A New Adopt-A-Highway!
we are excited to start working on adopting a new section of “Fairfax County Parkway”
if you see us there picking up trash, it is OK to honk.
Dawn Neher
About Dawn Neher
Posts by Dawn Neher:
THANK YOU to all the unsung Litter Warriors!
So this past weekend, as I was driving with my family, I noticed an older gentleman picking up litter along a very busy stretch of roadway…I wanted to pull over and tell him THANK YOU! So here is my question, what posseses ordinary folks to pick up litter when they didn’t cause the problem in the first place? Is it simply engrained in their make-up or did someone else teach them the importance of giving back? One or the other or a combination of the two, it makes no difference…I simply want to say THANK YOU!
I recently learned of a gentleman, named Aaron (featured picture), in Northern Virginia who, without being asked, cleans up the roadways and waterways in the community that he lives in every week! He doesn’t believe he deserves any recognition but I do!
Even my own children will walk an entire stretch of beach and pick up whatever trash they find, I don’t even have to ask or prompt anymore, they know its the right thing and they do it. I know there are countless others who clean up litter either along the roads or waterways and I personally want to say THANK YOU. You are the true litter warriors!
So here is my challenge to you, next time you go to a park, beach, river, campgorund, etc., bring a bag, spend 15 minutes and clean up the litter. I promise that you will feel better by helping a green space stay green and your act may be seen by others and maybe they will think twice about littering next time or better still take your cue and make the commitment themselves to become litter warriors!
THANK YOU to all the unsung LITTER WARRIORS, you are the environment’s heros!
Thank you RVA and Ellwood Thompsons!
Sunday November 10th was Keep Virginia Beautiful Day at Ellwood Thompson’s Organic Food Market in Carytown. KVB received over $2400 in proceeds and all we had to do was bag a few groceries! Thank you to all that came out to support KVB either by volunteering or by purchasing some organic food!
LITTERBUG SHIRTS NOW AVAILABLE!
Get your Litterbug Shirt!
Wear part of history with our “retro” DON’T BE A LITTERBUG shirts for only$25….$15 of this campaign goes directly to KVB!
Keep Virginia Beautiful is turning 60 this year, and we are taking a look back, as we leap forward. “Don’t be a litterbug!” You recognize the phrase. Chances are, you may be a flower child of the 70s, or a tree hugger of today. I remember “don’t be a litterbug,” vividly. It was my introduction to Litter Reduction, and what has ultimately led me to join the Keep Virginia Beautiful Team.
Your support is fundamental in continuing to deliver our message: engage and unite Virginians to improve our natural and scenic environment. With the purchase of your “don’t be a litterbug” t-shirt, you are making a statement to others that you support keeping the Commonwealth of Virginia a most righteous place to reside.
Help us bring it back! Be loud, be proud; but “don’t be a litterbug.” https://www.bonfirefunds.com/fund/dont-be-a-litterbug
If you live in Richmond, you can pick yours up for free (location to be announced) jnsoh1870
Thank you,
The KVB Team
KVB/Walmart’s Great Virginia State Park Clean-up
69 local Walmart Volunteers showed their community spirit and great work ethics on April 17th. They spent 5 hours on two clean-up/spruce-up projects at Pocahontas State Park and Powhatan State Park. They cleared over 5 acres, spread nearly 40 yards of mulch, and placed a ton of straw over 2,500lbs of new grass seed. On behalf of Keep Virginia Beautiful, the Virginia State Parks and the citizens of the Commonwealth, Thank You Walmart Volunteers!
30 Grants in 30 Days is Back!
2013 GRANT SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW OPEN!
KVB is proud to bring back our very successful and highly anticipated “30 Grants in 30 Days” program. We would like to thank our generous sponsor for 2013; Lowe’s Home Improvement. Without them, these grants would not be possible!
