s.
"We climbed here in the '90s for maybe a couple of years, then maybe it was the Meadow River that everybody went to. It's fun to discover things."
"We knew about this place, and it's just a brilliant move on the part of the City of Oak Hill to buy this and do this," Kistler continued. "There's a short list of cities in the U.S. that have climbing within the city limits, and it's a prestigious list. And Oak Hill's part of that now.
"What's really nice about Needleseye is its exposure for winter climbing and for being here in the winter time. Frankly, summer time in Needleseye Park is kind of brutal. It's going to be interesting to come up with ways to sort of mitigate that. But I think it's gonna be primarily sort of a fall, winter, spring (best scenario)."
Kistler says the park offers a variety of options, including bouldering — "People are psyched."
Brent Bailey, executive director of the West Virginia Land Trust (WVLT), said the fact that the project was locally-generated was a key.
"When we select projects, we're looking for local buy-in," Bailey said during a media hike before the ceremony. "This was an easy buy for us."
According to Bailey, the WVLT seeks to get involved with projects that will provide public benefit such as protecting water supply, providing recreation and preserving history.
After exploring the title on the land and other areas such as mineral issues and boundaries, the WVLT wrote a proposal to move the project along. Needleseye features "beautiful West Virginia woodland and spectacular rock formations," he said.
Hannabass termed Tuesday "a fantastic day for the City of Oak Hill." Initiated in March 2016, the Needleseye project "moved at lightning speed," he said.
Mayor Fred Dickinson and city council threw their support behind the project, and the WVLT and the state's Outdoor Heritage Conservation Fund came on board, as did other partners.
"You have to have multiple partners. You can't do this as one entity," the city manager said.
"I found very quickly that this property speaks for itself," Hannabass said during the media hike. "It should be public, it should be protected, it should be for the enjoyment for all of us for generations and generations and generations to come, and it is, and that's why we're here to cut the ribbon."
He said the project cost has been around $600,000, with the city and the WVLT contributing some funds, but the bulk of the money coming from the Outdoor Heritage Conservation Fund in the form of a grant to purchase the property from Berwind.
"Outdoor recreation is extremely important to our state," said Jessica Spatafore, WVLT's director of development and communications. "In addition to benefiting our current local residents and their health, outdoor rec opportunities strengthen our economy by increasing tourism, attracting new businesses and boosting the housing market."
With the parking lot and access now available at the north entrance, other future work includes signage and creation of a south entrance, said Hannabass.
"There will be some more amenities to come," as well as promotion of the park, he said.
To access the north entrance parking lot, turn on Gatewood Road from Main Street Oak Hill, travel 1.6 miles, turn right on Needleseye Road and go 0.5 of a mile to the parking lot.
Original story: https://www.register-herald.com/oak-hill-christens-needleseye-park/article_228dfa8a-7c3b-11e9-a1b7-cf2dc0ad5d19.html?fbclid=IwAR2xj1lHspZtohNpXUFY2Dh77jJo_hojfGXtloeeKMWWf46TSxhxgmFekXk
Celebrating Earth Day!
West Virginia Land Trust Celebrates Earth Day with the Help of Local Volunteers
In celebration of Earth Day, the West Virginia Land Trust (WVLT) welcomed nearly twenty employee volunteers from MedExpress Urgent Care to help build new hiking trails in two WVLT-owned nature preserves.
"Outdoor recreation is extremely important to our community," said Jessica Spatafore, WLVT director of development and communications. "In addition to benefitting our current local residents and their health, outdoor rec opportunities strengthen our economy by increasing tourism, attracting new businesses, and boosting the housing market."
MedExpress center volunteers from Morgantown worked in the Toms Run Nature Preserve, which is a 320-acre natural area. The property is a "work in progress" and WVLT is planning to make it open and accessible to the public for hiking and nature study in the fall of 2019.
Volunteers from the Charleston MedExpress center met in the Wallace Hartman Nature Preserve. This 52-acre natural area has established trails and is open to the public. The preserve offers recreational and educational opportunities, habitat protection and scenic enjoyment.
