p Fairfax County Park Authority • Fairfax, VA 22035 • 703-324-8695 • FAX 703-324-3996 • TTY 703-803-3354 • www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources

continued on page 9

Virginia Master Naturalists are a great fitwith the Park Authority

Suzanne Hough was the kid who always turned over the rockto see what was under it. She looks at dirt and sees thefoundation of the world. So when the program coordinator at

George Mason University read that the Virginia Master Naturalistprogram was expanding to Fairfax, she immediately signed on.

The Virginia Master Naturalist Program was launched in 2006and is similar to the Master Gardener program. Master Naturalistsare a statewide corps of volunteers who provide education, out-reach and service “dedicated to the beneficial management of naturalresources and natural areas within their communities.” The Fairfaxchapter was chartered in 2007 and is now training its third class.Park Authority employees help train the Virginia Master Naturalists.

Fairfax Master Naturalists are a growing part of Fairfax County’snatural resource stewardship community, and the Fairfax County ParkAuthority is one of the program’s partners. With so many parks andnatural resources in the county, the two entities are closely linked.

There is a good deal of “synergy” between the naturalists andthe parks, says Hidden Oaks volunteer Marilyn Schroeder, past presi-dent of Fairfax Master Naturalists and chairman of the coordinatingcommittee. Three of the four field trips scheduled for the fall 2008training session were to Park Authority sites. Fairfax Master Naturalistshave volunteered at Lake Accotink Park, Cub Run RECenter, HiddenOaks Nature Center, Riverbend Park and Huntley Meadows Park.

The county gets well-trained volunteers from the program. MasterNaturalists are required to undergo 60 hours of basic training at theirown expense and then keep up to date with eight hours of advancedtraining and 40 hours of volunteer service annually. The training isserious. Consider some of these class topics from the fall 2008

A Natural CombinationBy Lori K. Weinraub, Park Authority Volunteer

session: geology and soils, botany, ecological concepts, streammanagement and entomology.

Hough says the training is intense so that volunteer naturalistsunderstand what they’re seeing when they are in the parks. Trainedvolunteers who lead bird watches and nature walks know what theyare talking about. Those who help clean up can distinguish betweeninvasive and native plants.

Schroeder says projects, suchas the fall cleanup day at LakeAccotink Park, the dragonflysurvey at Riverbend Park and theLittle Acorns and Forest Fledg-lings programs for children atHidden Oaks, have benefitedfrom the knowledge of MasterNaturalists.

Mona Enquist-Johnston, thePark Authority’s liaison to theFairfax Master Naturalists and aCertified Interpretive Trainer,

The Spring 2008 training class, Virginia Master Naturalists, FairfaxChapter, at Huntley Meadows. Photo by Doreen Peters

WHAT’S INSIDE . . .

Winter Events ................ 2Park Foundation ............ 3Colvin Run .................... 4Preserving History ......... 5Building Bridges ............ 6A Bridge to the Past ...... 8Paper or Plastic ........... 10Park Accreditation ........ 11Holiday Shopping ........ 12

NATURE, HISTORY AND HORTICULTURE IN FAIRFAX COUNTY VOLUME 9, NO. 1 WINTER 2009An IABC Silver Inkwell and AMPC MarCom Award and Hermes Creative Award-winning publication

2 ResOURces

NATURAL RESOURCEAND HISTORIC SITES

BURKE LAKE PARK7315 Ox Road, Fairfax Station

Call 703-323-6600

COLVIN RUN MILL10017 Colvin Run Road, Great Falls

Call 703-759-2771

ELLANOR C. LAWRENCE PARK5040 Walney Road, Chantilly

Call 703-631-0013

FRYING PAN FARM PARK2709 West Ox Road, Herndon

Call 703-437-9101

GREEN SPRING GARDENS4603 Green Spring Rd., Alexandria

Call 703-642-5173

HIDDEN OAKS NATURE CENTER7701 Royce Street, Annandale

Call 703-941-1065

HIDDEN POND NATURE CENTER8511 Greeley Blvd., Springfield

Call 703-451-9588

HUNTLEY MEADOWS PARK3701 Lockheed Blvd., Alexandria

Call 703-768-2525

LAKE ACCOTINK PARK7500 Accotink Park Rd., Springfield

Call 703-569-3464

LAKE FAIRFAX PARK1400 Lake Fairfax Drive, Reston

Call 703-471-5414

RIVERBEND PARK8700 Potomac Hills Street, Great Falls

Call 703-759-9018

SULLY HISTORIC SITE3650 Historic Sully Way, Chantilly

Call 703-437-1794

HISTORIC PROPERTIES RENTAL SERVICESwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/weddings.htm

