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Habitat Restoration project provides outdoor learning space for Mill Run Elementary

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See the winners of this year’s PEC Photo Contest!

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The Piedmont ViewA M E M B E R S H I P N E W S L E T T E R O F T H E P I E D M O N T E N V I R O N M E N T A L C O U N C I L W I N T E R 2 0 1 4

As the title of the course suggests, every partici-pant comes to the course with their own unique

dream—an idea that they want to explore. It is these dreams that form the starting point of the course, which evaluates student’s goals, skills, interests, physical and financial resources, and the merits of their ideas in order to settle on a course of action.

“The course is about help-ing people focus their energy toward goals that fit what they ultimately want—for some this ends up being full-time farming and for others it means identify-ing and pursuing an alternative vision,” explains Don Loock, agriculture and rural economy

program manager for PEC and one of the course’s facilitators.

Pursuing the DreamOne explorer, Diana Boeke,

who began co-teaching the course this year, had a dream to buy a property and start a diversified farm that she and her husband Amir could both work on full-time. After taking the course in 2010, Diana and her husband purchased a property with a house and some land less than a year later.

“Part of the reason we wanted to start farming in the Piedmont was because we were introduced to the Buy Fresh Buy Local guide,” explains Diana. “We had been aware of The

Work kicked off on November 10, 2014 on the expansion of our 45 Horner Street

office. This addition will allow all of our Warrenton staff to be under the same roof for the first time in more than five years.

After considering a move to a new consolidated office in town or in another county, PEC chose the more sustainable solution by expanding its existing headquar-ters on Horner Street. The decision to stay in Warrenton enabled PEC to make a major reinvestment in the continued revitalization of Old Town. PEC is excited to keep employees within walking distance of town, county and state offices, as well as restaurants, stores and services on Main Street. In addi-tion, PEC’s improved building will provide the community access to our staff and a better and larger meeting space.

“It’s an organizational commitment to a vision of the Piedmont that focuses on thriv-ing cities, towns and service districts surrounded by vibrant open space,” said Chris Miller, PEC

President. “We love being part of Warrenton and joining with other businesses that have contributed to making it one of the best small towns in America.”

Being in the same office again will undoubtedly make the Warrenton staff a more efficient team, and it will help operations run seamlessly. For the past five years, we’ve been renting a space

on Main Street for our develop-ment and finance departments.

Another benefit of the expansion is we will be able to hold meetings, workshops and outreach events at our home base, saving on costs and coordination time.

PEC’s headquarters has been in Warrenton since 1972. And through a generous gift from

George L. Ohrstrom, the office space at 45 Horner Street was donated to our organization in 1993. The second oldest building in town, the small farmhouse was renovated, and an addition was added to the building soon after it was acquired. Until now, the 4,800 square foot office has served as the organization’s main headquarters.

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Exploring the Small Farm Dream course alums Diana Boeke and Amir Abdelmalek on their Glean Acres Farm.

The New Addition

Support PEC

Thank you for helping to protect the Piedmont!

Make a donation or get in touch with PEC at:

Post Office Box 460Warrenton, VA 20188

540.347.2334 pec@pecva.org

or make a secure online donation at www.pecva.org

PEC awarded Madison Family Cup

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E2 We are delighted to share some wonderful news with you. In September, the PEC board passed a resolution to improve our headquarters—and now construction is under way!

Since 2009, PEC has offered the Exploring the Small Farm Dream course to aspiring farmers—helping them take a long hard look at their dreams and to answer the question, “Is starting a farm business a good fit for me?”

A Tale of Two AlumsExploring The Small Farm Dream Course

IN THIS ISSUE

An illustration of how the office on 45 Horner Street will appear after the new addition is completed.

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The Piedmont View

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The New AdditionContinued from cover

However, as our Board and staff expanded to support our field offices in nine counties, so did the need for additional meeting and office space.

The renovation and construction are underway and will continue through most of 2015. PEC hired Bowie Gridley as architects for the project. Principal Cal Bowie, a resident of Fauquier County, has donated a portion of his time to oversee

the project. Cal worked with a committee to develop guidelines for sustainable design elements that reflect PEC’s values.

Improvements will include the reuse of the exist-ing structure, a high performance building envelope, locally-available and formaldehyde-free materials, recycled-content

materials, low-VOC paints, low-flow plumb-ing fixtures, LED lighting, a geothermal

heating system, native plantings and a rain garden for stormwater management.

It was also important for PEC to keep the historical integrity of the house. It’s estimated that the original structure was built in 1784. Most of the house will be kept as close to its original state as pos-sible.

