May 11 - Forest Forum with Steve Hollenhorst, WVU School of Forestry, as speaker. Topic: Changing Public Attitudes to the Forest. Held in the Elkins Public Library at 7 PM. Public encouraged to attend. For questions call 637-4082.
May 14 thru 16 - The West Virginia Highlands Conservancy Spring Review. Blackwater Falls State Park. Note that this event has been rescheduled so as not to conflict with the Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage at the Park. Some rooms have been blocked off for prospective attendees. You may make reservations now for rooms if you wish - mention the WVHC when you do this.
May 15 and/or 16 - Wildflower weekend sponsored by Sierra Club. Come for either or both days. Easy walks. Call Jim Sconyers at 789-6277.
May 22 - E-Council Spring Camp/Meet at Big Otter for spring gathering & board of directors meeting. Time: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Where: Big Otter Comm. Center, Ivydale, Clay Co. How to get there: Exit 40, Big Otter (from I-79), go south on State Route 16, approximately 3 miles to Center on the right. The center includes a kitchen for our use for Lunch and Dinner. The building is available until 11:00 PM, for evening activities.
Tentative agenda
8:30 to 9:00 Registration
9:00 to 9:15 Welcome
9:15 to 10:10 End of Session Update
10:15 to 11;15 Legislative lobbying panel
12:15 to 1:30 Lunch
1:30 to 2:30 Summertime hot issues
2:30 to 3:00 WVEC Review
3:00 to 5:00 WVEC Board Meeting
Activities Available: Friday, 7 to 11 PM, Bluegrass Music & Dancing at the Big Otter Center, no charge (donation only). No alcoholic beverages. Bass or muskie fishing in the beautiful Elk River. Trout fishing in Laurel Creek, stocked frequently in Spring. Canoeing (rentals or your own), camping at Spread Park on the Elk (flush toilets, dump station, good drinking water). Dairy Bar across the road. Camping at Swandale park (Widen Ridge). Hiking Clay County's tallest peak, Pilot's Knob, located behind the Center (landowner has given permission for access). Beautiful view from the top. A 27-mile bike trail; Elkhurst Road, maps available to try Triplett Ridge, Widen Ridge to Ivy Loop. Or just plain enjoy the scenery, or the sound of the Elk River.
RV Camping: Full hook-ups at The Country Inn, at Big Otter Exit, 286-3300, $9.95 per night. Also, limited RV space at Spread Park, no hook-ups.
Motels: The Country Inn, Big Otter Exit, 286-3300, Single $35 (1 bed), Double $40 (2 full beds). The Elk River Inn 295 Main St., Clay (304-587-7530). Clay is 12 miles from the Center. Single, 1 person $39, double $44, each additional person $5. Canoe rental $30 for 24 hours or can arrange drop off an pick up for return.
Hotel: Henry Clay Hotel, downtown Clay, an old style hotel with clean beds, full restaurant, also serves beer. Room rates are $15 single, $29 double, shared shower or $20 single and $25 double with shower in the room. One room available that has 1 double bed and 3 twin beds at $5 per person. Call (304) 587-4028 of reservations. For additional information call, Liz Sampson, (304) 286-2204 or WVEC Office 1-887-346-8928.
May 22 - Allegheny Trail hike near Watoga State Park. Sierra Club Outing. Possibility of overnight camping. For more info call/email Tom Prall at 924-6553 or wvabooks@aol.com
May 28 thru 31 - Heartwood 9th Annual Forest Council. "Connected Communities" at Camp Greilick, Traverse City, MI. Workshops on industrial forestry threats, land trades, lobby training, forest certification, wolf/wildlife management, direct action training, alternatives to wood fiber, waste reduction, revoking corporate charters and on many other topics. Keynote speaker Victor Menotti on impacts of globalization on democracy and environment. Total costs should be under $100 per person for meals, camping or cabin lodging and registration. For more information and registration materials contact Tiffany at (812) 337-8898 or e-mail inform@heartwood.org .
May 29 thru 31 - Three wild lands in this one Sierra Club outing - Laurel Fork Wilderness, east fork of the Greenbrier Wildland from base camp at Middle Mountain Cabin. Call Jim Sconyers on this one (789-6277).
June 8 - Forest Forum. Details to be announced. For place and time see May 11entry above. Call 637-4082 for details.
June 12 - Planning West Virginia's State Forests Conference/Workshop, Sponsored by Forest Watch Coalition. When: Saturday, 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM. Where: Days Inn Flatwoods, WV (I-79). More details elsewhere in this issue, or call 637-4082.
June 21 thru 24 - Fire & Grit, Working for Nature in Community, a Millenium Conference. Sponsored by the Orion Society. Speakers and participants: Wendell Berry, Barry Lopez, Bruce Babbitt, Robert Hass, Peter Mattheisen, Terry Tempest Williams, Ann Zwinger, Greg Watson, Stephanie Mills, Gary Paul Nabhan & others. Held at the National Conservation Training Center, Shepherdstown WV. $225, $175 for Orion members inc. all plenary & outdoor events, reserved space in collegium, lunch & dinner Tues., Weds., & Thurs. For details check Fire & Grit at website www.orionsociety.org . For further information email orion@orionsociety.org fax (413)528-0676 phone (413)528-4422 ext. 34.
July 10 - Summer Board Meeting of the WVHC at place to be announced.
July 13 - Forest Forum with Zach Henderson, executive director of Shavers Fork Coalition, as speaker. Topic: The Watershed in West Virginia's Forests. Details similar to May 11entry above.
August 10 - Forest Forum with Rick Landenberger, WVU School of Forestry, as speaker. Topic: Old Growth. Details similar to May 11 entry above.
Sept. 14 - Forest Forum with Craig Stihler, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Program,as speaker. Topic: Threatened and Endangered Species. Details similar to May 11 entry above.
October 12 - Forest Forum with Dr. Jim Kotcon, WVU Dept. of Plant & Soil Science, as speaker. Topic: Air Pollution Impacts on West Virginia's Forests. Details similar to May 11 entry above.
October 15 thru 17 - Fall Review in Morgantown.
October 21 thru 24 - Peace and Global Issues - the 12th Annual Conference of Concerned Philosophers for Peace. Radford University. Call for papers on global peace and environmental issues, deadline June 1. For information E-mail gmartin@runet.edu phone (540) 831-5213.