Call 703-827-0609

Need directions or more information?VISIT www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks

E V E N T S

Editor/Writer: David OchsPhotos: Don Sweeney, FCPA

David OchsProduction: Innovative Projects, Inc.

Published quarterly by theFairfax County Park Authority,

12055 Government Center Parkway,Fairfax, VA 22035-1118.

Available at park sitesand Fairfax County libraries.Visit ResOURces online at

www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources

c ResOURces is printed on recycled paper.

WINTER EVENTSThe Holidays at Colvin Run Mill

Historic SiteGreat Falls, Virginia, 703-759-2771

Children’s Holiday ShoppingDecember 6-7-8: 10am-2pm Saturday,noon-4pm Sunday, 1-4pm Monday.Come let a volunteer help the kids pick out agift for Mom, Dad, siblings and friends.

Country ChristmasSaturday, December 13, 3-6pm

Model Train DisplayDecember 20, 11am-4pm. December 21,1pm-4pm

Also coming to Colvin Run:Maple syrup boil-down, Feb. 8 and 15

Candlelight Tours —A Civil War ChristmasSaturday-Sunday, December 13-14,beginning at 5pm, Sully Historic Site,703-437-1794.Learn about 19th century holiday customs. Pre-paid reservations required.$10/adult, $7/senior and child

Christmas at the FarmDecember 14, 12:30-1:30pm or 2:30-3:30pm, Frying Pan Farm Park, 703-437-9101.Enjoy a holiday visit with the farm animals inthe Kidwell Barn. Take a wagon ride with Santaand see the “Pig-a-Lou’s Christmas” puppetshow. Pre-paid reservations required. $6

Virginia Hunter Horse Show SeriesDecember 14, January 17, February 7,March 28, and April 25, 8am, Frying PanFarm Park, 703-437-9101. Spectators FREE

Snake and Turtle FeedingDecember 27, (All ages), 1-1:45 pm,Hidden Oaks Nature Center, 703-941-1065.Enjoy a presentation and meet several localspecies up close. Reservations and advancedpayment required. $2

Birds of PreyJanuary 3, (Adults), 10am-6pm,Ellanor C. Lawrence Park, 703-631-0013.Search for wintering and resident hawks andowls. Bring binoculars and a lunch. Dress forthe weather. Reservations and advanced pay-ment required. $20

Winter Flower GardenSaturday, January 17, 2-3pm,Green Spring Gardens, 703-642-5173.Learn how to ‘force’ crocuses, daffodils,hyacinths and irises to grow in a dish garden.$15/project includes bulbs, container and soil.

Winter Birds of the CoastJanuary 23, (Adults), 8am-8pm,Riverbend Park, 703-759-9018.Winter waterfowl, shorebirds and raptorshighlight a day that could end with streams ofsnow geese descending on the marsh. Dressfor cold, windy conditions. Bring binoculars andlunch. Reservations required. $34

Winter at Hidden Pond Nature CenterSpringfield, Virginia, 703-451-9588

Nature Survivor Camp,December 29-31, 1-4pm

Pohick Rangers Jr.,beginning January 5, 3pm

Pohick Rangers,beginning January 12, 3pm

Animal Sweethearts Dance,February 14, 10am-Noon and 2-4pm

Weekend Pohick Rangers,beginning February 21, 10am-Noon

Holiday Concerts at Sully Historic Site703-437-1794,

pre-paid reservations required. $10/seat

Richmond Guitar QuartetDecember 29, 2 or 3 pmFour guitars plus four individuals equal oneunique sound. These four young guitarists testthe boundaries of chamber music.

