established 2021

The Smith Valley SV Gets a Facelift

This article & photos are courtesy of Rita Heidkamp

On October 27, 2024, a group of about 40 Smith Valley residents trekked up the hill, high above Wellington, to give the Smith Valley SV a facelift. After many years of limited maintenance, the SV was overgrown by brush and was fading into the hillside.

At the appointed time, with the temperature hovering near freezing, nearly 40 Smith Valley residents of all ages from 4 months to over 70 years gathered at Dressler park. We caravanned as close as possible to the SV.

While it was probably less than ¼ mile from the parking area to the SV it was a very, very steep hike. The hike was made all the harder by the vast amount of equipment needed to complete the job.

Hauling equipment up the steep hill to give the Smith Valley SV a facelift. The volunteers hauled generators, paint sprayers, tools and many 60lb buckets of white paint generously donated by Cheryl Giomi owner of Ace Hardware in Yerington.

Carrying one of the paint sprayers up the steep incline made easier when the load is shared.

Participants brought all manner of tools to remove the brush. But there were also buckets and buckets of white paint, each weighing 60 pounds to be hauled up the steep hill. Also lugged up the hill were 2 paint sprayers and 2 gas generators.

*The SV was mostly overgrown by brush and weeds. First, the weeds and brush were pulled, and raked to the side. Then the rocks that sloughed had to be carefully placed back into the SV.*

It was hard work, but with such a large group it only took about 5 hours until the SV was looking great again.

Removing the weeds helped but it wasn’t until the white paint, donated Cheryl Giomi owner of Ace Hardware in Yerington, was applied that the SV came to life again.

None of this would have been possible without the generous donation of all the paint by Cheryl Giomi, owner of Ace Hardware in Yerington.

So next time you drive through Smith Valley, look high on the hill to see the SV all bright and white.