Saved By a Salamander Day releases schedule of events

April 24, 2024
For immediate release

GRASSY CREEK — On Saturday, May 18 from 1:00 – 8:00 PM, the New River Conservancy and the Old Store at Grassy Creek, along with sponsors and partners will present the 2nd Annual Saved by a Salamander,(SBaS).  Celebrating the hellbender that, according to legend, saved the town of Grassy Creek along with 42,000 acres in Ashe and Alleghany Counties in NC and Grayson County in VA from inundation by the proposed dams, SBaS is a free event for the community. 

SBaS is pleased to announce the schedule for the day, to include speakers such as Janet and Hardin Halsey, who were part of the citizens’ effort to block the damming of the New River by the Appalachian Power Company during the energy crisis of the 1970s,  traveling to Washington DC to lobby legislators as members of The National Committee for the New River. 

In addition to these events there will also be booths with activities for kids of all ages including painting rocks, testing water, and the Operation River game. In addition, food trucks and refreshments will be available. To round out the day, the Jeff Little Trio will perform live from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Be sure to bring a lawn chair and toe-tapping shoes.  

Schedule of events:

1:00 – 2:00 Water Health, Riparian Buffers & River Builders: Take a walk along Grassy Creek (a tributary of the New River) with the New River Water Watchers. Also hear about the vital importance of riparian buffers zones to water health. Joe Johnson from Foggy Mountain Nursery will talk about the New River Conservancy River Builder program and showcase the riparian buffer zone he planted along Grassy Creek through a partnership between the River Builder program and Hart-T-Tree Farms.

2:00 – 3:00 All About the Hellbender with River Girl Kelly McCoy: Learn all about the famous Hellbender salamander, the largest amphibians in the country, with some reaching 29in in length.

3:00 – 4:00 Counting Critters: Macroinvertebrates with Dr. Tuberty: Dr. Shea Tuberty from Appalachian State University will lead us in a hands-on workshop to count macroinvertebrates in Grassy Creek, a tributary of the New River

4:00 – 5:00 The Fight to Save the New with Janet and Hardin Halsey: Janet and Hardin Halsey were part of the citizens’ effort to block the damming of the New River by the Appalachian Power Company during the energy crisis of the 1970s

5:00 – 7:00 New this year!  Bier Garden  & Food Trucks ~ Join us in the Bier Garden and enjoy some amazing local brews and beverages. Boondocks from West Jefferson, NC and Frosty Monkey from Independence, VA food trucks will be onsite with some delicious dinner and treats.

5:30 – 7:00 The Jeff Little Trio: Back for the second year in a row, Jeff Little is an award-winning musician from the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Performances include The Smithsonian Institution, The National Folk Festival, American Piano Masters, The Barns of Wolf Trap and many theatres, performing arts centers, and festivals. Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy this free show.  

Saved By a Salamander Day is a fundraiser for New River Conservancy, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.  All donations are tax deductible.  For more information, please contact Lisa Stansell-Galitz at li**@ne*****************.org