Winners of the 2018 Green Community Awards:
Top Green: Prince William County Citizen Water Quality Monitoring and Awareness
Prince William County residents are gaining a better understanding of the water cycle related to their drinking water supply. The Citizen Water Quality Monitoring and Adopt-a-Stream or Adopt-A-Pond Cleanup programs were created to provide hands on learning to understand the connection between our actions and local water quality. These programs have significantly raised awareness about water quality and steps to reduce trash and pollutants from entering our local waterways.
In 2017, 892 volunteers collected over 25,892 pounds of trash from over 55 miles of local streams. They provided 3,394.5 hours of service to our community.
Citizen teams monitor water quality at 14 monitoring sites to test various aspects of the water, check for pollution concerns and remove trash. There were 175 volunteers that provided 460 hours of service. According to Virginia standards, these 460 volunteer hours have a value of $12,415. When the program began in 2015, there were just three monitoring sites.
These dedicated teams work tirelessly to monitor the streams, prevent pollution and clean up litter to ensure to improve our drinking water supply, protect ecosystems and preserve our local streams.
Program: Prince William County Service Authority Water Academy
The Prince William County Service Authority is one of the largest water and wastewater utilities in Virginia. They have developed innovative approaches to educate the community about the value of clean drinking water. A five-session Water Academy program is one of their innovative programs to educate and engage adults with a variety of discussions about the Service Authority and the water industry in general. Participants in the summer 2017 inaugural academy indicated they now have an increased awareness and appreciation for the water and wastewater industries, as well as the technology and resources needed to maintain reliable infrastructure. With the success of the program, the Prince William County Service Authority will continue the Water Academy as an annual program.
Event: Prince William Recycles Day
The Prince William Recycles Day is a well anticipated and well attended autumn tradition for many residents. It has been held since 1995. Each year, close to 1000 citizens enjoy the informational displays, games, puppet show, landfill tours and other fun activities. A recently added feature of the day is the Recycled Art Contest, which features art created from discards by local high school students. Another highlight of the day is a tour of the landfill. Participants see the many special areas, services and daily operations of the landfill. They also see the special efforts to reduce the impact on the environment, such as recycling, tire collection for building roads and a donation building. Even the bus they ride on is a repurposed school bus.
The goal of the day is to help people understand and recognize the value of resources in their waste and motivate them to recycle more, as well as make responsible disposal choices. It also offers a fun setting to celebrate the efforts of the community to recycle and reuse.
Individual: Cindy Smith
Since the early 1990s, Cindy Smith has been an active and important member of Prince William's environmental community. She sat on the Board of Directors of Nature's Wonder World, which provided a meaningful outdoor experience to more than 20,000 County students.
Through her work as the Education Specialist for Prince William Soil & Water Conservation District, Cindy's activities inspired large landowners to incorporate environmentally sustainable practices into management plans. With MowCow Landscaping Service, she has provided homeowners with options and opportunities to covert lawns into attractive landscapes that help improve the quality of neighborhoods and our public drinking water supply.
As the K-12 Education Director, George Mason's Potomac Science Center, Cindy and her staff have delivered environmental education programs to more than 80,000 elementary and middle school students. She currently partners with the Prince William County and local nonprofits to ensure the County's new Ecopark is a success.
Cindy's activities have inspired and motivated many people. Her work directly benefits communities countywide and brings our stewardship efforts together so we have a greater reach that benefits all.
Winners of the 2017 Green Community Awards:
Top Green: Prince William County Service Authority
The Prince William County Service Authority consistently provides outstanding service and programs that truly embrace the spirit of protecting and preserving our natural resources. As a top green winner, the Service Authority has implemented a vast array of programs and efforts to protect our local environment. Their lengthy list of endeavors include programs that wisely use water resource, improve water quality, control air pollution, reduce sewer overflows to protect the health of people and local waters, implement pretreatment programs for water before it is discharged into the community, undertake recycling and waste reduction, provide community education and outreach including tours of your plants and facilities. In addition, they sponsor an annual water art competition among high school students.