IONA, December 30 at 1, 2 or 3pmOne of the top rated pan-Celtic groups in theworld treats its audience to high energy enter-tainment. House tour included.

Winter 2009 3

P A R K F O U N D AT I O N

A FAMILY PLACEBy Paul Baldino, Executive Director, Fairfax County Park Foundation

Something’s coming, something good. And it’s gonna be great.

Public funds alone are not sufficient to bring this family place to life, so the Fairfax CountyPark Foundation is beginning a fundraising campaign to make the dream a reality. If youcan help, please contact the Fairfax County Park Foundation, 12055 GovernmentCenter Parkway, Suite 404, Fairfax, VA 22035, call 703-324-8581 or e-mailPaul.Baldino@fairfaxcounty.gov.

The Fairfax County Park Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. All contributions to theFoundation are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

Lee District Park, a 138-acre site on Telegraph Road just three milesfrom the beltway, is the planned home of a unique, outdoor FamilyRecreation Area that will catch the imagination of elementary

school-aged children. It will feature physical and creative play for all. Thismagical place will combine old-fashioned and thoroughly modern playelements so children with and without disabilities can play side-by-side,sharing fun, excitement and thrills.

The Family Recreation Area will include:✔ An accessible tree house, literally in the trees, overlooking a forest

and stream valley. The tree house entrance will run along gentlysloping ramps accessible to people with limited mobility.

✔ A spray park, where water showers from fanciful structures, providing a safe and funactivity on hot summer days

✔ A playground with slides, swings and other equipment specially designed to be usedby all children, including those with disabilities

✔ An old-fashioned, fully accessible carousel

✔ A family picnic area with covered shelters

✔ Changing rooms, restrooms and the other facilities you need for a day of family fun

An accessible tree house Fun in a spray park

4 ResOURces

H I S T O R Y

Milling County HistoryBy Lori K. Weinraub, Park Authority Volunteer

Hunter Mill Road, Union Mill Road,Fox Mill Road, Stuart Mill Road,Old Keene Mill Road.

Notice a pattern?

Some of our local road names reflect ourhistory, and mills were a major industry inFairfax County 200 years ago. Not far fromTysons Corner today, miller Mason Maddoxgrinds wheat into flour, just like his prede-cessors. Watching him at work is worth avisit to Colvin Run Mill.

The mill has been around since the timeof the Louisiana Purchase, when the countrywas looking west and had seen its first bankfailures. There were tensions with Britain thatwould lead to the War of 1812, and theGerman immigration south from Pennsylva-nia had taken place.

boosted grain production, combined withimproved transportation, kept things hum-ming at the mill until the Civil War.

During that period, the mill was a com-munity center. The site contained a generalstore and a blacksmith shop, which meantfarmers could sell their product to the miller,buy what they needed for their home andget their equipment repaired all in one stop.Later, the mill pond became a favorite swim-ming and fishing spot in summer. In thewinter, there were roaring bonfires on thebanks as ice skating parties slid into the nights.

By the time of the Great Depression, themill had become “a novelty,” says ColvinRun Mill Site Manager Mike Henry. Moderntransportation meant that farmers could earnmoney by shipping their products to giantcompanies like General Mills, Kellogg’s orRalston Purina. The local mill was no longerneeded. Dairy farming succeeded milling inthe county business community.

Colvin Run Mill will be celebrating its 200th anniversary in 2011.

Learn more online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/crm/.

The gears inside Colvin Run Mill

In the early 1800s, farmers knew thattobacco burned up nutrients in the soil, sothey turned to grains in Fairfax County.In that historic setting, Colvin Run Millappeared. It was a merchant mill, whichfarmers liked because it meant they got paidin cash for their product and didn’t have tofind a market for all that flour after the grind-ing. It was also a modern mill based on aradical new design by an inventor namedOliver Evans. New farming techniques that

Colvin Run Mill in the winter Photo by CRM volunteer Mike Toms

Fairfax County eventually acquired the36-acre Colvin Run property with the mill,miller’s house, barn, three sheds and theremains of the mill dam, and the ParkAuthority began restoring the mill in 1968.Mark Cockrell’s early 19th century generalstore was moved from across the street ontoparkland. The mill reopened to the publicin 1972 with the waterwheel turningthe stones for grinding corn and wheat.Historian Mason Maddox, who did a lot ofmaintenance and carpentry work at the site,became the miller by reading old texts. Henow operates the mill on Sunday afternoonsfrom April until November, and the flour andcornmeal that is produced is sold in therestored general store.