MedExpress employees were able to volunteer with the WVLT through the MedExpress Volunteer Program in which team members can take a certain amount of time off to volunteer in their community with an organization of their choice.
Those interested in visiting either property or volunteering should call WVLT at (304) 413-0945.
West Virginia Land Trust receives $400,000 from Governor's Office
(Pictured above: Ted Armbrecht, WVLT Board of Directors; Brent Bailey, WVLT Executive Director; Ashton Berdine, WVLT Lands Program Manager; Larry Harris, WVLT Board of Directors)
Morgantown, WV – Monday, December 10 at the Courtyard by Marriott, Governor Jim Justice announced more than a dozen grants awarded to recipients in Northern West Virginia. These included two Abandoned Mine Land (AML) Grants, six Recycling Assistance Grants, and 11 Recreational Trails Program Grants.
"These grants are essential as we continue to grow West Virginia and provide programs that help our communities and citizens," Gov. Justice said. "The multiplier effect on our return is at least eight times and many times it is more. As we move our state forward, and we are, the impact to our economy is substantial."
The winter storm that affected Southern West Virginia prevented the Governor from attending the press conference. Bray Carey, Special Assistant to the Governor, attended on his behalf. Ed Maguire of the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, which administers the AML program, announced the awards.
The West Virginia Land Trust was awarded a $400,000 AML grant to contribute towards the purchase and restoration of approximately 900 acres in Tucker County that include highly popular recreational trails that have become a regional destination for hiking and mountain biking. Upon purchase, the property will be called Yellow Creek Preserve, named after a tributary of the Blackwater River that flows through the property. The property also includes Moon Rocks, a rock formation that is a popular destination for hikers and mountain bikers.
"This group has already been fundraising and invested some of their own money into this campaign to purchase the property," said Ed Maguire, Director of the office of the Environmental Advocate for the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection. "That impressed us on the selection committee because this group put a lot of their own skin in the game," Maguire said.
During the award presentation, Maguire recalled hiking the property and indicated that the property is a cornerstone for the recreation in the Canaan Valley area, which depends on tourism as an important part of its economy.
"This is an important piece of property that draws people to nearby communities and that we intend to make available to the public for recreation," said Brent Bailey, West Virginia Land Trust Executive Director.
According to the land trust, the property is threatened by development, so they stepped in to see it protected.
"In recent years, parts of the property were being sold parcel by parcel into private ownership and that threatened public access," Bailey said.
At the award ceremony, Maguire indicated that although the property sits in an area with abandoned mine lands, it still has significant recreational and conservation values. The property borders nearly 20,000 acres of other public lands that include the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge and Little Canaan Wildlife Management Area.
"It not only has tremendous recreation potential, it also includes unique upland and wetland habitats that create the iconic landscapes that draw people to the Canaan Valley area," Bailey said.
To learn more about the project, visit www.BuyTheMoonWV.org or call (304) 413-0945.
Land Trust raising funds to buy Canaan tract encompassing 'Moon Rocks' bike terrain
(Click here for the article)
by: Charleston Gazette-Mail
A SnapShot of Last Year: 2017 Annual Report
Seven land protection projects completed in one year!
Click here to read the annual report!
Land and Water Conservation Fund in Jeopardy
Fund that Helps Protect Iconic WV Sites is in Question (Click here for the article)
by: Public News Service
Meet the Cheat Float Trip
Meet the Cheat brings more than 300 paddlers to Tucker County (Click here for the story)
by: WBOY
info@wvlandtrust.org
Charleston (304) 346-7788 | Morgantown (304) 413-0945
Another site hand crafted by The Stick Co.