Project: Taylor Guilford
Miss Taylor Guildford was recognized for her care and maintenance of beehives at Rippon Lodge Historic Site. As a project winner, Taylor demonstrated an extraordinary and ongoing effort to benefit the environment and save resources. There is a critical need to provide safe places for bees to flourish since we depend on bees to pollinate plants for the environment, wildlife and humans. Her efforts to help the bees and educate others about the importance of bees truly make a difference. She is leading the way for our community to understand the critical need to protect bees and provide them space to thrive.
Project: Semyon Podobed
Mr. Semyon Podobed is another champion of bees for our community. He was recognized for his care and maintenance of beehives at Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre. There is a critical need to provide safe places for bees to flourish since we depend on bees to pollinate plants for beauty and to provide food for people and wildlife. We applaud Semyon and Taylor for their guidance and dedication to helping bees survive and thrive in our community.
Project: Living Shoreline Project at Leesylvania State Park
The Living Shoreline Project was recognized as a model practice and new standard for shoreline erosion. This project was a cooperative effort of the Department of Conservation & Recreation, Northern Virginia Regional Commission, Prince William County, the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Virginia Association for Parks, Friends of Leesylvania and the Potomac Conservancy with funding provided by Chesapeake Bay trust, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Dominion Power and CSX Railroad. This type of cooperation greatly benefits communities and pulls together many talents and resources so we can undertake and accomplish even more important work. The project resolves a chronic problem with the shoreline at the Leesylvania State Park and provides a teaching area.
Program: Stonewall Jackson High School Ecology Club
The Ecology Club at Stonewall Jackson High School was recognized for their 16 years of dedicated and critical assistance with the Youth Ambassadors' Conference on the Environment (with seven years hosting at their school). The Ecology Club brings energy, enthusiasm, and fun to the event to encourage and engage younger students to participate fully in the various activities. Club members have made the event much more meaningful and enjoyable for the 1600 plus students that have attended the conference over the years.
Individual: Seth Hatfield
Seth Hatfield is a young man who generously provides his time and assistance on a variety of programs and organizations around the County. As a high school student, Seth has demonstrated his dedication to protecting our local environment and natural resources. He has volunteered his time, interest and commitment to a number of meaningful events in the community, including Farm Field Days, watershed monitoring, the Youth Ambassadors' Conference on the Environment and local stream cleanups. In addition, Seth has taken time to learn even more by participating in field work and studies, conservation camps and leadership programs.
Winners of the 2016 Green Community Awards:
Top Green: Prince William Wildflower Society
The Prince William Wildflower Society has worked tirelessly throughout the years to promote the benefits of planting native species and wildflowers. They also encourage the community to create habitat for birds, butterflies, wildlife and beneficial insects by establishing wildflower and native plant settings. The Society hosts several events in the community to raise awareness about the benefits, including plant sales, work days at select locations and garden tours. To help with their efforts, the Society maintains a very useful website, shares information in their newsletter, creates a NOVA Natives plant guide and offers special lectures. They are a chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society.
Program: Water Quality Monitoring and Biological Citizen Science Program
Under the guidance of Ms. Veronica Tangiri, citizens are trained to monitor and assess local streams. They collect and send stream data to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and Prince William County Public Works. This information gives agencies extra information and data about local streams in their efforts to protect and improve water quality. As the citizens learn about the health of the streams, they are better able to understand their impact on waterways and to teach others about the importance of community pollution prevention action.
Program: Prince William County Service Authority's Community Education and Outreach Program
The Service Authority has created clever and engaging programs and events to help students from kindergarten through high school to increase understanding about the value of clean drinking water and a community's efforts to treat and reclaim water resources. Over 2,000 students have participated in programs that focus on protecting local waters including the Chesapeake Bay. Students have learned about the impact of Fats, Oils and Grease on local waters, the water reclamation process, storm drain protection, litter control and sewer science.
