2010 Scenic Awards
Scenic Virginia honored its 2010 Scenic Award winners recently at a gala reception and ceremony at the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond.
The Honorable and Mrs. William J. Howell, along with the Board of Scenic Virginia, served as Hosts for the event.
Scenic Virginia Trustee Cessie Howell and
Speaker of the House Bill Howell
Scenes from the 2010 Gala Reception
Award recipients Sally and Nick Carter with Scenic Virginia Trustee Katty Mears
Scenic Virginia Trustee Frank Lingo Calhoun, Esq., Honorary Board member Betty Byrne Ware, and H. Hudnall Ware
Scenic Virginia president Jane Sale Henley and R. Page Henley
Event host Cessie Howell, Carl Little and Anne Little
 Award recipient Bert Jones and Scenic Virginia Trustee Eugenia Anderson-Ellis
Guest Alli Alligood and Scenic Virginia Awards committee member Sarah Pollard Chiffriller
Barry Isenhour of Horton Vineyards, Tom Vick of Blue Ridge Parkway 75, Superintendent Phil Francis of the Blue Ridge Parkway, and Speaker Bill Howell
 Award recipient Bob Carter and Scenic Virginia executive director Leighton Powell
Guest Barry Starke and Scenic Virginia Trustee Calder Loth
 Caroline Coles Merrick, Scenic Virginia Trustee Sally H. Thomas, Cate Magennis Wyatt, and Sherry Butrick
The 2010 Awards Ceremony
Opening the Awards Ceremony, Scenic Virginia's president welcomed guests with the following remarks:
President Jane Sale Henley welcomes crowd
"I'm Jane Henley. Proud president of Scenic Virginia. Proud of our Commonwealth, proud of this organization, proud to have Cessie and Bill Howell as our hosts, and proud to have all of you with us this evening to celebrate our Award winners.
The mission of Scenic Virginia is to promote our Commonwealth's scenic qualities in a way that makes you recognize and appreciate their value. We want you to 'think scenic' when you look out the window and see a beautiful view, and we want you to 'act scenic' when you make decisions about your life and community.
'Acting scenic' is important because it means that your decisions are reflected in public policy. That means supporting legislation that beautifies our state, making planning choices that benefit the greater good, and having strong values that strengthen our communities and preserve Virginia's beauty for future generations.
Think scenic.
Dream scenic.
Act scenic.
Virginia will be the better for it."
Honorary Co-Hosts for the event were The Honorable Bruce F. Jamerson, Clerk of the House of Delegates, and the Honorable Susan Clarke Schaar, Clerk of the Senate of Virginia, who preside over Thomas Jefferson's historic building.
Both welcomed guests to "the People's Capitol" and described the honor of their recent role in overseeing the restoration and expansion of the Virginia State Capitol and Capitol Square.
Both spoke highly of Virginia's legislators, particularly commending their shared willingness to set aside political differences in order to keep the project on track. The result was a beautiful project that came in under budget and ahead of schedule. (Scenic Virginia honored the project with its Scenic Tourism Award in 2009.)
President Jane Sale Henley welcomes crowd
Executive Director Leighton Powell thanked the Co-hosts, and responded to Mrs. Schaar's invitation to return to the Capitol in 2011 with a very enthusiastic "WE ACCEPT!"
Executive Director Leighton Powell seizes the opportunity to return to the Capitol in 2011
Noting that October is Virginia Wine Month, she urged guests to continue enjoying the Governor's Cup wines and food during the Awards Ceremony, and to linger for a while after the presentation of Awards.
She then announced the 2010 Scenic Awards winners.
Scenic
Hero:
Nature Conservancy of Virginia
In 1960 a small group of conservation-minded individuals met in the City of Richmond to form the Virginia Chapter of The Nature Conservancy. Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2010, The Nature Conservancy in Virginia is now part of a global organization with offices in all 50 states and more than 30 countries.