text:
Live Free or Tri
A Collection of Three Short Mystery Stories
By: Judy Penz Sheluk
Narrated by: Kate Tyler
Or, Buy for £6.39
The Hanged Man's Noose
A Glass Dolphin Mystery
Narrated by: Suzanne T. Fortin
Journalist Emily Garland lands a plum assignment as the editor of a niche magazine based in Lount's Landing, a small town named after a colorful 19th-century Canadian traitor. As she interviews the local business owners for the magazine, Emily quickly learns that many people are unhappy with real estate mogul Garrett Stonehaven's plans to convert an old schoolhouse into a mega-box store. At the top of that list is Arabella Carpenter, the outspoken owner of an antiques shop, who will do just about anything to preserve the integrity of the town's historic Main Street.
A great mystery
By jey cee on 15-12-18
Skeletons in the Attic
A Marketville Mystery, Volume 1
Narrated by: Claira Jordyn
Calamity (Callie) Barnstable isn't surprised to learn she's the sole beneficiary of her late father's estate, though she is shocked to discover she has inherited a house in the town of Marketville - a house she didn't know existed. However, there are conditions attached to Callie's inheritance: she must move to Marketville, live in the house, and solve her mother's murder. Callie's not keen on dredging up a 30-year-old mystery.
By mani on 07-08-18
Awakened Within
A Vienna Rossi Paranormal Mystery (A Lost Souls, Book 1)
By: Michelle Ann Hollstein
Narrated by: Karen Bachman
In order to make the nightmare stop, Vienna Rossi realizes she must take matters into her own hands. She's compelled by an unseen force to hop on a last-minute flight to track down a murderer. Awakened within her is a psychic gift she never knew she had, a handsome spirit guide who drives her nuts, and the ability to help lost souls cross over to the other side. Vienna and her spirit guide, Jack, team up with Vienna's best friend, Kim, for a dangerous murder-solving, ghost-hunting adventure.
Very good read
By Aggie on 29-11-19
The Mad Hatter's Son
An Annie Collins Mystery
By: Helen Starbuck
Annie Collins is an OR nurse who is used to caring for others - both inside the operating room, and in her own personal life. The friendship between Annie and Libby Crowder began deteriorating after Libby met the cold and wealthy Edward Matheisen, and quickly ended after she married him. It's been four years since Annie and Libby parted ways. But now she's back and seeking Annie's help. With puzzling symptoms and a plea for help, Annie can't help but wonder: Is Libby really ill or is there more to the story than what Libby is saying?
By Zoe on 25-11-18
One Hell of a Cruise
An Aggie Underhill Mystery
Narrated by: Michael Carr
With bleached blonde hair piled on top, an oversized pocketbook to match every outfit and an insatiable appetite for snooping, the ever curious Ms. Aggie Underhill and her friends embark on an eight-day cruise to the Mexican Riviera...Come join Aggie in a fun-filled vacation where a kidnapping goes awry, several love affairs take place, jealousy rises, tempers flare, and a passenger goes overboard.
About Aggie
A History from Beginning to End
By: Hourly History
Narrated by: Nathan Bierma
This audiobook explores the glories and misfortunes of the Maya civilization and provides a deeper look at their pre-Columbian battling dynasties and their highly structured approach to religion, science, and society.
A collection of three short mystery stories by Amazon international best-selling author Judy Penz Sheluk.
Death and deception: Appearances are often deceiving and that is the underlying premise in this collection of short crime fiction.
In "Live Free or Die" naive 21-year-old Emmy falls hard for 31-year-old Jack, an efficiency expert from New Hampshire who is not all what he seems.
In "Murder in the Marsh" cyclist Carrie Anne Camack discovers more than she bargained for in the fertile farmlands of Ontario's Holland Marsh.
In the final story, "The Cycopaths", a triathlon team's open-water swim training in Collingwood, Ontario, has deadly consequences.
©2016 Judy Penz Sheluk (P)2018 Judy Penz Sheluk
A Midsummer Night's Scream
A Witch's Journey
Texas Christmas Romance
Three short mysteries
As what it says it is going to be - three short stories. Each mystery has an interesting twist and has good characterization
deafmick
I like the audio book but it's only 1 he long if it had been longer it would have been 5 out of 5 sorry
Paignton Devon
Great storyline
Great storyline good narrater too can't wait for more books I listen to it while cleaning
Simon Gibson
Delightful Short Crime Stories
Each is a very well crafted, wonderfully narrated, crime story that entertains the listener. The characters are brought to life effortlessly with nice descriptions and concise dialog. Not a word wasted. Highly recommended.
