Community Report, Nov 15th, 2024

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Being in the cloud is cloudy

From the American Battlefield Trust’s ongoing legal challenge against proposals threatening historic lands to delays in controversial projects like the Bristow Battlefield development and DEQ’s air permit tracker, we’re seeing some glimmers of hope. But the future remains cloudy without additional local and state action.

At a recent conference, industry leaders admitted prime land for data center development is gone, leaving only less bad options that question their sustainability. Local and state action remains key to inspire the innovation we need to protect our resources and communities. >>read our full blog here

Additional articles

• American Battlefield Trust Vows to Keep Up Fight Against Digital Gateway After Judge Dismisses Lawsuit
• GUEST OPINION: Prince William County must do better to preserve African American history
• Proposed Bristow Campus Data Center Defers Hearing Amid Community Concerns
• Virginia environmental regulators make info on data center operations more publicly accessible
• Western Prince William residents request ‘reset,’ ‘transparency’ in data center planning

Fall planting

On October 19th, we returned to Veterans Park with an incredible team of partners—Green Steeze, Keep Prince William Beautiful, and the Prince William County Watershed Management Branch—to plant nearly 100 native trees and shrubs. This vital work helps protect our waterways and creates habitats for local wildlife, making a lasting impact on our environment.

Dozens of dedicated volunteers got their hands dirty, planting native species to continue the transformation of Veterans Park’s green spaces. Together, we’re building on efforts to remove invasive plants and restore the park’s natural beauty.

This project wouldn’t be possible without the support of the Chesapeake Bay License Plate program and generous donors like you.

Thank you for helping us grow a healthier, more vibrant community!

Bluebirds Steal a Breath

After another successful season of bluebird monitoring, we asked first-time monitor Liz Piazza if she would like to share her experiences on the trail. She ended up recounting a moment that had stuck out to her: the first time she found newly hatched bluebirds within one of the nesting boxes that volunteers regularly check and maintain. To paraphrase Liz’s wonderful blog post, stumbling upon new life can be breathtaking.

Excerpt:

As I carefully untwisted the metal screw I was not expecting any changes. I’d grown accustomed to the trail in my new duties at Merrimac Farm. So far in my bluebird experience I’d walked under the warm spring sun, jotted down nest-building progress, and enjoyed counting speckled eggs. But I’m impatient. When would they hatch into living breathing beings? My thoughts drifted to my teenage and adult children. Were they any different? When would they peck open on their own into a wider world?

>>read full blog here

Photo by Liz Piazza

Upcoming Events

The U.S. National Parks vividly illustrate the effects of climate change through observable shifts in ecosystems, wildlife behavior, weather patterns and climate disasters. 

By showcasing both the beauty and vulnerability of our landscapes, the parks inspire visitors to engage with and advocate for sustainable practices that protect these treasured areas for future generations.

YOU’RE INVITED to a grand adventure spanning 10,000 miles! A passionate young filmmaker and his childhood best friend explore breathtaking national parks during the centennial year of the National Park Service. Armed with a camera, they capture stunning landscapes and the untold stories of those who protect these natural wonders. 

Meet diverse visitors—seasoned adventurers and families alike—each with a unique connection to these treasured lands. Through breathtaking cinematography and heartfelt storytelling, this cinematic odyssey celebrates nature’s majesty and the heroes behind its preservation.  

—

‘OUT THERE, A National Parks Story’

DATE: Monday, November 18, 2024

TIME: 7 PM – 9:30 PM

 

LOCATION: 

Cinema Arts Theatres

9650 Main St, Fairfax, VA 20231 

CLICK HERE to register

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7:00 PM | OPENER, Bob Soule will share stories about his adventure traveling 27,000 miles to visit 51 national parks in an EV 

7:15 PM | FILM SCREENING promptly begins

8:30- 9:30 PM | PANEL DISCUSSION with National Park Experts & Activists, see below for our awesome panel of 3

Bring your own EMPTY drink and popcorn containers (that you can use to buy a drink and popcorn at Cinema Arts Theatres concession stand) to help make this a WASTE FREE event.

OUR AWESOME PANEL:



KRIS BUTCHER, Superintendent of Manassas National Battlefield Park

ASHLEY STUDHOLME, Executive Director for Prince William Conservation Alliance

BOB SOULE, trained electric coach through Rewiring America’s Electric Coach Certification course and currently serves as a Guide for the course.

EVENT SPONSOR: Climate Action NOW (CAN) 501c3. EVENT PARTNERS: Network NOVA, TRACE-The Zero Waste Store in Vienna, and Go Electric DMV.

Gear up for General Assembly—Join the Woodbridge Watch Party on Dec. 7th!

We’re preparing for Virginia’s legislative session by partnering with Virginia Conservation Network to host a General Assembly Preview Regional Watch Party in Woodbridge at the Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge Vistor Center! Join PWCA and NPCA and other local advocates to learn about the environmental legislation we expect to see in the upcoming General Assembly session.

Attend our watch party for breakfast, a streamed presentation from experts across the state, and an in-person discussion about local issues.

We suggest a $20 ticket price to support this event and our environmental advocacy efforts. If cost is a barrier, please use the promo code VCNWOOD2024 during registration for a free ticket. 

BUTTON / HYPERLINK: Register for General Assembly Preview here!

Can’t attend in-person? You can still register to stream presentations virtually from 9:15 – 11:00 AM to hear all speaker presentations.

🎉Holiday Party Honoring Julie Flanagan🎉

Tuesday, December 10th | 6pm – 8pm

Hector’s at Tackett’s Mill

We’re partnering with Midco for a holiday party/retirement party for Julie Flanagan. Julie has served the community as the Arborist for Prince William County for many years. Life can be fraught for trees in PWC, and Julie’s been a powerful voice for tree preservation and environmental protection.

The party will be at Hector’s in Tackett’s Mill at 6pm. Food and drink will be available for purchase. Join us to thank Julie for her service to our community.

RSVP to [email protected]

Volunteer Opportunities

click the button below or email us: [email protected]

Help with website revamp

Do you have experience with WordPress? Want to design engaging webpages while learning about our work and the resources we protect?

Email [email protected] and help redesign our old site into our new site!

Christmas Bird Count, Chili Cookoff, and Cleaning

Our annual Christmas Bird Count will be held on December 27th this year. Spend a day with experts counting birds in the longest-running citizen science project! No prior training is needed. Just a willingness to get up early and count birds.

We’ll congregate at Merrimac Farm after for warm beverages and chili to share stories from the field.

We’ll also need volunteers to help manage the chili cook-off and prepare the Stone House at Merrimac Farm for the big day! Message us at [email protected] if you’re interested.

Questions? Contact us: [email protected] or (703) 490-5200

Fill out the volunteer form below if you’re interested in any of the following opportunities.