Since its founding, The Nature Conservancy in Virginia has helped protect over 300,000 acres of private and public land in the Commonwealth, including:
In 1961, Wildcat Mountain, located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, became the Conservancy's first preserve in Virginia. Visitors to Wildcat experience an outstanding variety of plant and animal communities, including 186 species of birds.
In 1973, the Nature Conservancy brokered the nation's first major corporate donation of conservation land, helping establish Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge through Union Camp's gift of nearly 50,000 acres.
Since 1999, The Nature Conservancy in Virginia has worked to protect the northernmost old-growth pine savannas in the Eastern United States at Piney Grove Preserve in Sussex County, which harbors the last remaining population of red-cockaded woodpeckers in Virginia.
For 20 years now, The Nature Conservancy has protected Southwest Virginia's Clinch River, considered America's most important river for rare and imperiled freshwater animals.
In 2002, The Nature Conservancy in Virginia made history with the acquisition of Warm Springs Mountain Preserve - at the time the Conservancy's single largest land purchase in Virginia. The extraordinary diversity of habitats and species led the Conservancy to target Warm Springs Mountain as the focal point of its work in the Allegheny Highlands. More recently, conservation planners have identified the entirety of the surrounding Central Appalachians - running from Virginia north to Pennsylvania - as one of the Conservancy's top global priorities.
On the Eastern Shore, The Nature Conservancy's tireless efforts to protect lands and waters have resulted in the longest expanse of coastal wilderness remaining on the eastern seaboard of the United States.
Most recently has been The Nature Conservancy's work at Dragon Run, which is located in three counties in the Middle Peninsula (Essex, King & Queen and Middlesex) and which spans a collective area of 21 square miles and more than 20,000 acres in size. Dubbed the "second most ecologically important watershed in the Chesapeake Bay" by the Smithsonian Institution, Dragon Run protects intact and working forests, Bald cypress swamps, and the water quality of the Chesapeake Bay. The project includes a 13,350-acre conservation easement (TNC's largest to date) and 6,500 acres acquired by VDOF (facilitated by The Nature Conservancy). The project maintains the integrity of the largest unfragmented forest in the lower Chesapeake Bay.
Scenic Virginia honored The Nature Conservancy for 50 years of pioneering conservation science and building partnerships with diverse stakeholders to protect numerous other special places around the Commonwealth.
Andy Lacattell accepted the Award on behalf of The Nature Conservancy and its executive director, Michael Lipford, who was unable to attend due to a prior engagement.
[L-R] Nikki Rovner, Andy Lacatell and Linda Crowe of The Nature Conservancy
Scenic Viewshed Preservation Award:
Carter Family Easements in Albemarle County (Carter Family members & the Piedmont Environmental Council)
In 2009 members of the Carter family acted together to protect nearly 1,000 acres of land in Albemarle County that has been in their family since 1730. The Carters' ancestors were neighbors to the Jeffersons, with a plantation about seven miles from Monticello.
Ned Carter of Alexandria spearheaded the effort to protect four adjacent parcels belonging to him and three cousins: Brothers Bob, Andrew and John Carter. One parcel includes Bob and Carol Carter's 1792 home, Redlands, which the Virginia Historic Landmarks Register considers "one of the Commonwealth's most important Federal period landmarks." The house was built by Martin Thacker, who also built Monticello. Its plan resembles Thomas Jefferson's unbuilt design for the Virginia governor's mansion.
In late October of 2009, the easement process was threatened when the agency slated to hold the easements indicated that it couldn't complete the projects by year's end. Since conditions vary from year to year, delay jeopardized the agreement. To ensure that the transactions went through in 2009, Piedmont Environmental Council stepped in and agreed to hold the easements until they can be transferred permanently to the Virginia Outdoors Foundation.
The Carter family parcels connect with other conserved lands to form a block of 2,700 protected acres on either side of Route 20, a Virginia Scenic Byway. The properties are located in the Southern Albemarle Rural Historic District, and bring the total amount of protected land in the district to 17,000 acres.