The mill is an excellent display of thecounty’s history and a chance for parents toslip in a little education while taking thekids out to one of the many fun activities atthe park.

Winter 2009 5

P A R T N E R S H I P / H I S T O R Y

DO YOU BURNFIREWOOD?We have an uninvited guest who’s crashingthe party and damaging our home.

The tree-killing emerald ash borer was confirmed in FairfaxCounty in July. It’s an Asian insect, accidentally introduced,that has killed millions of trees in the Midwest.

The metallic green beetle can spread through the move-ment of firewood, and the Virginia Board of Agriculture andConsumer Services has issued a quarantine that prohibitsanyone from taking hardwood firewood out of the county.

Be stewardship conscious. Remember this winter to uselocal sources of firewood, and don’t transport wood fromyour home anywhere.

Keep in mind that collecting firewood from park land isprohibited. We leave dead wood in the parks to provide habitatfor animals and to nourish the forest soil.

Damage caused by an emerald ash borer on theinside of tree bark.

Ox Hill Battlefield ParkNow Open

Thousands died or were injured and two Union generals fell 146years ago at Ox Hill. It was the site of a bloody Civil War battle,waged in a tortuous thunderstorm, that took place at a critical pointbetween the battles of Second Manassas and Antietam. It’s a CivilWar history site that you can visit in Fairfax County.

The Park Authority reopened Ox Hill Battlefield Park in Septemberafter completing a $700,000 project to construct new trails, erecthistoric interpretive kiosks, restore landscapes and improve parking.The project is the result of a partnership between the Park Authorityand the Chantilly Battlefield Association.

The park is at 4134 West Ox Road in Fairfax, at the intersection of West Ox and Monument Road.www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/oxhill/ • www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources/downloads/ResOURcesSp08.pdf

A Bit of History PreservedOur Sears House is a very, very, very fine house

The Spindle Sears House is open. It’s a look at Fairfax County life inthe 1930s.

At the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Centreville Day in September, FairfaxCounty Park Authority Board Chairman Harold Strickland said, “The valueof protecting our history cannot be overstated.” Fairfax County Board ofSupervisors Chairman Gerry Connolly said he and fellow board members“cherish the preservation of our heritage.” Sully District Supervisor MichaelFrey noted that the project was “a labor of love for a lot of people,” andSpringfield Supervisor Pat Herrity added that “preserving our history isimportant for our youth.”

Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerry Connolly (holding bow)with other dignitaries at the Spindle Sears House ribbon cutting.

Learn more about the house online:www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/plandev/mtgilead.htm

www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/plandev/searshouse.htmwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources/printpub.htm

(click on Summer 2008)

There’s more information atwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpwes/environmental/

eab_general.htm and www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources/stewardshipbrochures.htm.

6 ResOURces

D I V E R S I T Y / S T E W A R D S H I P

Building Bridges in the ParksIt’s not a matter of right and wrong.

It’s a matter of understanding.

One individual may see acorns andmushrooms on parkland as food foranimals. Another sees them as food

to be gathered for family.

One person may think it’s okay to releasea non-native fish into a stream to create a newfood source. A second sees that as upsettingthe balance of nature.

One person might think an arrowheador Civil War button is a fine souvenir. Anothersees it as an important piece of the puzzlethat is history.

There are many ways to enjoy parksand the outdoors. It’s the task of the ParkAuthority to set the guidelines for how FairfaxCounty parks are used and protected.

Diverse ViewpointsA person’s view of parkland use some-

times is based in culture or upbringing.Residents may move to Fairfax County froma part of the United States, another countryor from a culture where removing plants andanimals from public lands is the norm. LisaBright of Earth Sangha, a longtime ParkAuthority partner, describes it as people“eating their memories.” She says they don’tneed food from the parks for sustenance,but they are living the culture they knew intheir past.