Project: Allen Matthys
Mr. Matthys has been a resident of Prince William County for over 40 years. After his retirement, he began daily walks in his community. During these walks, Mr. Matthys noticed all the trash in his community and decided to do something about it. To date, he has devoted over 381 hours of serve and conducted 131 clean ups in his community. Mr. Matthys has picked up over 76 bags of trash and 63 bags of recycling. He even cleans up in the storm drains and pond in his neighborhood. His actions directly improve the appearance of our community and keeps unwanted trash out of local waterways.
Individual: Harrison (Harry) Glasgow
Harry Glasgow exemplifies the spirit of a true volunteer. He gives abundant amounts of time, energy and enthusiasm to many organizations in Prince William County that are dedicated to protecting our local environment and natural resources. He assists on boards, teaches at special events and educational programs and works tirelessly to raise awareness about citizen action. He always works quietly in the background to ensure the spotlight in on the topic or effort at hand. Harry generously shares his knowledge and expertise with others, whether its is guiding others on a bird hike, sharing input on the landfill, serving with the Soil & Water Conservation District or helping to maintain gardens and natural areas. He has made a huge difference in our community through his support and efforts.
WINNERS OF THE 2015 GREEN COMMUNITY AWARDS:
Top Green: American Disposal Services
American Disposal Services has implemented several programs to help support and encourage recycling in Prince William County. Over the past couple of years, American Disposal Services implemented innovative programs to help improve recycling efforts in the community including the opening of the first single stream recycling process facility and a new program called GreenStream to provide efficient service to commercial spaces. American Disposal has also opened an Interactive Learning Center at the recycling center to educate the community about recycling. This center complements their Think Before You Throw campaign. To take it one step further, American Disposal has converted its entire fleet to use Compressed Natural Gas fuel.
Program: Horticultural Therapy Program, Community Services
Under the guidance of Ms. Jo Ann Rudy, the Horticultural Therapy program offers adults with psychiatric and cognitive disabilities the opportunity to grow and improve by learning new skills, building self-esteem, developing creativity and increasing socialization. The participants in the program have undertaken many projects to restore and beautify gardens and open space at historic and community properties. The program has improved the lives of many residents and provided us all with beautiful natural settings.
Event: 25 Years of Farm Field Days
The Prince William Soil & Water Conservation District has hosted Farm Field Days for local 4th grade students for the past 25 years. Since 2003 alone, over 18,500 students have participated in this event to learn about soil conservation, crops of Virginia, farm animals and trees. The event provides a unique opportunity for students to have a hands-on experience to appreciate agriculture and natural resources. In addition to the 1600 students that participate in the event, there are over 100 volunteers including local high school students, parent chaperones and teachers that benefit from this experience.
Individual: Lorri Jones
Lorri Jones serves as the Employ Instructor at Independent Hill School. Lorri works with identified students on life and work skills to prepare them for life after their school career. Since 2006, Lorri has trained the students with real world work skills and taught them about natural resource conservation. Each year, Lorri has added a new activity to expand and enhance their experience and knowledge. In 2014, Lorri developed a working relationship with Prince William County Government to collect printer and toner cartridges. The students gained new skills in collection, sorting, record keeping and mailing. The County benefited by finding a practical and environmentally sound way to dispose of the cartridges. We have expanded the program now to include CDs, DVDs, jewel cases, cables and cords.
2014 Winners:
Top Green: The Fyock Family
Bradley, Katja, Kayla and Kamryn Fyock have participated in conservation projects with the County for the past several years. They are enthusiastic participants and often bring extra volunteers along for the effort. They have helped plant trees and plants, maintained and constructed trails, picked up litter and helped spruce up natural areas. The family has made a dedicated commitment to engaging young people in community service and making a difference for the natural areas of our community.