The new construction and renovation costs are budgeted at $2.5 million. A lead gift for the building came as a bequest to PEC. That gift was matched by a PEC board member, and followed by several other gifts from long-term supporters of

PEC Awarded Madison Family Cup for Conservation Efforts

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Grant

Loudoun Communities to BenefitIn early November, the National Society of the Madison Family Descendants honored PEC with the Madison Family Cup for its noteworthy conservation efforts at Montpelier and the surrounding Orange County environs.

In 2009, PEC collaborated with the Montpelier Foundation and the National Trust for Historic Preservation to conserve more than 700 acres at Montpelier, and they raised $2 million to purchase the easement through the leadership of PEC board member Jack Snyder and former staffer John “Jeep” Moore.

In presenting the annual award, given to a family or an organization that has done something exceptional for James Madison’s Montpelier, Frederick Madison Smith remarked, “This year we honor the group that has been the most instrumen-tal in preserving the beauty of Montpelier and the surrounding Madison-Barbour Historic District, ensuring that this unique and storied landscape will be protected, not only for today, but for all our futures.”

In accepting the Madison Cup on behalf of PEC, President Chris Miller noted, “The Montpelier easements helped spark the growth of the conservation lands in Orange County by 20 percent in the last four years from approximately 28,325 acres in 2009 to over 34,075 acres in 2013.”

The land conserved through easement at Montpelier includes the Civil War Encampments, Gilmore Far m, Chicken Mountain (which is the view shed just beyond the Visitor Center), and East Woods (which is more than 200 acres of forest-land adjacent to the James Madison Landmark Forest).

T he National Fish and Wildlife Foundation awarded PEC a $200,000 grant from

the Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund this past October. With this grant, PEC will collaborate with Loudoun County, the Town of Lovettsville, Loudoun County Master Gardeners and Loudoun homeowners associations to implement projects that involve planting native trees and shrubs, improving stormwater facilities and reducing polluted runoff in Loudoun County communities.

Efforts funded by the grant will assist the Broadlands, Sugarland Run and New Town Meadows neighborhoods in Loudoun County. PEC will work with the Loudoun County Mas-ter Gardeners to help residents reduce their use of fertilizers as well as create and implement urban nutrient man-agement plans for common areas.

Other projects will increase the use of native shrubs and trees, which helps reduce polluted stormwater runoff. In one of the more innovative techniques, a float-ing island of plants will increase water filtration in a stormwater pond.

In Lovettsville, the grant provides $137,250 to significantly reduce sediment and pollution from runoff. The funds will allow the town to redesign and retrofit a defi-cient stormwater facility and reduce an existing drainage problem.

“The Town is excited to be able to partner with The Piedmont Environmental Council to improve our town and protect the Chesapeake Bay by ensuring the health of our streams. We look forward to a more beautiful and safe center of our Town through this worthwhile project,” said Lovettsville Mayor Robert Zoldos III.

Historical notes say the house (our office) was “built about 1784 for Gustavus Brown Horner.”

45 Horner Street is said to be the second oldest house in the Town of Warrenton (only exceeded by the Federal-style Paradise Manor on 158 Winchester Street, built in 1758).

45 Horner Street was once owned by General Robert E. Lee. Records show that he sold the house and 3.25 acres to a James W. Payne in 1831 for $250.

The property was bought by John S. Mosby, the hero of Mosby’s Rangers, and his wife, Pauline Mosby, on July 26, 1873. But it’s unlikely that they lived there because they owned a much grander house on Main Street during this period.

The house changed hands fourteen times before it was acquired by The Piedmont Environmental Council in 1993.

our organization. “It has been a great response from our

membership with several donors anxious to make certain that PEC is well situated to meet the challenges of the coming years,” said Doug Larson, Vice President of Devel-opment for PEC.

A complete list of donors to the project will be formally recognized in the new addi-tion. While we have substantially funded

the project, we recognize that we will need additional funds to fully furnish and land-scape the building.

During construction, PEC will be in leased space at 96 Main Street and 550 Broadview Ave, Suite 200 in Warrenton, Va. Both offices can be reached by dialing (540) 347-2334. And we’re just right around the corner, if you want to come say hello!

THE HISTORY OF 45 HORNER STREET

“It’s an organizational commitment to a vision of

the Piedmont that focuses on thriving cities, towns and

service districts surrounded by vibrant open space.”

— Chris Miller, PEC President

PEC staff, Bri West (LE FT) and Tiffany Parker (R IG HT) box remaining items at 45 Horner St. to be moved into a tem-porary office at 550 Broadview Ave.