 Scenic Virginia used the occasion of the Award to honor the legacy of Bessie Bocock Carter, who had a long-held desire to see her family's land preserved. An active and passionate conservationist, Mrs. Carter was a beloved member of Scenic Virginia until her death in 2008.
Bob Carter accepted the Award on behalf of Carter family members, and expressed particular appreciation for the recognition given to his mother.
 Trustee Sally Thomas, right, presents the Award to Nick Carter, Sally Carter, Bob Carter, Carol Carter, and Ned Carter. Rex Linville and Heather Richards of Piedmont Environmental Council stand behind Sally.
Scenic Water
Corridor Preservation Award:
Scenic Rivers Easement Program (Virginia Eastern Shore Land Trust)
Over a seven-year period, the Virginia Eastern Shore Land Trust carried out a campaign of targeted outreach to landowners that resulted in the protection of viewsheds, open space, and natural and historic resources on two complete river systems - Finney Creek & Nickawampus Creek and the Sinnickson Farm corridor, as well as significant protected lands on three other pristine waterways.
In total, 53 miles of scenic rural shoreline - nearly 8,800 acres -- are now protected by conservation easements held by the Virginia Eastern Shore Land Trust and its partners, with 26 of the 30 scenic river corridor easements completed since the organization's founding in 2003. The easements call for the preservation of numerous historic houses, as well as the traditional farm, forest and marsh landscapes viewed from the water on the five river corridors.
Scenic Virginia recognized the Board and staff of the Virginia Eastern Shore Land Trust, their conservation partners and the Eastern Shore landowners whose extraordinary stewardship made the protection of the scenic water corridor viewsheds possible.
Susan Henderson accepted the Award on behalf of her son, Peter, who serves the Virginia Eastern Shore Land Trust as their executive director. (Peter was on his way to Richmond from the Eastern Shore and was -- unfortunately for all present -- unable to arrive in time for the ceremony due to Tunnel traffic.)
Clockwise from bottom: Tata Kellam, Lynn Allison, Harry Holcomb, Lucius Kellam, Potter Henderson, Susan Henderson, and Nancy Holcomb.
Creative Scenic Enhancement
Award:
Greening the Virginia State Capitol (Virginia Department of Conservation & Recreation, Virginia Department of General Services, and City of Richmond)
Scenic Virginia has long been an advocate for beautification, as well as a champion for a healthy James River. We honored the "Greening the Virginia State Capitol" project for touching on both passions.
Capitol Square is "going green" and changing how storm water runoff is managed on the Capitol grounds, on adjacent City streets, and in nearby alleys. The end result is that the amount of polluted water going into the James will be greatly decreased.
The selected low-impact development practices will beautify surroundings as they reduce the amount of impervious surface on and nearby Capitol Square.
These practices include rain gardens, attractive porous brick pavers, enhanced green streets, and rainwater harvesting. Captured storm water will be used to irrigate Capitol Square's grass and plants during the spring and summer months.
The project is a partnership among Virginia's Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), the Virginia Department of General Services (DGS), and the City of Richmond. Grant funding was provided by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, with professional engineering and design expertise from Civil & Environmental Services and BioForm.
In accepting the Award, Bert Jones of DGS paid tribute to the collaborative spirit shared by all of the agencies and organizations involved, noting that it was indeed a "dream project."
[L-R] Richmond City Councilman Charles Samuels; Chris Hale of BioForm; Chris Sonne of Civil & Environmental Services; Nissa Dean of DCR; Bert Jones of DGS; Trustee Eugenia Anderson-Ellis; Richmond Planning Director Rachel O'Dwyer Flynn, and Bob Steidel of Richmond's Department of Public Utilities.
Scenic Tourism
Award:
Blue Ridge Parkway 75th Anniversary
(Blue Ridge Parkway 75, Inc.)
The most visited of all 391 units of the National Park Service system, the Blue Ridge Parkway is a 469-mile scenic byway connecting Shenandoah National Park in Virginia with Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee.