Program: Independent Hill School Students and Lorri Jones
Under the guidance of Ms. Lorri Jones, the students of Independent Hill have established a program to collect printer cartridges and toners from the local government offices, as well as other businesses and agencies. The students sort and organize the cartridges for shipment to companies that accept the cartridges for recycling. The students gain life skills in the collection, processing and shipment of the materials, as well as earn funds for the school. It is a winning program for the environment, agencies looking for ways to properly dispose of the printer cartridges and toners, and the students.
Project: Villages of Piedmont developed by Mr. Scott Plein, Equinox Investments, LLC
The Villages of Piedmont is a residential community of single family homes and townhomes just southwest of Haymarket along Route 15. The community was developed by Equinox Investments, LLC under the management of Equinox’s founding principal, Mr. Scott Plein. The developer set aside 386 acres of their 493 acre development as permanent natural open space, including parcels previously zoned for commercial, office, and industrial uses. Their efforts preserved two Resource Protection Areas, a constructed wetland bank and large areas of forested wetlands. Additionally, Equinox Investments, LLC committed to reforesting 1 acre of previously disturbed Resource Protection Area. Much of the land was not required to be conserved. Preservation was an active choice by the developer, reflecting their vision to create a community that protects and provides wildlife habitat for all to enjoy.
Event: Operation Clean Sweep
Keep Prince William Beautiful has partnered with CSX to host events throughout the year to clean up the most neglected and highly littered areas in Prince William County. To date, volunteers have removed over 3050 pounds of debris. These volunteers focus on the areas that are not cleaned regularly, which helps to reduce safety and environmental concerns. In addition, these projects allow residents and businesses to take an active leadership role in reducing litter in our community.
Individual: Shannon Starrunner
Shannon has participated with the County’s Youth Ambassador Conference and has volunteered at several local conservation projects. In addition, she and her girl scout troop have assisted at the Healthy You Expo sponsored by the schools and hosted informational programs at their school with a focus on the environment. Shannon jumps in and helps in any task or project with enthusiasm and purpose. We are fortunate to have a woman with her dedication to community, young women and the environment.
2013 Winners:
Top Green: PNC Bank, Potomac Town Center
PNC Bank is dedicated to reducing its corporate impact on the environment. They demonstrate this commitment through their corporate practices, recycling and waste reduction practices, customer service for green banking opportunities and green construction of their facilities and infrastructure. In addition, staff from the PNC Bank Branch at Potomac Town Center have generously donated their time and shared giveaways at several community events to raise environmental awareness. They have supported the Prince William Recycles Day, Youth Ambassadors’ Conference on the Environment, Earth Day Festival for Prince William County and an Earth Day Festival at George Mason University. PNC has demonstrated their strong commitment to support their community and the environment.
Program: Jess Hruska and Rich Smith
For the past eight years, Jess Hruska and Rich Smith have tirelessly sponsored the ecology club at Stonewall Jackson High School. This powerhouse team of high school students is masterfully and thoughtfully led by these two dedicated teachers. The club participates in community events, such as Prince William Recycles Day, Youth Ambassadors’ Conference on the Environment and the Six Weeks to Make A Difference Conservation Campaign. With the guidance of Rich and Jess, the club also tackles environmental opportunities at the school including care for the school pond and nature trail, recycling in the school, and teaching all students about good environmental practices. Finally, the students gain further insight and inspiration from a variety of outdoor experiences, educational conferences and nature adventures.