Short mysteries
I usually don't like short mysteries but this had a varity with different ending which I found surprising. Like any mystery it would have been great if they were longer but other than this it was an enjoyable listen and it went really quick.
Norma Miles
Plan the work and work the plan.
Three well written short stories each told in the first lerson and what they lack in length, they certainly make up for in intrigue. From the tale of a betraying boyfriend to preparations for the triathlon, each story has a twist.
Skillfully read by Kate Tyler, with good intonation and clarity, these stories are perfect to fill empty corners of the day. The titles included are:-
Murder in the Marsh
The Psychopaths.
My thanks to the rights holder of Live Free or Tri, who, at my request freely gifted me with a complimentary copy, via Audiobook Boom. It was a cleverly executed and fun read.
enjoable aswell
not overly impressed by this book but enjoyable and easy to listen to on way to work
bluepits73
@AudiobookObsession Houston, TX
Short but Intense
These three stories are super short but they easily pack a punch. Each one is separate from the other, but they are exceptionally well written for as short as they are. We don't really get the opportunity to know the characters like we do in the author's other writing; however, the characters in these short stories are oddly captivating. In one story we get devious manipulative characters while another we get competitive psychopaths. I enjoyed each story and my only complaint is that I wish they were longer!
This narrator did a great job on these three short story performances.
I received a review copy at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review.
3 GREAT SHORT STORIES!
Live Free or Tri by Judy Penz Sheluk is made up of three short stories that are full of unexpected twists. I really enjoyed the author's style. The narration by Kate Tyler was perfectly fitting to each story. She was smooth, articulate and added the right emotions, plus gave characters distinguishable voices. I requested this review copy audiobook and have voluntarily written this review. I will definitely listen to more books by this author and narrator.
Good Mysterious Fun
'Life Free or Tri' is a collection of three short mystery stories that were each uniquely satisfying. It's hard to say much about the individual stories without giving away spoilers, but what I can say is that Kate Tyler gives a great narrative performance and Judy Penz Sheluk writes in a tight and cohesive way. I would be very interested in hearing more work from Sheluk and Tyler!
I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.
A fun and enjoyable collection
The three short stories that make up this collection were very interesting as they were about a topic I had little to no knowledge of and was actually able to learn something while enjoying some nice mysteries. The Triathlon is very fascinating.
The stories flowed nicely with the final reveals well hidden till the end, no small feat when considering these are very short stories. The characters were actually well developed and three dimensional. I highly recommend this book.
The narration was done very well by Ms. Kate Tyler. I have enjoyed her work on other audiobooks and this did not disappoint.
I requested a free review copy of this audiobook and I am leaving a voluntary and honest review.
Short stories perfectly done
A short story is a difficult piece to perfect. You have to give enough background to make us feel like we know what is happening so we care , but still give us a perfect vignette that feels like a complete story. These three stories fit perfectly into this description. There was a lot of detail in these stories I could easily put myself into the pictures, all the w ay to the smells.
Never let anyone tell you we women are gentle and kind we can do what needs to be done to protect what is our's our freedom, our dignity or our record setting times.
These we re fantastic stories I look forward to more from this writer.
Lomeraniel
Three good short mysteries
This book is composed by three short stories. I found the second and third to have thing in common, but the first is a completely different one.
I am not usually keen on short stories but as I have thoroughly enjoyed two of her books, I decided to give this one a try. I really liked the three stories in this volume. The characters are relatable and I found easy to connect to them. As they were very short, there wasn't place for a lot of twists and turns, but all three of them have a surprise at the end.
I also enjoyed Kate Tyler's narration, and I think her style complemented well this book. She delivered a pleasant narration with good character's interpretations. I just wished this audiobook was longer.