Groundbreaking for the Blue Ridge Parkway took place in 1935. In the intervening 75 years, the Parkway has become a beloved destination for its recreational opportunities, as habitat for diverse species of flora and fauna, for its access to America's cultural heritage, as an icon of American progress and ingenuity, and as a gateway to the charming communities along it.
Va. Designed by- Thomas Jefferson in 1785 the Virginia State Capitol, at Ninth and Bank streets, was the first building in America constructed in the form of a classical temple. And it houses the oldest legislative body under a democratic form of government in ...
In celebrating the banner year with a great deal of fanfare, Blue Ridge Parkway 75, Inc. engaged local communities and the nation in its efforts to sustain a healthy Parkway for future generations. The organization highlighted the Parkway by showcasing its history and Appalachian culture, spotlighting its spectacular scenic views, celebrating its recreational activities, and by enticing travelers to the region to celebrate this national treasure and its neighboring communities.
Project partners include the Virginia Tourism Corporation, Blue Ridge Parkway Association, Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway, National Council for the Traditional Arts, Blue Ridge National Heritage Area, Conservation Trust for North Carolina, Eastern National, North Carolina Department of Commerce Division of Tourism, Roanoke County, and Southern Highland Craft Guild.
Blue Ridge Parkway Superintendent Phil Francis
In accepting the Award, Blue Ridge Parkway Supervisor Phil Francis of Asheville, North Carolina urged citizens to stay vigilant to preserve the road. The Blue Ridge Parkway is an American icon, he noted, but it is also a fragile resource threatened by a lean budget, aging infrastructure, and tough environmental issues that include air pollution, encroachment, inappropriate development, and invasive species.
Superintendent Francis also paid tribute to the work of Tom Vick, a passionate proponent of the Blue Ridge Parkway, a past president of the Blue Ridge Parkway Association, and a driving force behind the founding of Blue Ridge Parkway 75.
[L-R] Tom Vick, BRP 75 Board member and past president of the Blue Ridge Parkway Association; Scenic Virginia Trustee Richard G. Gibbons, FASLA; and Phil Francis, Superintendent of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Anti-Litter Program Award:
Volunteer Sign Removal Program
(Chesterfield County)
Scenic Virginia recognized Chesterfield County for implementing and supporting a sign removal program that allows County residents to play a part in keeping Chesterfield beautiful.
Several years ago, despite the fact that Chesterfield County had a strong sign ordinance, County staff and individual citizens started noticing a proliferation of illegal "bandit" signs along roadways and on utility poles.
Illegal roadside "bandit signs"
State law clearly prohibits advertising within the limits of any highway, which includes the roadway, shoulders, median strips and approximately five feet adjacent to the pavement. Penalties for posting these illegal signs didn't reduce the behavior, despite the fact that businesses could be subject to injunction actions to prevent their continued placement of illegal signs.
Four years ago, Chesterfield resident Dick Page - fed up with the visual assaults -- came up with the idea for a volunteer sign removal program. A year later, he secured the County's approval; and a volunteer program developed within the County's Planning Department that immediately started beautifying Chesterfield roads.
Since 2007, the program has led to the removal of more than 28,000 illegal signs. Equally impressive, local offenders have learned that the volunteer sign removal squad will remove any illegal signs quickly, completely negating their advertising value. As a result, there have been fewer and fewer illegal signs along Chesterfield's roadsides.
Over the summer the program received an achievement award from the National Association of Counties. Scenic Virginia plans to work with Chesterfield County to promote the program to other localities within the Commonwealth.
In announcing the Award, Leighton Powell groused that the volunteers were so efficient that she'd had difficulty finding photographs of any "bandit signs" in Chesterfield County for the PowerPoint presentation.
Brian Chamberlain accepted the Award on behalf of Chesterfield County, and praised the volunteers who have proven their dedication to keeping the County beautiful.