Process Change: Leesylvania State Park
Leesylvania State Park is situated on the Potomac River and features beautiful wooded areas, trails and several streams. It is rich in natural and historic treasures for our community. Over the past several years, staff and volunteers at Leesylvania State Park have made a concerted effort to implement, expand and improve projects and opportunities at the park for visitors to go green. Since 2007, Leesylvania State Park has been part of the Virginia Clean Marina Program to ensure their marina complies with all regulatory requirements for an environmentally sound marina, plus the staff has voluntarily adopted additional best management practices. Since the early 1990s, the park has accepted Christmas trees to keep them from taking up space at the landfill. The trees are used to create habitat for aquatic animals and hiding places for forest animals. Park staff and volunteers has placed signs and recycling bins to remind guests to recycle. In addition, staff and volunteers have set up pet waste stations to encourage guests to pick up and properly dispose of pet waste. This keeps the waste out of local waters and helps prevent the spread of bacteria. To continue their efforts to protect valuable waterways, Leesylvania State Park staff and volunteers participate in many local, state and national clean up and awareness events, such as Clean the Bay Day, National Public Lands Day and International Coastal Cleanup. Finally, the staff has installed eco-friendly light bulbs and solar panels to conserve energy consumption.
Project Leadership: Don Peschka, Prince William Master Gardener
Don Peschka is a 2007 graduate of the Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Training. Since his graduation, Don has devoted over 1,458 hours to environmental education and responded to 3840 requests for help from citizens. He is a dedicated and enthusiastic volunteer who has given leadership and effort to a variety of meaningful projects and programs in our community. Don has devoted many hours at the Teaching Garden where citizens can learn best management practices for landscapes and water quality protection. He provides guidance and tips at local garden centers, earth day celebrations and Prince William Recycles Day. He delivers fresh produce to local needy families from local gardens. Don has helped to establish and maintain a garden at the ACTS Shelter. He also serves as a neighborhood plant expert and educates homeowners about the best practices to use on their lawns to protect local water quality in our streams. He has helped over 200 homeowners with these practices and helped improve 74.45 acres. He also shares information about practices to help protect water quality for businesses, schools, churches and non-profit organizations. The Virginia Cooperative Extension is especially grateful for the services of Don. In addition to all his community service, he serves as an advocate for all the Extension programs for the community on the Extension Leadership Council.
Event: Troop 5285
The scouts of Girl Scout Troop 5285 have demonstrated their commitment to the community and the environment by helping with several special events. Members of the scout troop were selected by their school to serve as Youth Ambassadors for the Environment. They helped with conservation projects around the county. The ambassadors then encouraged their fellow scouts to participate at a tree planting effort sponsored by the Department of Public Works in December 2012. At this project, scouts helped plant 250 seedlings to help create a forested wetland. Girl Scout Troop 5285 also volunteered to host a recycling activity at the 2013 Prince William County Expo held at the Potomac Nationals Stadium. In the future, the girls plan to host other environmental awareness events at their school.
Individual: Linda Gosnell
Linda is the unsung hero of volunteers. She quietly and faithfully serves at many volunteer efforts, clean up efforts and special projects in the Neabsco District and other events attended by the Neabsco Alliance. She never seeks the spotlight, but remains in the shadows doing the hard work and leaving the glory to others. She deserves recognition for her years of dedicated and tireless service. Prince William County and particularly the Neabsco District is a much nicer, well-kept and cleaner place because of this amazing citizen and neighbor.
Individual: David Sarr
David volunteered to assist the Youth Ambassadors with a tree planting project along Bull Run Creek at Ben Lomond Park in April 2012. He worked diligently with the youth to help plant 75 trees. We experienced a long period of drought after we planted and David volunteered to help water the trees. His efforts helped the young seedlings survive. In April 2013, the Ambassadors returned to Ben Lomond to plant more trees in another section along the stream. David joined us again, but also brought a troop of boy scouts and their families to help. The planting was completed in record time so the volunteers tended, weeded and mulched the trees planted last year. David demonstrated what it means to step up and help in your community on your own accord. This is the true spirit of volunteering. David saw a chance to make a difference and he acted accordingly.
2012 Winners:
Stonewall Jackson High School Ecology Club
These enthusiastic and staunch student advocates for the environment have made numerous contributions to our community. They are led by two dedicated teachers, Jess Hruska and Rich Smith. As a club, these students assist with programs for younger students -- leading outdoor experiences for their neighboring elementary school, teaching farming regions and waste reduction at Farm Field Days for fourth grade students and co-sponsoring the annual Youth Ambassadors' Conference on the Environment. They are also actively involved with green initiatives at their school.
