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| Blogging for Sustainable Communities |
 Blogs can be a great way to share information and ideas, perhaps especially those that just never seem to get into the mainstream media. They also allow others to join the conversation by commenting on posts. So we put up a blog, Your Piece of the Planet, and hope you will join us in a responsible discussion of the issues, events, ideas and op portunities for creating sustainable communities in the Prince William area. Samples from this weeks stories include:
- Saving the Bay Begins at Home - After 20 years of trying, we're no closer to a clean Chesapeake Bay. Indeed, we seem to be backsliding. So what's the problem?
- Buildout - Do we need to rezone property to permit more housing units? No. The official residential build out analysis shows developers can build 34% more units...
- Nokesville Citizens Pull Together - In May of this year, I was informed that the Park Authority was investigating whether to put additional lights into Valley View Park. We had all fought the initial lights before the park was built and have sat as they lit our neighborhood like an out of place spaceship landing...
- Better Together: Land Use & Transportation Planning - The connections between land use and transportation are getting a lot of attention in Virginia's smart growth forums. Sounds like good news, but is it just more chatter or could it signal a step in the right direction?
Trails at James Long Park - The PW County Park Authority has the opportunity to add trails at James Long Regional Park in the Gainesville District. Last month, 66 acres of undeveloped, wooded land was transferred from PW County to the Park Authority as an addition to Long Park.
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| Family Nature Adventure |
 When: Saturday, July 25 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Where: Nokesville Park, 12560 Aden Road, directions
The Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District is hosting an evening program for families who want to discover more about nature close to home.
Prince William Conservation Alliance will be there taking a closer look at the critters who live in the the creek that winds its way through Nokesville Park. Other activities include nature walks, star gazing and more.
Registration is required, please RSVP by July 18th to Nicole Either, [email protected] or 703-594-3621.Questions? Contact Nicole or check online here . |
| Master Naturalist Program Seeks Volunteers |
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 Are you ready to put a little wildlife in your weekend? The Merrimac Farm Chapter of Virginia's Master Naturalist Program is a great way to learn more about local habitats, plants and animals... and get involved in stewardship activities!
The first program is scheduled for September through November 2008. The cost is $200 per participant, class size is limited to 20 participants. You must submit an application by Friday, August 15 to be considered for acceptance into the Fall 2008 session.
Questions? Contact Kim Hosen at 703.499.4954 or [email protected] or check online here . |
| Merrimac Farm Update |
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New Work Day Scheduled for the Stone House:
When: Saturday, August 2 from 9:00 a.m. to Noon
Where: Stone House, located at the very end of Deepwood Lane, directions
Thanks to Prince William volunteers, Merrimac Farm was opened to the public at lightning fast speed... and there is lots to do to make it more user friendly.
The old, flimsy back porch is down and needs to be loaded into a dump truck for delivery to the dump. A trail leading to the wetlands was recently mowed. We'll be there tomorrow morning at 8:00 a.m. making the trail route and loading lumber into the truck. Please feel free to join us if you have the day off and are looking for a good deed to start off your weekend!
We are still trying to open the Stone House. Next steps include minor household repairs, including changing out all the faucets, patching walls, replacing baseboards and painting. We will be starting these repairs on August 2 and hope you can join us!
Questions? Contact Kim Hosen at 703.499.4954 or [email protected]. |
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