Mark your calendars for our First Annual Batten Kill BBQ , to be held August 18, 2007 - 11:30-2:30PM - at the Arlington Recreation Park, in Arlington, VT.

BBQ cost: Just $5 per person!

Raffle ticket cost:

• 50/50 Cash raffle -- $1/each, $5/7, $10/an arm's length
• Big ticket raffle -- $5/each -- winning tickets to be drawn in the Fall
• Regular Raffle -- $5/each -- prizes drawn that day

FOOD -- We'll be serving up burgers & dogs, plus veggie burgers, potato salad, chips, iced-tea and lemonade, and ice-cream.

RAFFLES -- We'll be having several raffles: one cash-prize 50/50 raffle; a big-ticket raffle, with winning tickets to be drawn in the fall -- big-ticket prizes include: an exquisitely crafted, one-of-a-kind, hand-carved landing net by Sam Lacina, a handsome, framed, limited-edition print by professional photographer and author Thomas Ames, two separate half-day guided fishing trips with professional VT fishing guides: Peter Basta & Lawton Weber, and a gently used 8'6" 4-weight fly-rod. Plus, a regular raffle with many smaller prizes to be awarded that day -- including gift certificates to local restaurants (Kevin at Mikes, The Sirloin Saloon, The Perfect Wife), a canoe rental courtesy of Batten Kill Canoe Ltd, in Arlington, a kayak rental coutesy of Eastern Mountain Sports, a one year subscription to American Angler and a one year subscription to Fly Tyer magazines, and movie tickets from the Village Picture Show in Manchester.

CASTING CONTESTS and DEMONSTRATIONS -- Fly-casting demonstrations - featuring master fly-caster Bill Cairns - and fly-casting contests with PRIZES!

Jeff Swedberg is coordinating this event and is looking for volunteers to help setting up, grilling the dogs and burgers, selling raffle tickets, serving and socializing. If you can assist, .

Proceeds from the BBQ and raffles will go toward river restoration projects in SWVT, such as the BK riparian buffer zone planting project which we are currently working on.