This book was ideal to listen to in one go, and I found it refreshing and very entertaining. I definitely recommend this author to anyone into cozy mysteries.
I received a copy of this book in audio format from the author in exchange for an honest review.
SunsetSam
A lot of fun to listen to these 3 stories
Yes it was fun book that covered Friends that do not like to lose to revenge
Well there where three stories that were not related so a favorite character is hard. Story fits better. It was about the besties club
Which scene was your favorite?
The first story where a fellow is confronted by his fiancée and his mistress. I suspect he knew he was in trouble LOL
The book had a lot of thinking of what sort of scheme was planned moments. that made it fun
I was given the book by the author to review and these are my honest thoughts and feelings
LaPazBC
Very Enjoyable Listening!
I really enjoy this type of short and clean mysteries! They are perfect for when you don't have a lot of time to listen to a long chapter. The writing is excellent and the narration by Kate Tyler was simply superb! I can't wait to listen to more books by Jody Penz and narrations by Kate Tyler!
I received this audio-book free for an honest review by the author, narrator, or publisher. Thank you!!!
If you found this review helpful would you please take a moment to click yes below, thanks!
Ashley Hedden
Live Free or Tri by Judy Penz Sheluk was a good quick read. It is a collection of three short stories by the author. They are "Live Free or Die", "Murder in The Marsh" and "The Cycopaths". I enjoyed listening to these short stories.
Susan Patterson
Great writer!
All three stories held my attention throughout.
Kate Tyler narrated well. Brought the characters to life.
I was given a free review copy of this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Kathleen C.
Earns 5/5 Triple Scoops of Mystery!
Judy Penz Sheluk has penned three delightful short mysteries that provide entertaining twists and turns on murder. All three stories are written from the first-person perspective, her characters innocent bystanders often with theories that might not be enough to serve up justice. The descriptions give a visual picture of the Canadian landscape, and along with realistic dialogue the three stories are engaging.
Kate Tyler is the narrator of the recently released audio version. She enriches the stories with her voice artistry portraying well the emotions and personality. She goes beyond the traditional read aloud by changing her tone and pitch for male and female characters. Not many accents to portray…it's Canada. (Giggle)
This was my favorite with our heroine Emerald, preferring Emmy, being taken in by Jack, the handsome blue-eyed efficiency expert brought in to the company to make them more…efficient. However, after a delightful lunch, they strike up a relationship. He asks her to keep their relationship a secret sparing her from the gossips and HR scrutiny, but it turns out it may be to cover up evidence of his womanizing ways. She is shocked to find the truth about his "single" status, and his fiancé Jill (yes, Jack and Jill) devises a plan of action to force him to mend his ways. Plan A isn't realistic since it might earn them 25 to life, but Plan B is quite creative. "Live Free or Die" earns 5/5 Bites of Karma!
Carrie Ann Camack has decided to join boyfriend Jasper in a triathlon, but her skill with the clipless pedals requires more practical application. He suggests she head out to Holland Marsh where the flat farm land will be perfect for her needs. However, an off-road crash into crates of carrots reveals more than carrots have been harvested. A dead bank has been foreclosed on. "Murder in the Marsh" earns 5/5 Crates of Karma's Carrots!
"The Cycopaths"
What could possibly happen when you get a bunch of Type A personalities together in the freezing water? Not much, but…murder? A group of woman, dubbed the Cycopaths, are training for the opening triathlon of the season by practicing their open water swim, but Cordelia 'Sunny" Lemay, the Miss Congeniality of the group, ends up dead. Lots of suspects due to proximity, but motive? "The Cycopaths" earns 5/5 Green Bathing Caps!
Rebecca Azizov
nice mystery stories
a great collection of mystery stories a good book to behold the stories are well-written and quite interesting especially the second one
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review."