Maria Demarest of Bailey’s ElementarySchool says, “The way immigrants see anduse parks in this country comes from a dif-ferent point of view that they bring with themfrom their own countries.” Demarest, amember of the Superintendent’s CommunityAdvisory Council, adds that this viewpoint“sometimes contrasts with the regulated wayparks are managed here.”

Park Authority personnel try to educatepeople about Fairfax County’s philosophy ofprotecting, rather than consuming, naturaland cultural resources. Naturalist CharlesSmith says the Park Authority wants to instillthe feeling of “a responsibility to protect.”This is a definition of stewardship.

Toward that goal, the Park Authority hasestablished Community Connections, anaward-winning outreach and educationstrategy. It’s a philosophy of building bridgesbetween the Park Authority and the county’sresidents by breaking through culturaldifferences.

Turtles could be wiped out of the parks by poaching.

Stewardship:Wise Use of Parkland

Nature doesn’t completely take care ofitself. Humans, who are part of it and impactit, also actively manage it. In Fairfax County,the Park Authority manages over 400 siteswith an eye on stewardship. That manage-ment is done in a lot of different ways.

Wildlife is monitored, and some has tobe managed for it to survive. For example,fishing is allowed at most parks, but captur-ing turtles and other animals is not. Thereare enough fish, which are sometimesstocked at certain park sites, for some to beharvested within established limits and withproper licenses. That’s not true of turtles,which could be wiped out in our parks bypredation.

Taking plants from parks or planting newones can cause damage. How? In the past,rare plantings have been lost or theirnumbers reduced because folks just want toharvest or transplant something. Invasive

Artifacts like these teach us about historyif they’re not removed from park sites bysouvenir hunters.

Winter 2009 7

More information about Fairfax County Park Authority guidelines are online at:www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/parkrules/ • www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/parkpolicy

www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/parkfaq.htm

D I V E R S I T Y / S T E W A R D S H I P

plants have appeared in their place. Invasivescan change nature’s balances, and that canthreaten wildlife survival.

Find an arrowhead in a park? Leave itthere. Tell a Park Authority employee aboutit. Each historic object plays a role in piecingtogether the story of our past. To learn moreabout the past, we need to know not justwhat was found but also where it was found.

In each of these examples, there is a choicebeing made. Many times, the choice is madebased on culture, personal experience orbecause we forget someone else uses theparks. If your dog poops and you leave thefeces, it’s there for the next people who walkby, and their experience of parkland isdiminished. In addition, bacteria from feces,or fecal coliform bacteria, (E. coli is one) inlocal streams are a significant health concern.

Orchids are among the rare plants the ParkAuthority guidelines protect.

Setting the GuidelinesThe Park Authority bases its guidelines

on the agency’s formal mission and valuestatements. Part of our mission statementsays our job is to set aside public spaces andhelp citizens protect them so the resourcesthat are there will be available to present andfuture generations. One of our stated valuesis “enhancing stewardship,” which meansbeing aware of, appreciating and protectingnatural and cultural resources.

Any guideline we establish honors thoseideas. To make sure county residents knowthe guidelines, we do more than post thesigns that are in the parks. We hope to hosta diversity forum, recruit more diversevolunteers, make job and volunteer applica-tion systems easier for those with limitedEnglish and translate more print documents.We want our workforce, volunteers andpark users to reflect the residents of FairfaxCounty.

The people who work for the ParkAuthority want county residents to visit parksites. So welcome to your parks. Enjoy themas they are, protect the natural and culturalresources in them, and keep them as theyare for the next person to enjoy.

Find an arrowhead or a spear point?Report it instead of taking it.

Have a comment foror about ResOURces?

Our email address isresources@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Reprint ArticlesPromote stewardship. Reprint ResOURces articlesin your association newsletter. Go to ResOURcesOnline at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources/printpub.htm to pull articles. Let usknow, and include “Reprinted courtesy of theFairfax County Park Authority” with the article.

Spend a little more time in a park.

VOLUNTEER.Join the hundreds of Fairfax County residents who volunteer,and spend more time in your beautiful parks. For information,call 703-324-8750, or learn about volunteering by going onlineto www. fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/volunteer.htm.