LE FT TO R IG HT: Alan Brewer (Strategic Policy and Programs Administrator, County of Loudoun), Oya Simpson (PEC’s Loudoun County Community Projects Specialist), Gem Bingol (PEC’s Loudoun Land Use Officer), and Michael Senate (Vice Mayor, Town of Lovettsville)

PEC receives the Madison Family Cup Award at Montpelier. Photo by Kelley Spurlock, courtesy of The Montpelier Foundation

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Planting the Seeds of Habitat Restoration

PEC teamed up with Mill Run Elementary School to create a naturally landscaped outdoor area for educating students, parents and the community. This past November, the school’s fourth and fifth

grades participated in the project by planting 75 native trees and 135 native plants!

“Students were thrilled to help. The two grades were assigned different days, and I heard the fifth graders had planting-envy when watching their fourth grade schoolmates on their workday,” said Gem Bingol, Loudoun County land use officer at PEC.

Oya Simpson, Loudoun County community projects specialist for PEC, is a parent of Mill Run students, and she has worked with the school to develop the out-door project from design concept to planting. Last fall, Simpson approached the school’s principal, Paul Vickers, with ideas about installing pollinator and rain gardens, increased tree canopy, and a platform for science and art activities.

PEC brought in the Loudoun Environmental Stew-ardship Alliance with representatives from Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy, River Stories, and Claude Moore Park to assist with a teacher workshop to demonstrate outdoor activities that meet standards of learning for each grade level.

Prior to planting their trees, which were donated by Casey Trees DC and Fairfax ReLeaf, the teachers and stu-dents were also given a presentation regarding proper planting and maintenance.

A 25 by 30 foot Science and Nature Platform for hands-on teaching opportunities was built by an Ash-burn Home Depot volunteer team, led by store manager, Larry Palatnik. “We were even lucky to get help from Supervisor Shawn Williams and his staff to work through the zoning and permit process, which I was not familiar with,” said Simpson.

The project has also received in-kind contributions from the Merritt Properties, Loudoun County Storm Water Management, South Riding Nurseries, Heritage Landscaping Services and the school’s hardworking Par-ent Teacher Organization.

The Dominion Foundation awarded a grant of $10,000 to PEC’s Mill Run Elementary project in 2013. PEC also secured funding from the Chesapeake Bay Restora-tion Fund for native plants.

“The project provides a true hands-on learning experience, and, at the same time, it’s this great habi-tat restoration effort. It’s almost like a sanctuary for wildlife and the community all wrapped up into one,” remarked Simpson.

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Piedmont Environmental Council, and we thought if there’s an organization like this, then we’ll have what we need to make something like this [a small farm] viable.”

While Diana is sure to tell you it hasn’t been easy, with lots to learn and many mistakes to be made, she is also quick to point out how the course pro-vided her with tools to help her make a go of it.

“The structure of the class helps you focus on specific things—what products are you interested in; is that viable; is it marketable. It helps you identify things so you don’t get lost,” explains Diana.

The course also gives participants access to a community of others with similar interests. Diana continues to count on the friendships that she made in the class. When she and her husband were interested in putting up a hoop house, they reached out to an alum who had experience building them. And when Diana and Amir needed some tractor

work done on the farm, they once again called on someone they met through the course for assistance. The former class-mate did tractor work in exchange for some freshly butchered chickens. Diana says, “It’s an instant farming community.”

Crafting a new DreamFor another alum, Pablo Teodoro,

the course helped him redefine his dream and move in another direction. In 2009, Pablo took the course at the urging of his friend and, at the time, co-instruc-tor for the course, Pablo Eliot. Teodoro was considering expanding his farming activities from a sideline, which provided his family with fresh produce, eggs and goats’ milk to a full-time business. He was also running a farmers’ market, and he was interested in helping support local farms and businesses.

Teodoro enthusiastically jumped into the course and started digging deeper into his goals. Through this process he began reconsidering whether

his dream really was in line with what he wanted.

“There were things that I didn’t realize. When it becomes something you have to do for a living—it changes things,” says Teodoro. “So the kind of farming that I was doing was in large part pleasurable because I didn’t have to make a living [farming].”

Teodoro explains that through the course he began realizing his original dream did not meet some of his key goals, and he failed to take his outgoing personality into consideration .

“I love people, so being alone, on the farm, would be terrible after a while. And I would probably go a little crazy. I hadn’t really accepted [this]. I was focus-ing on the money, on the risk, on the freedom and a couple of other things, and what I ignored were the real truths.”