not one trajectory to devote.
will savor this movement of the breeze.
have lost the track of how many times.
wouldn't choose it any other way.
day you end up search, you start dying.
so live life like there is no ending.
open your eyes, then it can be seen.
so what's in harm relighting old flame?
letter has been written in red.
yet the deep feeling hasn't fled.
had to try to make a winning.
you end up loving or crying.
thought we had a moment to share.
but she wasn't the one to care.
figuring out the mistakes done.
with the pain which can't be undone.


text:
Proton Progress
Innovations in Cancer - Fall 2017
It's been just over a year since University Hospitals opened its new $30 million Proton Therapy Center, conveniently located at UH Cleveland Medical Center. Based around a compact Mevion S250 system, UH's Proton Therapy Center is one of the only centers in the world that is immediately attached to a full-service, nationally ranked children's hospital – UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, whose patients in the Angie Fowler Adolescent & Young Adult Cancer Institute benefit from the close proximity. The UH Proton Therapy Center is also less than 500 feet from UH Seidman Cancer Center, where adult patients with cancer can access treatment.
David Mansur, MD
How are things going so far?
"Patient ramp-up for our center was relatively steady, and that continues," says radiation oncologist David Mansur, MD, Director, UH Proton Therapy Center, Division Chief, Radiation Oncology, UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital; Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Radiation Oncology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.
During the first 14 months of operation, Dr. Mansur says, 149 patients completed proton therapy treatment at UH – 22 percent being pediatric, adolescent or young adult. The most common cancers treated were brain tumors (37 percent). Others sites treated included cancers of the head and neck, lung, esophagus and prostate. Dr. Mansur presented these data at the recent meeting of the Particle Therapy Cooperative Group – North America, held in Chicago in October.
Preliminary results also indicate favorable approval rates by Medicare/Medicaid and most commercial payers in the region. Of all patients for whom their attending physician considered proton therapy the treatment of choice, 15 percent were denied by insurance after appeals were exhausted.
"We've had some refusals, but overall it's been a bit better than we expected," Dr. Mansur says. "There can be issues, so we have a dedicated pre-certification specialist to help families determine whether insurance in going to cover the treatment course. It can ease some of the anxiety."
The Proton Therapy Center also employs a patient concierge to coordinate retrieval of outside medical records and help patients arrange housing for the course of their treatment, Dr. Mansur says.
New developments since the UH Proton Therapy Center opened include implementation of a technique to treat technically challenging breast cancer patients and the credentialing required for the center to participate in National Cooperative Group clinical trials. The first of these trials at UH will enroll patients with cancer of the brain, breast or prostate, Dr. Mansur says. These studies will compare outcomes from proton therapy with traditional photon therapy, enrolling patients with non-metastatic breast cancer or low- or intermediate-risk prostate cancer.
Another planned enhancement is in the area of image guidance.
"We're planning to implement additional image guidance utilizing CT-based imaging to complement our current image guidance system," Dr. Mansur says. "The advantage is better delineation of soft tissues for targeting the treatment."
As always, Dr. Mansur emphasizes that proton therapy is just one of the radiation oncology modalities available to UH patients.
"Everyone is not a candidate for proton therapy," he says. "Patients with widely metastatic disease are not suitable candidates. The first step is for the patient to be seen by a faculty member here for a radiation oncology consultation to determine the best modality for a given cancer, whether it's Gamma Knife, conventional radiation therapy or proton beam."
For more information about the UH Proton Therapy Center or to refer a patient, please email Cancer.Innovations@UHhospitals.org.


LTREG806 SERIES - U.L. Lighting Fixtures Corp.
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Never heard the term before. Justin timberlake gay kiss moaned like a whore and the two just collapsed in a sweaty, jizzy, fucked up mess Justin timberlake gay kiss the bed. That guy who died recently from that boyband sorry to be vague, I am drawing a blank was on Howard Stern and told about Lou, how he would sit there with his legs spread in boxer shorts and that it was common knowledge if you wanted your band to succeed somebody had to do Lou. Is Tom Cruise just a homophobe? They had a long, weird history. On the other hand he just does not seem entirely straight. That was the only way I remembered him, otherwise the blandest of the bland.