[L-R] Chesterfield County Planning Director Kirk Turner, Scenic Virginia Trustee Deborah Dull, Chesterfield County coordinator Brian Chamberlain, and program founder Dick Page
Scenic Trees Program Award:
Project Plant It!
(Dominion & the Arbor Day Foundation)
Project Plant It! is a partnership among Dominion, the Arbor Day Foundation and elementary schools and community groups in regions served by the company. Each year, this program teaches thousands of students and community members about the value of trees in our ecosystem and how to recognize and care for trees. Project Plant It! enhances the classroom learning experience and increases comprehension of subject matter to meet state learning standards by providing a hands-on experience for each child.
Program participants learn about the value of trees, including how they help to moderate climates, improve air quality, absorb carbon, harbor wildlife, prevent soil erosion and reduce heating and cooling costs. In celebration of Arbor Day, students and community members experience the fun of planting trees with their family and friends.
At Arbor Day in Prince William County, students from Belmont Elementary read poems and stories, and planted seedlings at their school. Marines from nearby Quantico Marine Corps Base assisted students in the tree planting event.
In the City of Richmond at John B. Cary Elementary School and Linwood Holton Elementary School, and in Chesterfield County at Grange Hall Elementary School, third-graders participated in Arbor Day ceremonies that featured songs and poems about trees, as well as demonstrations from Dominion foresters.
Project Plant It! is an educational -- and fun -- program that instructs our next generation about the importance of caring for our planet. Downloadable program materials are available at www.ProjectPlantIt.com.
In accepting the Award, Dominion's Chet Wade spoke about the value of educating today's youth about trees. He commended Irene Cimino on her excellent work promoting the Project Plant It! program.
[L-R] Irene Cimino of Dominion, Scenic Virginia Trustee Mimi Herington, and Chet Wade of Dominion
Wrap-up:
The reception continued following the presentation of the last award.
See an online slideshow of the photographs from the 2010 Gala Reception and Ceremony. (Click on "slideshow.)
Acknowledgements:
2010 Scenic Sponsors
American Society of Landscape Architects -
Fellows of the Virginia Chapter
(in honor of The 75th Anniversary of the
Blue Ridge Parkway)
Mr. and Mrs. J. P. McGuire Boyd
(in honor of The Nature Conservancy
in Virginia)
Davenport & Co.
(in honor of Greening the Virginia Capitol)
Mr. and Mrs. R. Page Henley, Jr.
(in honor of The Carter Family Easements
in Albemarle County)
Mango Salon
The Hon. Mary Margaret Whipple
(in honor of Scenic Virginia)
2010 Scenic Awards Reception Hosts
The Hon. & Mrs. William J. Howell
The Hon. Bruce F. Jamerson, Clerk,
Virginia House of Delegates
The Hon. Susan Clarke Schaar, Clerk,
Senate of Virginia
The Board of Scenic Virginia
2010 Scenic Awards Committee
William M. Beck, Co-Chair
Cecelia S. "Cessie" Howell, Co-Chair
Sarah Pollard Chiffriller
Jane Sale Henley
Leighton Powell
2010 Scenic Awards Event Volunteers
Lynn Allison
Janine Landrey
John Meara
Ann Grace Wallace
Special Thanks
Staff of the House Clerk and Senate Clerk
Capitol Square Preservation Council
Irene Cimino & Dominion
Curtis Coleburn & the Virginia Department of
Alcoholic Beverage Control
Horton Vineyards (2010 Governor's Cup Winner)
Jefferson Vineyards (2010 Governor's Cup Winner)
Marie Huneycutt & Connie Mason
Once Upon A Vine
William J. Pantele, Esq.
Virginia Wine Association
With
Catering by Meriwether's at the Capitol,
with generous support from Dominion
Event Flowers by Richard G. Gibbons, FASLA
Reception DVD by Dominion,
Department of Video & Multimedia Services
Event Photography by
Jocelyn Bandas Photography
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