8 ResOURces

C U LT U R A L R E S O U R C E S

A Bridge To The PastBy Carol Ochs, Park Authority Volunteer

Abridge over a stream has become abridge to Fairfax County’s distant past.Archaeological work at a woodland

site in Riverbend Park is teaching us aboutpeople who lived here thousands of years ago.

When the federal government decided tobuild a bridge on the Potomac Heritage Trailover Clark’s Branch, a routine archaeologicalinvestigation was required. On one side of thestream, archaeologists found what they usuallyfind — a mix of artifacts from various timeperiods jumbled by the natural cycle of flood-ing and erosion. On the other side of thestream, they hit pay dirt.

Nature had compacted the soil to such adegree that it’s possible to trace time throughlayers of dirt, much like the rings on a tree.Archaeologist Paul Inashima says this makes thesite unique in the mid-Atlantic region becauseworkers can carbon-date wood charcoal in aparticular layer of earth and use that informationto determine the age of pottery, arrowheads orother crude tools found in that layer.

Inashima says the discovery is allowingarchaeologists to hone in on ancient groups andlearn how they lived in one particular season.He explains it this way. If you had a house thatwas occupied by ten different families over ahundred years and the house was smashed,anyone digging through the rubble would havea hard time figuring out how any one particular

family lived. However, if tragedy struck a brandnew house that had only one owner, we couldget a good picture of how that family livedduring that one year in time.

At Riverbend, Inashima and his team ofvolunteers are digging holes nearly six feetdeep and sifting through their findings inchby inch. They’ve learned that a large area ofwhat is now parkland once hosted seasonalcamps for hunting parties. These sites usuallytend to be small. Inashima says, “We knowthat early occupation is very extensive, whichis also unique.”

Pottery at the site dates back as far as 3,000years, some of the very earliest pottery foundin the Potomac Valley. Pottery, unlike organicmaterial, can’t be radio carbon dated. Accord-ing to Inashima, “This is one of the few sites inthe entire mid-Atlantic region where we’vebeen able to get a radio carbon date to matchup with that early pottery. It’s hard to find thetwo together.”

The pottery and other artifacts discoveredat the site, such as projectile points and endscrapers used to work hides, are being cata-logued and studied. Once research is complete,the artifacts may find a new home in the parkat the visitor center.

Plans are still under way for constructionof the foot bridge as work continues on thearchaeological bridge across time.

Paul Inashima credits

volunteers for conducting

much of the work at the

Riverbend archaeological site.

Some have past experience in

archaeology while others bring

just an interest in learning

about the past. Richard Long

and Paul Antsen are among

them. The two retired federal

workers met on the project.

Antsen says he finds the act

of discovery “exciting,”

while Long sounds like a

gardener when he says

“digging is soothing.”

Cal BP stands for calibrated beforepresent. Think of it as years before thepresent time period.

* The asterisks are years revealed bycarbon dating.

Retired archaeologist Stephen Israel (right) helps Paul Inashima searchfor artifacts at the Riverbend site. Photo by Carol Ochs

Winter 2009 9

A NATURAL COMBINATION continued from page 1

N AT U R E

teaches a training session on interpretation. “I think it has worked very well,” Enquist-Johnstonsays of the cooperative agreement between the Park Authority and the local chapter.

Encouraging future stewardship of the county’s resources is important to Enquist-Johnston,and she sees the naturalists as being a natural part of it.

For nature lovers such as Hough and Schroeder, the partnership is an opportunity to giveback. Some naturalists are drawn to education and thus lead various walks. Others practicewhat Hough calls “citizen science,” by keeping records of what they see. Still others take part inclearing invasive plants and in watershed management.

“It’s an opportunity to help the environment in all the different ways it needs help,” Houghsays. “The (paid) staff is delighted to have us as partners. Every pair of hands helps.”

