The National Parks: America's Best Idea

The National Parks: America's Best Idea
Premiere: September 27th, 2009

The highly anticipated series is almost here!

From Yellowstone to Yosemite, Zion to Shenandoah, our national parks were founded on one principle: They belong to all of us. The National Parks: America's Best Idea is a six-episode series directed by Ken Burns and written and co-produced by Dayton Duncan premiering September 27th on PBS.

Filmed over the course of more than six years in some of nature's most spectacular locales, this documentary is a story of people who devoted themselves to saving some precious portion of the land they loved. It is a story full of struggle and conflict, high ideals and crass opportunism, stirring adventure and enduring inspiration - set against the most breathtaking backdrops imaginable. This documentary traces the birth of the national park idea in the mid-1800s and follows its evolution for nearly 150 years.

Watch a preview of the documentary here.


Dinner in the Valley Series

Join CVNPA and other park enthusiasts on Sunday, September 27, 2009 for dinner and an early showing on the big screen at Happy Days Lodge of the first night of the KenBurns PBS special.

Doors open at 6:30pm with dinner served at 6:45pm followed by the showing of The National Parks: America's Best Idea at 8:00pm.

The cost is $15 for adults and $5 for children 3-12. Children under 2 years are free. CVNPA and Western Reserve PBS members pay $12.50 for adults and $3.50 for children 3-12.

Reservations must be made and paid for in advance by calling CVNPA at 330-657-2909 ext 100. There is limited seating for this presentation.


Big Screen Viewings

Join CVNP for a special big screen viewing at Happy Days Lodge each night concurrent with the PBS broadcasts. Except for the first night, programs are free and require no reservation. Reshfreshments will be available for purchase. After each episode, there is an optional gathering around the campfire for people to share their national park stories.

Monday, September 28th
The Last Refuge (1890-1915)

Tuesday, September 29th
The Empire of Grandeur (1915-1919)

Wednesday, September 30th
Going Home (1920-1933)

Thursday, October 1st
Great Nature (1933-1945)

Friday, October 2nd
The Morning of Creation (1946-1980)
-This program is followed by a short ranger-led hike along Haskell Run.

Doors open at Happy Days Lodge, 500 West Streetsboro Road, Peninsula, OH, at 7:30 p.m; and program is from 8 to 10 p.m. each night.

The full series DVD and CD will be made available for purchase each night.

2009 Youngstown Ultra Trail Classic 50K & 25K

Another year has come and past for NEO Trail's annual event, Youngstown Ultra Trail Classic, held in Mill Creek Park in Youngstown, OH. This past Saturday was the 5th running of the 50K event and the second year since the 25K event was added. The weather was perfect for runners with clear blue skies and a high of 71 and low of 43.


Several records were set this year including 113 total finishers (71 in 50K, 42 in 25K) and new course records for the men's 50K and 25K as well as the women's 25K.

Jacob Draa cut the tape first in the 50K with a new course record of 4:02:39. Michelle Ellery won the women's race in a time of 5:25:30. For the 25K, Alex White set a course record 2:04 and Bonnie Hartman set the female's record in 2:19:54.

Special thanks to all the volunteers who help make YUT-C a success every year!

Click here for pictures of the event. 50K Results - 25K Results

NEO Trail members - Nick Billock - Mike Keller

QotD - September 7-11

To be added to the QotD list, contact Jim Harris at james.a.harris@delphi.com.

September 8th
"If you don't go after what you want, you'll never have it. If you don't ask, the answer is always no. If you don't step forward, you're always in the same place."
-Nora Roberts

September 9th
"The only true wisdom lives far from mankind, out in the great loneliness, and can be reached only through suffering. Privation and suffering alone open the mind to all that is hidden to others."
-Igjugarjuk, Caribou Eskimo Shaman

September 11th
The number one tactic, if you really want to race well, is to run really, really, really a lot. Hard work always works better than hardly working. You have to make your dreams your goals and then take that first step and practice them. What goes into practice comes out of practice. Thoughts need practice, too, so practice winning thoughts.

Examples:
-If you don’t follow your dreams, you might as well be a turnip.
-Some people buy a Mercedes, some people are a Mercedes.
-If you never go fast, you’ll never go fast.
-If you fall off your perch, FLY!
-Bernie Boettcher

Marquette Trail 50K

On August 22nd NEO Trail member Daniel Bellinger completed the inaugural Marquette 50K in a time of 6:54:19. He commented that it was a very rough and technical trail, but beautiful. For more information check out the race website - www.marquettetrail50.com

QotD - August 31 - September 4

To be added to the QotD list, contact Jim Harris at james.a.harris@delphi.com.

August 31st
"Running is a lot like life. Only 10 percent of it is exciting. 90 percent of it is slog and drudge."
-David Bedford, English distance runner who sometimes ran 200 miles a week in training

September 1st
"I feel the earth and the wind and the trees. I feel its spirit. It puts me in the moment. I feel the rhythm of the race. It's like music. When the rhythm gets dissonant and chaotic, it is either a jazzy driving force behind me or demons inside me."
-Gabriel Harmony Jennings, talking about winning the 1,500 meter

September 2nd
One must pay the price.

A person must earn the right to set lofty goals. By that I mean one must be realistic, do the homework, pay the price and accept the sacrifices involved.
-Dave McGillivary

September 4th
"I love running cross-country... You come up a hill and see two deer going: 'What the hell is he doing?' On a track, I feel like a hamster."
-Robin Williams, film star/comic/runner/cyclist