In 2010, these truths led Pablo to explore a whole new dream—open-ing up Great Harvest Bread Co. in Old Town Warrenton. While his new dream is still filled with good food, fresh and local ingredients, it now also includes an opportunity for him to interact with customers and the larger community on a daily basis.

Meeting Pablo in his shop on Main Street, one can see this is a good fit. He seems thrilled that he’s been able to incorporate his love for farming and support local farms and businesses with his bakery. “In the beginning, most of the eggs we used came from my chickens. And the chickens were fed—at least half of their diet—was food scraps from the bakery.”

As he greets customers with warm hellos and a big smile—barely missing a beat in our conversation—he points to some of the items he has for sale and proudly says, “The honeys are local, the Shenandoah Spice is a local producer. Almost everything that we sell here comes from local producers. We are a local producer.”

The next course will be held on Wednesdays from January 14 through February 4 at Charlottesville’s Piedmont Virginia Community College. You can register through the PVCC Workforce Services, and the cost for the course and workbook is $160. If you have any questions, please contact Don Loock at dloock@pecva.org or (540) 347-2334 ext. 7080.

A Tale of Two AlumsExploring The Small Farm Dream Course

Exploring the Small Farm Dream course alum Pablo Teodoro stands outside of his store, Great Harvest Bread Co., in Old Town Warrenton. Photo by Paula Combs

Participants at work during the Exploring the Small Farm Dream course. Photo by Don Loock

Students plant trees with their teachers as part of the Mill Run Elementary habitat restoration project. Photo by Oya Simpson

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What type of restoration happened at the Overlook this past fall?

We did a large forest-edge planting of about 2,000 trees and shrubs. The goal was to create a “soft edge” where the forest meets the meadow. Many wildlife species use edge habitat because it provides them with cover (while they are foraging in the meadow) and nesting sites. Prior to the planting, the forest edge was abrupt and

contained only tall, mature trees, which didn’t provide much cover for small mammals and birds. We selected tree and shrub species like blackhaw viburnum, Alleghany serviceberry, and red chokeberry that provide both cover and food sources. We planted 15 species in a 30 foot-wide buffer that essentially surrounds the meadow.

I hear fall is the best time to plant trees. Why is that?

It’s all about the roots! In the fall, plants shift their energy output from their leaves and flowers to

their roots. By planting in the fall, you are allowing your plants to jump start their root growth well before spring top growth begins. Also, as opposed to spring soil temperatures, fall soil temperature is still fairly high from the long hot days of summer. This helps to encourage root growth. Your new plants are also less likely to get stressed out from transplanting because the cool weather and decrease in water evaporation from the plant eases the shock of transplanting.

Have there been any recent wildlife sightings at the Overlook?

Well, we had some unusual damage to some of the tree tubes in our wild edible orchard. I found some of the tubes lying on the ground with large bite marks and the wooden stakes snapped in half! Black bears are most likely responsible for this damage. They aren’t interested in the tree, but are instead going after the bee nests that are down in the bottom of the tube.

Two Thousand Trees PlantedAn interview with PEC’s Sustainable Habitat Program Assistant Celia Vuocolo

A partnership between PEC and The Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Virginia has cre-ated new opportunities for

Orange County youth to experience the natural environment and history of the surrounding region.

In the summer, the youth monitored bluebird boxes, picked blueberries at the Market at Grelen, paddled the Rapidan River and hiked along the Appalachian Trail. “Based on the kinds of invertebrates col-lected, the kids discovered that the Rapidan River’s water quality rates very high,” remarked Peter Hujik, land conservation officer for PEC.

Fall activities included picking apples at Carter Mountain and learn-ing about raising turkeys at Retreat Farm, which is under a conservation

easement, protecting over 575 acres of farmland. The group also plans to cut a couple of evergreen trees for the holidays at Elysium Tree Farm in December.

At the end of the recent tour to Retreat Farm, the kids shouted, “Thank you!,” expressing their gratitude to farm manager Frank Gillan for sharing his insights into the behavior and life cycles of farm animals. In a second round of praise—an apt attitude dur-ing harvest season—the kids thanked the Market at Grelen for the locally sourced and prepared lunches they enjoyed before departing the farm.

“Many of the youth we serve have limited access to the natural environment, and connecting with nature is important to their growth and development,” said Nancy Wiley,

the board president of the Orange Boys & Girls Club and former PEC board member, who was instrumen-tal in establishing the partnership. “Picking apples in the fog, exploring working farms, cutting evergreens on a brisk winter day make positive, last-ing impressions for the kids.”

