The celebration will be on Sunday, September 15th at 4 PM at 111 Mill Race Rd in Verona. (Our backup/rain location will be the American Legion at 357 Cedar Green Rd in Staunton.)
This will be a potluck-style event! Though we will provide the BBQ and the fun, we'd love it if you could please bring the following:
+ a side dish + your own plates, cups, and utensils
+ your beverage of choice
+ a camping chair (or chairs) for the members of your party
During the picnic, we will draw the winning raffle tickets. Two lucky folks will leave with a grand prize of either a new kayak, or stand-up inflatable paddle board. There will also be a silent auction (see below for a sneak peek) and many more raffle prizes drawn for those in attendance. Additionally, you will have an opportunity to hear about our stewardship efforts from the past year, and any new activities in the pipeline – new volunteer opportunities with FOMR are always available.
FOMR will provide BBQ, buns, and sauces. We will have sister organizations in attendance that will also provide additional local conservation information you may find useful.
The celebration kicks off at 4 PM and goes until dark. It will be held outdoors at Shirley and Stuart Webster’s beautiful riverfront property, as we have done in the past at 111 Mill Race Road in Verona.
Please arrive in a party mood by car - or boat - if you like! Kids are always welcome, but please leave the dogs at home.
We hope you will join us for this fun evening of fellowship as we give thanks for our sponsors, volunteers, and our amazing resource…the Middle River!
Also, there's still plenty of time to enter our 2024 raffle -- be sure to get your raffle tickets (if you haven't already) at this link here!
The 2024 FriendsFest Raffle Prizes: A Hyperlite Elevation 10'2" Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board Package & a 10' Yellowfin Vibe Wildfire 100 Kayak with seat & paddle.
Middle River Cleanup Reminder
Due to a scheduling conflict, our September 7th River Bend Road Cleanup has been rescheduled for the same time and place on September 21st.
Date: September 21st (River Bend Rd. near New Hope)
FOMR will provide gloves, trash bags and haul collected trash from the sites. Meeting and parking information will be provided upon signup.
All attendees should come dressed for sloppy, muddy work. Gloves are strongly recommended. If folks don't have gloves, we will provide them. Wear footwear that is sturdy and can get wet. Open toed sandals are not recommended. A hat, long sleeves, sunscreen, and plenty of drinking water are recommended. We will provide trash bags, first aid kits, and 2-way radios for each team. A waterproof bag or container is a good idea for phones, wallets, and such. If folks are allergic to bee stings they should bring whatever medical supplies they might need and should let their team leader know of their medical condition.
FOMR Group Float Trips
Participants need their own canoe or kayak and a personal floatation device. This season’s trips are all suitable for novice paddlers. Space is limited. Links for trip details and to register will be on the FOMR website homepage. (Registration for each trip should open at least 2 weeks before the trip.)
Due to ongoing low water levels, our September 14th Float Trip has been postponed. Please keep an eye out in your inboxes and on our website for more info in the coming weeks.
Fall Benthic Monitoring Info Session
Were you one of those kids who loved to turn over rocks in rivers to find out what types of critters dwelled underneath? Or perhaps you are still one of those kids who loved looking at river critters? Well, have we got a fun opportunity for you!
On Sunday, September 29, 2024 at 1 pm we will host a Benthic Monitoring Info Session. Our session will occur at Sandy Bottom Park & Golf Course at 610 East College Street, Bridgewater, VA 22812. The GPS coordinates of the parking lot are 38.370704, -78.965264.
FOMR’s Benthic Monitoring Program collects aquatic bugs (macroinvertebrates) from the Middle River and assesses river health by comparing bugs tolerant of pollution with those less tolerant. It’s fun and vital to FOMR’s stewardship of the Middle River.
Monitoring involves wading into the stream and using a seine net (takes 2 people) to collect aquatic bugs. The net with the bugs is then spread out on a table and the bugs are picked out of the net, identified and then placed back in the stream. You will have an opportunity to do it all. It’s a great way for critter catchers of all ages to find out what lives in our river!
Directions to the meetup spot: Enter the park and follow the road to the left. Continue driving down until you dead end in a small parking lot with a bathroom area in the corner. The river and picnic tables are directly next to the parking area. We will be set up there for the discussion and bug sampling.
The volunteers who form our newest committee have shared their considerable paddling and river experience to help FOMR build new policies to assure that our river trips—be they recreational or for cleanups—will be safe experiences for everyone. Sometimes on a sleepy river like the Middle, it can be easy to be lulled into a false sense of security. But all rivers have the combined risk of varying water levels, varying weather and also typically are remote and lack cell service. Thank you to the volunteers who think long and hard about ways to make sure we all come back in one piece from our adventures!
Upcoming Events
September
15 FriendsFest 2024
21 FOMR CleanUp at River Bend Rd, 9 - Noon
24 Board Meeting, 6:30 PM
29 Fall Benthic Monitoring Info Session, 1 PM
October
22 Board Meeting, 6:30 PM
Current RAP Booklet Version 02/26/2024
New to receiving the FOMR newsletter?
Maybe we met you at a festival recently or you signed up after you saw us on the news, but you still wish you knew more about our organization... First of all, welcome! And just so you know, we do have a slightly more detailed sign-up form that tells us some more about you - like any potential volunteer interests you might have - and also gives you the chance to sign up for our River Access Program.