The 2013 “30 Grants in 30 Days” program is once again designed to help communities, schools, parks, neighborhoods, and civic groups battle Virginia’s environmental issues on the front lines. These grants are categorized in 3 areas; (1) Litter Prevention, (2) Recycling, and (3) Beautification and Community Greening. Thirty grants of $500 will be awarded to 30 geographically different areas around the Commonwealth within the 3 categories, to be dispersed amongst small to large communities, schools to universities, city parks to state parks, civic clubs to environmental groups. These grants will be awarded in the 30 days of June. Please fill out the grant application below.
Important Dates:
Application Deadline: May 15,2013
Applicants Notified: Starting May 31, 2013
Winners Announced Daily: June 1 through June 30, 2013
Grant Projected Completed By: October 31, 2013
Results Reported By: November 15, 2013
Categories:
- Litter Prevention – Grants will awarded to parks, communities, government or non-profit entities that implement programs within targeted geographic boundaries in Virginia to reduce litter. Funding would support educational outreach materials, and clean-up events. The purpose of these grants is to support sustainable prevention and a measurable reduction of litter within Virginia’s communities.
- Recycling – Grants will be awarded to schools, parks, communities, government or non-profit entities that implement programs within targeted geographic boundaries in Virginia to reduce waste and increase recycling. Funding would support educational outreach materials, receptacles, and recycling launch events. The purpose of these grants is to promote waste reduction and a measurable increase in reuse and recycling within Virginia’s communities.
- Beautification and Community Greening – Grants will be awarded to schools, parks, communities, government or non-profit entities within targeted geographic boundaries in Virginia which support programs that beautify and clean including community gardens, restoring vacant lots, highway and shoreline enhancement, plantings, and graffiti abatement. Funding would support community clean-ups, revitalization projects, and sustainable neighborhood gardens. The purpose of these grants is to support beautification efforts within Virginia’s communities.
2013 Sponsor
To apply for a “30 in 30” Grant, https://keepvirginiabeautiful.org/outreach/grants/
Happy Birthday KVB…KVB turns 60 on 3/24!
KVB TURNS 60! How did we get here…
By the early 1950′s, Virginia’s roadways had become a dumping ground for people’s trash and the Commonwealth realized that it needed to find a solution to this ever growing problem. Thus, in the spring of 1953, the national “Don’t Be a Litterbug” slogan was adopted and the Virginia Anti-Litterbug Council was formed. The purpose of this organization was “to encourage the proper disposal of empty containers and all other forms of trash that mar Virginia highways, farms, and public places”. By the end of that year, Keep America Beautiful (KAB) was incorporated to fight the litter problem on a national level. KAB used the first major clean-up project developed by the VA Anti-Litterbug Council (the Culpeper District Project) as the testing ground and measuring stick for the nation. In 1956, the VA Anti-Litterbug Council changed its name to Keep Virginia Beautiful (KVB) and became an official affiliate of KAB. During the next several years and throughout its history, KVB has expanded its efforts to include educating the public, media publicity, and local clean-up campaigns.
In 1960, KVB established a Board of Trustees to assist the President in determining and carrying out the policies and programs of the organization. A new educational campaign, “The Governor’s Program to Keep Virginia Beautiful” and new stricter anti-litter enforcement statutes were adopted. By 1965, KVB created a system of annual awards to cities, counties and towns for “outstanding achievement in the field of litter prevention”. As the 70′s arrived, KVB, equipped with a full-time executive director and secretary, began to consider the need for total environmental improvements throughout the Commonwealth. Armed with the support of other water and air pollution groups, as well as many local businesses, the State Health Dept. and the Commission of Game and Inland Fisheries, KVB embarked on a vigorous campaign to clean-up Virginia’s waterways and establish 56 sanitary landfills (while closing 33 unauthorized dumpsites). KVB continued to receive state and national awards for its sustained superior achievements in its environmental programs and anti-litter campaigns, gaining prestige, support and national acclaim. In 1976, the Virginia General Assembly passed the Virginia Litter Control Act to help implement and fund the Division of Litter Control (DLC). DLC helped establish a grants program to localities for education, control, prevention and elimination of litter. The DLC and KVB worked together to promote anti-litter campaigns and create the Clean Virginia Awards.