This past year, PEC and The Boys & Girls Clubs received a grant from the Bama Works Fund of Dave Matthews Band in the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation, which is funding the monthly field trips for 40 Orange County members of the Boys & Girls Club. PEC is working with many partners, such as the Old Rag Master Naturalists, local farms, Montpelier Foundation and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to make this program possible.

Down the River and Through the WoodsLeaving Lasting Impressions with Youth

Some of the 2,000 trees that were planted in November, 2014 line the hillside at the Piedmont Memorial Overlook. Photos by Celia Vuocolo

PEC’s Sustainable Habitat Program Assistant Celia Vuocolo

You may have seen some stories regarding an easement we co-hold with the Virginia Out-doors Foundation on a 64-acre property in Paris, Virginia that protects a beautiful and his-

toric piece of land. The landowner, Mrs. Martha Boneta, and PEC have not always seen eye to eye on the con-servation easement, and our enforcement of its terms. However, we are doing our best to come to a resolution to our dispute that is positive for both parties.

Unfortunately, much of the coverage has been mis-leading or incorrect in its characterization of the issue. To view the details and background on the easement, please visit our website at pecva.org/ovoka-easement

What’s Happening in Paris?

Photo by Tom Lussier

Youth from the Boys & Girls Club visit Retreat Farm in Orange County. Photos by Peter Hujik

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Land Conservation

Strengthening Our Local Food Systems

Protecting & Restoring Wildlife Habitat

Happy Holidays! The Piedmont Environmental Council thanks you for supporting our work this past year. Your partnership has been instrumental in the protection of the Virginia Piedmont’s beautiful views, rich history, thriving agriculture and communities, native wildlife, and natural resources. We will soon begin a new year, and we look forward to your continued support for even more conservation success!

Listed below are just a few ways your holiday donation can help support the important work of PEC. We also hope you consider giving a gift of membership to a family member or friend—engaging those you love in their community—and introducing PEC to new friends.

However you decide to support PEC, our members make our success possible. We thank you for being a part of our work to keep the Piedmont a beautiful place. You may use the enclosed donation envelope to make a contribution, or if you would like to speak with someone regarding PEC programs, membership opportunities, donations, or other ways of supporting PEC (e.g.

bequest gift), please contact Karen Hunsberger Adam, PEC’s Membership Director, at (540) 347-2334 ext. 7001 or khunsberger@pecva.org.

Our work doesn’t stop here. Read about all of our other wonderful programs by visiting our website at www.pecva.org.

b) John S. MosbyJohn S. Mosby said this during a toast he gave at the first Ranger Reunion in Alexandria, Va. on January 16, 1895.

ANSWER:

Which historical figure said, “Nearly thirty years have passed away, and we meet once more on the banks of the Potomac and in sight of the Capitol, not in hostile array, but as citizens of a great and united country.”

QUESTION:

Pop Quiz

“Way back, I was offered as much as a million dollars for this land, and I turned them down. I said I’d rather have the trees.” — SUSAN BAILEY, owner, Gregory’s Pond

Due to PEC’s widespread outreach, one-on-one work with landowners, advocacy for strong conser-vation policies and incentives, and, of course, because of generous members like Susan Bailey, PEC has helped to successfully protect more than 370,000 acres in the Piedmont region. On average, we spend $35 for each acre of protected land. This holiday season, help us protect the beautiful, historic lands of the Piedmont with a gift supporting PEC’s land conservation work.

“I just thought that people didn’t really appreciate a dairy farm’s value to the food chain unless you put a brand name to it, so you can say ‘That’s Moo Thru’s milk and it came from the farm right up the road.’” — KEN SMITH, owner, Cool Lawn Farm & Moo Thru

“Honor the things that make your heart sing, and if the Piedmont makes your heart sing, definitely get involved with PEC.” — TERRY INGRAM, organic dairy farmer

and conservation easement donor, Culpeper County

Healthy habitat is critical to wildlife, which landowners throughout the Piedmont are working hard to create. Through our popular and successful Sustainable Habitat Program, PEC has been busy helping landowners who are interested in creating or enhancing wildlife habitat on their property. Landowners throughout the Pied-mont are creating habitat for native wildlife such as songbirds, quail, owls, and trout, and beautifying the landscape through native plants, warm season grasses and removing invasive species.