Healthy Park SightingsSpring rains brought some surprisesto Huntley Meadows

Heavy spring rains made for quite a year at HuntleyMeadows, where signs of a healthy wetland were apparent.Among the year’s confirmed sightings:

❖ Least bitterns, an uncommon marsh bird that hasn’t spenta summer at Huntley for 15 years

❖ Bladderwort, an uncommon carnivorous wetland plant thathasn’t been seen at Huntley for 18 years

❖ Green milkweed, an uncommon native wildflower notseen in Huntley for at least 20 yearsLeast bittern

This queen snake was spotted this pastsummer at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park,the first sighting of the species in thepark in several years. Their presence isa positive environmental indicator forwater quality.

There’s information online about the Virginia Master Naturalistsprogram at www.virginiamasternaturalist.org/.

Many local chapter meetings are open to the public.

Naturalist Karen Sheffield, in blue, gives a lesson during adragonfly survey at Riverbend Park. Photo by Doreen Peters

Casey Arnold, Christi Kruse, Alison Keck and Pat Boyd monitora stream at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park during a Fairfax MasterNaturalist training field trip. Photo by Diana Handy

Yoonhee Macke and Emily Whitakeruse a weed wrench to remove autumnolive during an Invasive ManagementArea plant removal workday at CubRun RECenter. Photo by Katherine Frederick

10 ResOURces

P R O T E C T I N G R E S O U R C E S

PAPER OR PLASTIC?By Melissa Gaulding

Which do you choose?Neither is good for the planet. There is an alternative.

Frying Pan’s New Picnic PavilionThere’s room for you and 179 friends at Frying Pan Farm Park’s new picnic shelter. Itwas built with stewardship in mind. The tables are made from recycled material anddesigned to be accessible. For rental information, call 703-324-8732.

You’re going to the grocery store, so you’ll needbags. Paper may seem easier to recycle, butmaking paper bags uses four times the

energy required to make plastic bags. Paper bagstake up more room to ship and store, which usesfossil fuel energy. About 14 million trees are usedannually to make paper bags in the United States.Paper bags generally are not recycled into more papershopping bags because recycled paper fiber is lesselastic and shorter than virgin fiber, resulting inweaker bags. So paper’s not a good choice.

Making plastic bags uses non-renewable petro-leum and natural gas, and only about two percentof plastic bags are recycled because it doesn’t makeeconomic sense. It costs $4,000 to recycle one ton

Did youknow?✔ It takes four

times moreenergy to makepaper shoppingbags thanplastic bags.

✔ 14 million treesare cut annuallyin NorthAmerica tomake papershopping bags.

✔ About 2% ofplastic bags arerecycled; therest are shippedto China andIndia forincineration.

✔ It costs $4,000to reclaim thematerial in oneton of plasticbags. Thematerial sells forabout $35.

When it comes to digging out the planet from undera landslide of paper and plastic bags, the choiceis straightforward, inexpensive and it works: BYO.Carry reusable shopping bags with you and use them!

of plastic bags. The recycled material sells in thecurrent market for about $35. Many “recycled” plas-tic bags actually are shipped to China and India,where they are incinerated under much more laxenvironmental laws than those in the United States.Burning plastic bags produces a poison, dioxin. Soplastic’s not a good choice.

To make the best choice, remember the threeR’s of the environmental movement: reduce, reuse,recycle. Recycling comes last because it’s the least

effective method of the three for preserving ourplanet. However, we can reuse.

The right choice is reusable shopping bags. Manymanufacturers use recycled plastic bottles to makethe bags. Many stores sell them for under a dollar, orlook around your home. You may already have beachbags, a souvenir bag or afabric bag that will do thejob. Reuse any paper orplastic ones you have.As a bonus, somegrocery storesgive refunds forusing yourown bags.

So when the grocery cashier asks if you wantpaper or plastic, respond with a resounding NEITHER!Bring your own.

Author Melissa Gaulding is aNaturalist/Historian Senior Interpreter

at Huntley Meadows Park.

Winter 2009 11

Park Authority Receives National AccreditationS T E W A R D S H I P / L E A D E R S H I P

Parks, like school systems and universities, are accredited in order to assurethe public that their work and offerings are high quality. The Fairfax CountyPark Authority is now accredited by the Commission for Accreditation of

Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA, www.nrpa.org/), an honor that hasbeen earned by fewer than 90 of the nation’s 3,000 such agencies. The distinctionwas officially presented October 15.