By 1980, 68% of VA localities had implemented some form of the DLC/KVB anti-litter model. KVB had earned every major award and had become “the finest state effort in America!” according to the President of KAB. Again, KVB’s Board sought to expand its role which resulted in several new programs; college and university litter control, Certificate of Recognition for litter-free businesses, and Keep Virginia Beautiful Landscape excellence awards.
The 1990′s saw the annual presence of KVB at the State Fair of Virginia, continuation of Landscape Excellence awards, and renewed energy to prevent roadside litter prevention. Cigarette Litter became the most common type of roadside litter and the national Cigarette Litter Prevention Programs began to take shape in the Commonwealth.
There was also a national shift created to emphasize recycling and the important role it plays in litter prevention and waste reduction. Throughout the 90′s, VA Governors recognized the importance of “Keeping Virginia Beautiful” and proclaimed the first week in April, “Keep Virginia Beautiful Week”, to encourage litter pick-ups, recycling events, and community beautification efforts.
With the start of the millenium, KVB was going through changes as an organization and its effectiveness as mainly a volunteer run group. As the decade progressed, the “need” for a strong voice in Virginia was becoming more apparent. A Steering Committee of key stakeholders representing litter prevention, recycling, beautification and environmental education started to have informal conversations. A capacity-building grant from the Altria Group in Richmond helped spearhead the efforts. The result in 2009 was the completion of a process to launch a three year strategic plan for addressing important needs and goals for Virginia. The first year of work on this ambitious Keep Virginia Beautiful Strategic Plan has been completed, and much has been accomplished. A new board of directors comprised of 18 individuals has come together to help take the next steps to move the plan even farther toward reaching our overall mission: To engage and unite Virginians to improve our natural and scenic environments. Michael G. Baum was hired as Executive Director in March of 2010.
KVB Executive Directors, Through the Years
- Paul Sanders 1969-1982
- Earl Shiflet 1982-1995
- John S. Bailey 1995-1996
- Robert Hundley 1996-2010
- Michael Baum 2010-present
KVB Presidents of the Board of Directors, Through the Years
- A.B. Burton 1955-1961
- W. Calvin Falwell 1961-1963
- Iva Massie 1963-1967
- Earl Shiflet 1967-1973
- Giles Miller 1973-1979
- Brooks George 1979-1983
- John Adams 1983-1985
- Maurice Rowe 1985-2009
- Alisia Rudd 2010-2012
- Kim Hynes 2012-present
Make Your Holidays Green!
Many people worry about their environmental impact around the holidays…not to worry there are many things you can do to lessen your load on the planet!
10 things you can do to make your holidays green:
1. Consider making a donation to an organization in your friend or family’s name…it shows that you care about others and that you know what they care about as well, plus there is no impact on the planet other than a positive one!
2. Recycle your wrapping paper…unless it some kind of foil coated wrap, it is recyclable…better yet toss all that left over paper in a bag and save it for next year’s packaging filler for all your shipped gifts!
3. Cut out the pretty and festive parts to this year’s holiday cards…use them as next year’s gift tags, it will absolutely make someone’s day to get their old christmas card as the gift tag in the future (plus you don’t even have to label the “To:”)!
4. Send an electronic holiday card…there are tons of greeting card sites that allow you to make really personal and multi-tiered cards to email and share, they are even printable if the recipient so desires!
5. Use gift bags…not only are these pretty and easier than paper, they are so reusable, I reuse my bags until they give out!
6. When replacing lights choose LED lights…if you need to purchase lights this year, buy LEDs, they use less energy and last 10X longer!
7. Shop online…you use no gas and the gift is only shipped once (now I will say that this goes against my “shop local” ideals but at least its less harmful than big store shopping)!
8. Go Reusable for Parties…use real plates, napkins, and cups for your holiday get-togethers (and if you have to purchase paper or plastic items, buy recyclable and/or compostable varieties)!