A Guide to Giving This Holiday Season

Photo by J. Riley Stewart

Photo by Andrew Haley

Like Cool Lawn Farm, the Piedmont’s farms and rural businesses provide food, jobs, open space, and help strengthen regional identity. Through PEC’s Agriculture and Rural Economy program, PEC is working to expand

farming in the Piedmont, and strengthen local food systems. This work includes our successful Buy Fresh Buy Local cam-paign-connecting consumers to local farms and producers via our webpage and widely distributed guides. Our Farmer-Chef Express website makes it easier for wholesale buyers such as restaurants and sellers to purchase local products, and our Exploring the Small Farm Dream courses help a new genera-tion of farmers get their start in the Piedmont. Photo by Katherine Vance

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On the GroundALB E M AR LE

The light at the end of the tunnel is growing brighter as VDOT continues to move forward with real solutions for Route 29 just north of Charlottesville. VDOT has received approval to release all of the property acquired to build the proposed Western Bypass, and they are taking steps to sell the land. VDOT has also narrowed its search to three design-build firms who, sometime in January, will submit formal design and cost proposals for three of the Route 29 Solutions projects: improvements at Rio Road and Route 29, the extension of Berkmar Drive, and the widening of Route 29 north of the South Fork Rivanna River. VDOT anticipates awarding a contract early next year, with construction possible by late 2015. Find up-to-date information at albemarle.org

Regarding conservation news in Albemarle, David and Nancy Bass protected 523 acres of Anchorage Farm with a conservation easement this fall, bringing to fruition years of work to protect 700 contiguous acres. The first phase of this project was the protection of 76 acres with the Virginia Outdoors Foundation in 2000. Then, in 2011, a conservation easement on 85 acres with a historic 1825 farmhouse was donated to the Virginia Department of Historic Resources. This final easement, also donated to VOF, protected the balance of the historic property.

“The PEC has been helpful through this entire process guiding us along the way. I really commend their work and commitment to helping landowners. This has been a family farm for generations and it feels good to know that it is now protected forever,” remarked David.

C L AR K E

PEC worked closely with Powhatan and Clarke County schools to coordinate the 8th annual Clarke Conservation Fair, which focused on habitat this year. Representatives of local and state agencies and non-profits provided students with experiential activities in an outdoor setting.

In water-related news, stream monitors continue to sample and record the benthic macroinvertebrates found at four sites in the Spout Run watershed. Over time, the data collected will illustrate long-term trends and health of the watershed. So far, the results have indicated less than acceptable ecological conditions.

CU LPE PE R

The Planning Commission may soon have a public hearing on the proposed changes to the Clevengers Village development, which was approved for the north end of the county in 2005. The new urbanist street layout, including pedestrian/bicycle infrastructure, would be removed from the plans. Instead of 290 residential units allowed before the first commercial development, the developer could build 385 units. Since 2005, the developer and County collaborated to build a wastewater treatment plant, and the County estimates it will eventually need 350 new residential customers to meet the plant’s oper-ating costs. What is really needed is commercial customers, but when, or if, they will ever appear is an unknown. We will encourage the County to carefully consider the pros and cons of this proposal.

FAU Q U I E R

This past October, the County adopted a new Telecommu-nication Plan, which will guide upcoming zoning ordinance amendments. The newly adopted plan establishes a clear hierarchy of preferred types of new facilities and identifies the need for improving the County’s inventory of existing tower and colocation sites in the County.

Also, Verizon is moving forward with an application for a 154-foot monopole cell tower just outside the Casanova His-toric District. This proposal is excessively high, inappropriately located, and inadequately camouflaged. Verizon’s coverage maps show little difference between 80-foot and 154-foot tower. For this reason, we are encouraging Verizon to consider either a lower height and context sensitive design for this particular site or to consider an alternative site.

R A P PA H A N N O C K

Rappahannock County Conservation Alliance Dissolves and PEC Participates in Farm-to-School Week

T he Rappahannock County Conservation Alliance (RCCA) is planning to finalize the process of dis-solving itself as an organization and transfer its assets to the Piedmont Foundation this month. Those funds are designated for PEC’s Kresber Fund, which supports a variety of conservation

efforts in Rappahannock County. A portion of the funds contributed by RCCA are prioritized for the Farmland Preservation Program.

RCCA was founded in 1999 and had the mission of ensuring “that Rappahan-nock County remains a scenic, rural community by promot-ing conservation easements and farmland preservation.” PEC is excited to have two RCCA board members, Jen-nifer Aldrich and Ralph Bates, now serving on the Krebser Fund board. Gary Light, one of RCCA’s founding board members, also serves on the Krebser Fund advisory board.