Accreditation is one way to assure Fairfax County residents that their ParkAuthority is an efficient and effective steward of county resources.

The Park Authority announced its annual Trailblazer Awardwinners in September:

Employee of the Year– Lee Ann Shenefiel, Lake Accotink Park

Supervisor of the Year– Cindy McNeal, Land Acquisition and Management

Site of the Year– Clemyjontri Park

Diversity Award– Sousan Frankeberger, Special Events and

Volunteer Coordinator

Life Saver awards– Mark Stupalski, Pinecrest Golf Course

– Bob Stevenson, Park Specialist

Pathfinder Award, for improving patron satisfaction– David Gawalt, Hidden Pond Nature Center

Good Neighbor Award– Dan Schwartz, Northern Virginia Soil and

Water Conservation District

– Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts

Naturalist Clara Ailes of Hidden Pond Nature Center is a 2008ERICA Award winner. The county’s Employee Recycling Committeepresents the award to county employees who demonstrate excep-tional commitment to recycling in the workplace.

The Virginia Recreation and Park Society recently awarded itsBest Promotional Effort-Circulation/Flyer Award to Tammy Loxtonof Sully Historic Site, graphic artist Joanne Kearney and staffphotographer Don Sweeney for their attractive brochure “TheForgotten Road” about the Sully Slave Quarter Exhibit.

HONORS FOR OUR STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS

Cathy Riley-Hall of Ellanor C. Lawrence Park was recently honoredfor 25 years of volunteer service to the Fairfax County ParkAuthority. Pictured are Park Board member Frank Vajda, Riley-Hall,RMD Director Cindy Walsh and Park Authority Deputy DirectorCindy Messinger.

Three Resource Management Division volunteers recently werehonored with 2008 Volunteer Excellence Awards in a ceremony at GreenSpring Gardens. Recognized for their significant contributions were:

� Green Spring Gardens’ Lynne Glasser for outstandingcustomer service and research

� Colvin Run Mill’s Kitty O’Hara for her skill in leading tours,handling collections and kindling interest in history

� Invasive Management Area volunteer leader Greg Sykes forremoving invasive species and raising awareness of naturalresources

RMD has New DirectorThe newly-appointed director of the Resource ManagementDivision of the Fairfax County Park Authority is Cindy Walsh, a24-year veteran of the park and recreation field. Cindy hasbeen the division’s acting director since April 2007. Prior to thatshe was the division’s site operations branch manager, direct-ing operations at the division’s five nature centers, two historicsites, horticultural center and working farm/equestrian facility.

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❑ Nature centers

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H O L I D A Y S H O P P I N G

HISTORIC PROPERTIES RENTAL SERVICESCelebrate your anniversary onour anniversary.

Mark an occasion this year by rentinga historic property that’s marking its ownhistoric moment in time.

• The Forestville Schoolhouse opened25 years ago.

• Wakefield Chapel was dedicated 30years ago and built 110 years ago.

• The Park Authority acquired StoneMansion 40 years ago.

PRST STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPERMIT 45FAIRFAX VA

12055 Government Center ParkwayFairfax, Virginia 22035-1118

A Fairfax County, Va., publication

EQUAL ACCESS/SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONSThe Fairfax County Park Authority is committed to equal access

in all programs and services. Special accommodations will be providedupon request. Please call the ADA/Access coordinator at 703-324-8563,at least 10 working days in advance of the date services are needed.

ADA/Access Coordinator 703-324-8563 • TTY 703-803-3354www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/ada.htm

p

Stone Mansion, markingits 40th year as a ParkAuthority facility.

SOMETHING SIMPLE YOU CAN DOTO BE A GOOD STEWARD:

Skip paper and plastic.

Take reusable bags to the grocery store.

Holiday ShoppingGet out of the mall and into a park

for your holiday shopping.

Visit the gift shops at Colvin Run Mill, Frying Pan Farm Park,Green Spring Gardens or at a county park or nature center. Seethe list online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources/shops/.

• Clark House opened 15years ago.

• The Great Falls Grangewas built 80 years ago.

See those and other historic properties on the Web atwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/weddings.htm.

Or call 703-827-0609 for more information.