9. Homemade is best…whether its homemade cookies, treats, soups, dips, crafts, cards, ornaments, etc., make them yourselves, nothing says you care more than homemade goodies!
10. Plastic vs.Real…this is something I struggle with every year. Fresh trees are a no no for me because I cringe at taking the life of a tree for my own festive satisfaction, however today there are more options…like potted trees! You can get hundreds of varieties of trees and evergreens that are very festive, smell great and then can be planted in your yard after the holiday season is over to enjoy year after year (and decorate too)! Now I purchased a plastic/fake tree 14 years ago and I presume that it was made in a very ungreen way and probably still contains many nongreen chemicals, however I concole myself with the realization that I use the same tree year after year (and will until it can no longer stand)…14 trees are alive because I choose for them to live on!
Fredericksburg’s Clean and Green Commission
The City of Fredericksburg
Clean and Green Commission
Cigarette Butts are Litter Campaign
Do:
The Commission recognized that cigarette litter in the downtown historic and commercial section of the city had increased since smoking indoors had become against the law.
Did:
- The Commission applied for a grant from Keep Virginia Beautiful.
- Matching funds were received from the City of Fredericksburg and the DEQ Non-Competitive Litter Grant.
- A task committee was formed.
- A timeline and budget for goals was developed. (Appendix A)
- Identified the worst littered areas by doing a scan and targeted businesses therein to support the efforts. The group initially approached the project by doing an initial scan over a 2+ block area. A total of 2,414 butts were picked up.
- Handed out pocket ashtrays with education component. Some hand out on the street work was done but the significant impact came from the adopting of displays given to target businesses. The displays were made by the City Public Works Office. Businesses that put out a display were visited and refilled as needed. 12 Businesses are currently in the display/handout program.
- Receive permission from the City’s CPURC to purchase, get business adoption of and city installation of sidewalk ashcan receptacles.
- Once approved by CPRUC a business proposal to adopt the cans was solicited to target businesses.
Results:
- The Commission received fund support from 3 sources.
- The Commission performed before and after scans of the target area. A 35% reduction in cigarette litter was attained. Most impressive was the dramatic reduction in butts in areas that were high volume in the 1’st scan. (Appendix B )
- 1,000 pockets ashtrays were distributed. 12 businesses are willing to stay on with this program once we receive the additional 2,000 pocket ashtrays on order.
- Ten businesses agreed to adopt one sidewalk ashcan and keep it emptied.
- Three also agreed to purchase a backdoor can for employee use. Those cans have been purchased and received.
- Once the City Public Works puts these in place a 3’rd scan will be performed to see its impact.
Future:
The Commission desires to expand upon and sustain the program into the next year.
Goals include:
- Perform additional scans to tangibly verify the impact of the efforts.
- Apply for additional grant support.
- Keep the pocket ashtray distribution displays active.
- Add up to ten more sidewalk and employee cans to the area.
- Display posters in the area.
- Do window decals for businesses supporting the program.
- Add the support of the City’s River Steward and the City police force.