In other news, PEC participated in Farm-to-School Week this past fall at the Rappahannock County Elementary School. Throughout the week, lunch menus included food from the County’s farms. Sarah Moore, Rappahannock County Public Schools Farm-to-Table Program Coordinator, and Carolyn Sedgwick, PEC’s Rappahannock Land Conservation Officer, spent a day visiting lunch tables of students grades K-5 and talking with students about the benefits of local food and supporting local farmers. When asked why local food is important, students’ answers included “It keeps my body healthy,” “Good for farmers,” “It’s fresh,” “It saves gas,” and “It tastes good!”

A view of the first property put into easement in Rappahannock County, Caledonia Farm, owned by Phil Irwin. Photo by Carolyn Sedgwick

G R E E N E

This past fall, Greene’s Planning Commission kicked off its five-year review of the Comprehensive Plan with a public hearing to allow people to offer sug-gestions. PEC shared its ideas, and we will follow the discussion over the next few months. We’ve identified multimodal transportation, growth area planning, farming, rural agritourist businesses, and wireless as areas where the Plan could use some tweaking. If citizens have other ideas on how to improve this important document, they can con-tact a Planning Commissioner or David Holtzman, PEC’s Greene Land Use Officer. The legally required public hearing on the Plan won’t take place until summer 2015.

LO U D O U N

One of the least heralded assets underpinning Lou-doun’s wonderful rural character are the County’s 300 miles of unpaved rustic roads and bridges— the most of any county in Virginia. Most of these old roads follow routes laid out almost two centu-ries ago. Lined with mature trees and stone walls, the roads are key parts of our Civil War battlefields and connect our historic villages. Under the spon-sorship of the Loudoun County Preservation and Conservation Coalition (made up of 27 regional and local organizations), a group of local residents from the Unison Preservation Society, the Goose Creek Association, the Mosby Heritage Area Association, the Snickersville Turnpike Association, the Friends of the Blue Ridge and PEC has formed a committee to press VDOT and our elected officials to preserve and care for this essential network of roads.

M AD I S O N

In partnership with local landowners and Trout Unlimited, PEC recently completed a survey of 124 road crossings along several high quality trout streams that flow out of Shenandoah National Park into the Piedmont region. Madi-son County waterways surveyed in the study were funded by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and include the Conway River, Rose River, Strothers Run, Garth Run, Kinsey Run, Rob-inson River and the Hughes River. Stream crossings, such as culverts perched above the natural streambed, often serve as barriers to brook trout because, unlike other fish species, they cannot jump more than one foot. Replacing old crossings with fish-friendly versions has the potential to connect miles of habitat and improve the populations of this native species. Staff are currently prioritizing crossings for replacement and then plan to secure funding to work with landowners interested in upgrading their crossings to help local book trout populations flourish.

O R AN G E

Grymes School is partnering with Chesapeake Natural Heritage, Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisher-ies, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and PEC to design and secure public and private funding for a native meadow planting, approximately 13 acres in size, located on the edge of the Town of Orange. Developing the native meadow and integrating related outdoor learning oppor-tunities into the curriculum have been a long held goal for Grymes. The design entails planting part of a 9-acre parcel of land PEC transferred to Grymes in 2013. The design also calls for installing bluebird boxes and creating a hedge row with native trees and shrubs. Grymes and its partners anticipate implementing the native meadow project in late 2015 and early 2016.

Winter 2014

7

PEC, Fauquier County, and Culpeper County commissioned a report that identified a more cost-effec-tive option for the full rehabilitation of the historic Waterloo Bridge on Waterloo Road (Route 613). The bridge has a long history dating back to the late nineteenth century, but it was closed due to safety concerns last winter.

Initial VDOT estimates placed rehabilitating the bridge for continued vehicular use in the $5 million range. However, a detailed rehabilitation cost analysis by The Schiffer Group, Inc. (SGI), Workin’ Bridges and Bach Steel, reports the project could be accomplished for considerably less than initial estimates, stating that “it is our opinion that restoration/preservation of the bridge is a viable option.”

The report was issued on September 16, 2014, and it estimates the cost of the preliminary design to restore the Waterloo Bridge at approximately $1.8 million, including engineering and contingency funds.

The Piedmont Environmental Council is excited about working with VDOT and the counties to find a way to rehabilitate and reopen the Waterloo Bridge. The bridge is a valuable piece of our culture and history in Culpeper and Fauquier. It’s also significant statewide as the oldest metal truss bridge in Virginia, and we should make every effort to save this important resource.