Prince William Trails and Streams Coalition
A non-profit organization dedicated to establishing and promoting a county wide system of trails and blueways that connect parks with our communities. PWTSC supports the sharing of trails and streams for all non-motorized public recreation activities, including but not limited to hiking, jogging, biking, dog walking, bird watching, horseback riding and the general enjoyment of nature on trails; and canoeing, kayaking, and fishing Prince William County streams that support those activities. We invite both private and public partners and members with similar objectives to join us in our efforts.
The coalition works diligently on constructing and improving trails throughout the community. In addition, they sponsor educational walks and talks along the trail to help raise appreciation and value for these access points into our natural areas. You can learn more about their efforts at www.pwtsc.org.
Friends of the Occoquan
Friends of the Occoquan is a non-profit organization of local citizens who preserve and maintain the natural integrity of the Occoquan River and other Virginia watersheds by promoting community awareness through public and private partnerships. Their vision is to energize individuals, community and business groups to take on the challenge of keeping Northern Virginia's Reservoirs clean by controlling excessive sediment and pollution. Their efforts include educational programs, working with citizens, businesses and elected officials and conducting a spring and fall clean up along the river for the past 13 years. You can learn more about their efforts and volunteer at http://www.friendsoftheoccoquan.org/.
Vulcan Materials, Manassas Quarry
Vulcan Materials has quarried crushed stone for construction work and projects since the 1960s. They uphold a corporate vision to be responsible stewards of these natural resources. In addition, they try to be a good corporate citizen by supporting local civic and charitable activities. After they complete work in an area of the quarry, Vulcan Materials restores the area by planting grasses and trees to create habitat for wildlife. They have also created sediment basins to hold water to help control run off. These basins have become habitat for many types of fish and waterfowl. In addition, they maintain 30 acres of green space solely dedicated to wildlife habitat preservation and enhancement.
Vulcan provides significant support to local organizations and programs as well. They work closely with Stonewall Jackson High School and Ellis Elementary School by creating a nature trail around the pond for environmental education and an outdoor classroom. Vulcan also invites students to their quarry for tours of their operations, wildlife habitat programs and their reclamation programs. Employees from Vulcan lead programs in the classroom, judge science fairs and encourage reading.
They lead by example by conserving water, reducing energy use, recycling, and monitoring their operations to reduce environmental impacts. Vulcan also helps the community through SERVE, a Manassas-based non-profit organization that provides food and shelter to local families. Learn more about Vulcan Materials at www.vulcanmaterials.com/manassas.
Eric VanNortwick
Mr. VanNortwick unselfishly volunteers hours each year to help improve our natural areas. He conducts frequent clean ups along Neabsco Creek in the Dale City Community. In addition, Mr. VanNortwick assists other organizations with their efforts to clean and beautify our community.
Ed Dandar
Mr. Dandar serves as the lead volunteer on coordinating the logistics for the annual cleanup along Occoquan River. The team cleans up 17 miles of this critical river and source of local drinking water. Mr. Dandar ensures the critical needs of such an undertaking, ensuring that dumpsters and port-a-johns are in place, as well as gloves, water and vests are available for the volunteers.
The Taylor Family of Windy Knoll Farms
The Taylors have installed a variety of conservation best management practices on their farm over the years. They utilize a conservation plan and certified nutrient management plan in the operation of their farm to help protect local water quality and improve soil. The Taylors have hosted several conservation seminars for farmers and special programs for children/families. They have participated in the PWC Farm Tour showcasing agricultural BMPs to the general public. In addition, they have hosted the annual Ag in the Classroom training for Prince William County teachers and educational fieldtrips for students to learn about agriculture and the environment. The Taylors serve as excellent stewards in farm practices and environmental protection!
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