Here is a little visitor that came to Brad Street this morning, May 22nd and landed in our lettuce garden. I think he is bringing about 5 million of his closest friends. Get ready!
And please check out the blog post before this one, as it contains the Minutes of the April 11th RCA board meeting. FYI!
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Raymondale Meeting Minutes, April 11
Below are the minutes of the April 11th Raymondale Civic Association Board Meeting as approved at the May 9th board meeting:
Sign Update:
Contract signed with Fastsigns. RCA verbally communicated
with Mr. Ortega to let him know that the sign people will be taking
measurements soon. Mr. Ortega was very agreeable with this development. Mr.
Ortega received certified letter explaining the steps and timeline with sign
installation and easement details. He was told that solar lighting would be
used instead of electrical, no need for Dominion Power easement agreement. Check for full amount delivered to Fastsigns.
RCA also took $333 from final amount of proposal because Steve Simpson (7421
Add Dr.) will install. Sign address is 3325 Brandy Ct. Rendering of sign is on
the way.
Rendering will accompany Spring 2013 newsletter with dues
envelope and membership/fundraising letter appealing to residents to send in
dues. If rendering is too late, separate
fundraising letter will go out after newsletter. This is refill the RAC coffers as there will
only be $200 left in the bank after the sign is purchased.
Possible sign dedication at the same time as block party with Penny Gross invited to
cut the ribbon on the sign and then have the block party. Possible dates June 22nd with then
29th as a backup. Check with Ellis Ct
folks on this date.
Environmental Task Force:
Spring Cleaning in park, Saturday, May 4th, 9:30-11:30.
Removing invasive plants on Brad and Dye part of park.
Other meeting updates:
Sandy attended the Penny Gross meeting for civic
associations. Topics included: storm water programs, best management practices,
air quality, bay restoration, run off, aging infrastructure, stream restoration,
low impart development (areas being maintained with native plants). A
representative from Fairfax County Storm and Water will come talk to RCA
anytime.
Future Blog Post Ideas:
Waste Special Pick-Up.
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Invasive Plant Pull on Saturday, May 4th: 32 Bags FULL!
About
30 Raymondale residents, boy scouts, girl scouts, FCHS students and
Broyhill Park neighbors turned out on a bright sunny day on Saturday, May 4th to do battle with the weeds at the mini-park at Brad St. and Dye Dr.
Thank you to all who volunteered!
This was the Raymondale Civic Association's second annual "Clean Up the Park" day, and together the volunteers yanked enough English Ivy, multiflora rose, Japanese Honeysuckle and Wineberry to fill 32 super-size park authority trash bags.
Thank you to all who volunteered!
This was the Raymondale Civic Association's second annual "Clean Up the Park" day, and together the volunteers yanked enough English Ivy, multiflora rose, Japanese Honeysuckle and Wineberry to fill 32 super-size park authority trash bags.
Each
year, RCA sponsors this event to reclaim one section of the Holmes Run
Stream Valley in the heart of Raymondale from the invasive plant
species that threaten to overtake it. Our efforts are part of a larger
volunteer initiative facilitated by the FAirfax County Park Authority to
create oases of native habitat where local wildlife can thrive.
You
might be asking yourself: What's so "wrong" with English Ivy and the
other non-native plants? The problem is that they tend to proliferate
madly but are not needed or eaten by local wildlife. As a result, they
block sunlight from reaching other plants that ARE needed or eaten by
native wildlife. What's more, the vines make their way up even the
tallest trees, gradually choking the trees to death and making them
more susceptible to falling over in a major storm.
In
these tight fiscal times, especially, the FCPA relies on volunteer
efforts such as Raymondale's Clean Up the Park Day to help manage the
invasive plant problem. Raymondale's effort is only two years old, but
already we're making a difference in several ways:
-
By targeting the same location at Brad & Dye over and over, an
"island" of native habitat will be established within a few years. the
trees will be better off, and new plants will take hold. Once an
invasive-free zone has been established, Raymondale can approach FCPA to
reinforce the zone by planting more native species. Good for plants,
good for wildlife, good for homeowners!
-
By "adopting" the parkland along Holmes Run at Dye & Brad,
Raymondale is helping FCPA be strategic and targeted in its approach to
invasive plant management. The FCPA could not possibly manage every spot
where invasives have proliferated without such volunteer help.
-
Volunteer initiatives (such as Raymondale's) help the FCPA qualify for
more grant funding for its invasive removal program. Last year, our
little cleanup was part of a larger grassroots initiative which
ultimately led to a $10,000 REI grant for the FCPA's invasive plant
removal program. (This wonderful report was submitted by RCA Co-President, Whitney Redding.)
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