The report, along with a summary of its conclusions, can be found at pecva.org/waterloobridge

New Report Provides Hope for Historic Waterloo Bridge

Photo by Julie Bolthouse

T hank you to everyone who submitted photographs and voted on this year’s finalists. Our staff and judges were very pleased with the number of beautiful, fun and creative photos that we received. The high quality of submissions made it especially

difficult to select the finalists this year. PEC would also like to thank our expert guest judge, Ken Garrett. So, without further ado, here are the 2014 PEC Photo Contest Winners!!

Winners of the 2014 PEC Photo Contest!

BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPES WINNER

Round Bales by Tom Lussier

NATIVE PLANTS AND WILDLIFE WINNER

Tree-o of Owlets by Denise Machado

LOCAL FARMS AND FOOD WINNER

Cows Have the Best View by Patricia TemplesYOUTH WINNER

Star Trails in Old Trail by 14-year-old Jacob Chang-Rascle

One of the most exciting things to observe over the past year has been examples of reinvestment in our communities. At PEC, our hope is to encourage sustained efforts

to make Piedmont towns, farms and open spaces even better. We want to be a part of broader community efforts, both as a direct investor and by supporting the investment of others. At the end of the day, it is the sum total of individual investments in time, resources, and effort that makes a community great. And, it is the sum of all of your investments in PEC and its programs that advances the common vision for the Piedmont region.

Reinvestment in the local economy:Over the past twenty years, our region has reinvested in Main Street programs such as Partnership for Warrenton and Culpeper Renaissance, restoring the storefronts and sidewalks and attracting businesses and restaurants. PEC is proud to be part of those efforts-- we are committed to keeping our offices within walking distance of town centers and other services. As a prime example, over the next two years, we are investing more than $2 million in an addition to our headquarters in Warrenton, which will include a larger meeting space for partners and com-munity events (see cover story for more details).

Reinvestment in local infrastructure:School renovations, better water supply and stormwa-ter management infrastructure, local transportation improvements and bridge repair require a big public investment. PEC is working with communities to plan and implement on-the-ground improvements that will save money while restoring their natural environ-ments. In Loudoun, PEC is working with homeowners

associations to reduce sediment and other polluted

runoff. In several counties, PEC is working with local

groups to improve trail access for the public, making it

easier to walk and bicycle to destinations. Those invest-

ments are paying off. The City of Charlottesville and our

towns are increasingly recognized as some of the best

places in America to live, work and play.

Reinvestment in local farms and food:Farms all over the region are making investments

in new production to meet demand for local meat,

produce and other agricultural goods. Working with

the Piedmont Foundation, PEC has provided matching

funds for the permanent conservation of farmland and

to install stream fencing and alternative water supplies.

PEC also invests in educating individuals and institutions

about local sources of food. The Buy Fresh Buy Local

guide and the Farmer-Chef Express website are some of

the ways we’re helping people learn about where they

can purchase local agricultural products.

Reinvestment in open space:PEC continues to invest in both public and private open space programs. As Virginia’s population continues to grow, open space will be increasingly important to pro-tect water supplies, provide food production, safeguard habitat for forests and wildlife, and provide places for many types of recreation—from hiking and riding to fishing and hunting.

I hope that as you consider investments in the com-munity, you will also invest in PEC. We rely on each of our members to help us keep our programs going around the region and ask you to show your support with a donation. Use the enclosed envelope or visit our website to make a contribution today.

Best wishes for a happy holiday.

Chris Miller, President

Dear Friends,

At PEC, our hope is to encourage sustained efforts to make Piedmont towns, farms and open spaces even better.

Phot

o by

Pat

ricia

Tem

ples

Pop Quiz

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDPermit #57

Warrenton, VA

Post Office Box 460 Warrenton, VA 20188

www.pecva.org

Which historical figure said, “Nearly thirty years have passed away, and we meet once more on the banks of the Potomac and in sight of the Capitol, not in hostile array, but as citizens of a great and united country.”

a) Abraham Lincolnb) John S. Mosby c) Ulysses S. Grantd) Frederick Douglass

ANSWER ON PAG E 5

“Glistening Meadow in Marshall, Va.” by 2014 Photo Contest Finalist Debby Taylor

The Piedmont ViewA M E M B E R S H I P N E W S L E T T E R O F T H E P I E D M O N T E N V I R O N M E N T A L C O U N C I L W I N T E R 2 0 1 4

A new addition to PEC’s headquarters office, the story of two Small Farm Dream Course alums, PEC wins the Madison Family Cup award for conservation efforts, and more!

INSIDE