APPENDIX A
| Task | Date(s) | Comment | |||
| Task Force Meet | 8/24/2011 | ||||
| Drafts for task force input | notes on meeting | 8/25/2011 | Package for solicitation to businesses | ||
| budget , program components | 8/30/2011 | to try and encourage adoption of a | |||
| business proposal | need CPURC approve | 10/20/2011 | sidewalk container for cigarette butts. | ||
| Develop Media Outreach | week of 8/29 | Anne, Nancy | |||
| press release OPED | week of Oct 24 | Anne | |||
| proclamation | 11/8/2011 | Paula | |||
| website | 8/30/2011 | ||||
| posters | |||||
| Sidewalk Container Component | |||||
| Prepare for CPURC approval | 9/10/2011 | If task force agrees with draft | |||
| CPRUC meets | 10/5/2011 | will forward to Doug Fawcett | |||
| ID target businesses | 8/30/2011 | ||||
| Prepare Business proposals | dependent on | week of 10/10 | |||
| Visit businesses | CPURC approval | 10/24-10/25 | |||
| Order ashcans | week of 10/12 | ||||
| Pocket Ashtray Component | |||||
| Identify area of study | week of 8/29 | Work with Anne Little | |||
| order pocket ashtrays | 6/22/2011 | 1,000 delivery by 9/15/11 | |||
| Get cards printed | week of 9/6 | 1,000 use KVB model | |||
| Hand out displays ashtrays | week of 10/24 | ||||
| Check on Businesses refill | week of 11/14 | ||||
| Officer (River Steward) | start with 50 ashtrays | ||||
| Cigarette scan 1 | |||||
| Set potential date(s) | 9/17 thru 10/1 | Sat. preferably afternoon or Sun. | |||
| solicit volunteers | 9/1/2011 | Anne Little UMW students | |||
| Cigarette scan 2 | 11/20 0r 12/11 | Must be same day of week and similar | |||
| timeframe as scan 1 | |||||
| Report to KVB | 12/31/2011 | ||||
Appendix BCity of Fredericksburg |
|||||||||
| Clean and Green Commission | |||||||||
| Cigarette Butt Litter | |||||||||
| FIELD SCAN DOCUMENT | |||||||||
| Preliminary Scan Date: 09/25/11 | Follow-Up Scan Date: 12/11/2011 | ||||||||
| # of Butts | # of Butts | ||||||||
| In Gutter or | On | # of Ash | Total # | In Gutter or | On | # of Ash | Total # | ||
| Section # | Designated Area | Near Drain | Sidewalk | Receptacles | in area | Near Drain | Sidewalk | Receptacles | in area |
| Section 1: | 400 Block William St (rt side) | 19 | 18 | 0 | 37 | 78 | 60 | 1 | 138 |
| Section 2: | 300 Block William St (rt side) | 37 | 110 | 1 | 147 | 118 | 49 | 1 | 167 |
| Section 3: | 200 Block William St (rt side) | 28 | 103 | 0 | 131 | 52 | 79 | 131 | |
| Section 4: | 100 Block William St (rt side) | 16 | 31 | 0 | 47 | 32 | 9 | 41 | |
| Section 5: | 400 Block William St (lt side) | 29 | 65 | 0 | 94 | 24 | 24 | 48 | |
| Section 6: | 300 Block William St (lt side) | 43 | 64 | 1 | 107 | 27 | 64 | 91 | |
| Section 7: | 200 Block William St (lt side) | 149 | 158 | 0 | 307 | 77 | 43 | 120 | |
| Section 8: | 100 Block William St (lt side) | 34 | 64 | 0 | 98 | 24 | 25 | 49 | |
| Section 9: | 900 Block Sophia St (rt side) | 25 | 26 | 0 | 51 | 23 | 14 | 37 | |
| Section 10: | 900 Block Sophia St (lt side) | 19 | 14 | 0 | 33 | 50 | 31 | 81 | |
| Section 11: | 100 Block George St (rt side) | 38 | 93 | 0 | 131 | 38 | 13 | 51 | |
| Section 12: | 200 Block George St (rt side) | 19 | 23 | 1 | 42 | 24 | 39 | 63 | |
| Section 13: | 100 Block George St (lt side) | 172 | 255 | 0 | 427 | 81 | 34 | 1 | 116 |
| Section 14: | 200 Block George St (lt side) | 21 | 52 | 0 | 73 | 9 | 15 | 24 | |
| Section 15: | 900 Block Caroline St (rt side) | 249 | 19 | 2 | 268 | 51 | 43 | 2 | 96 |
| Section 16: | 900 Block Caroline St (lt side) | 49 | 90 | 1 | 139 | 49 | 38 | 1 | 88 |
| Section 17: | 900 Block Princess Anne St (lt side) | 37 | 47 | 0 | 84 | 29 | 12 | 1 | 42 |
| Section 18 | 900 Block Princess Anne St (rt side) | 18 | 34 | 0 | 52 | 20 | 14 | 34 | |
| Section 19 | 500 Block William St. (lt side) | 5 | 44 | 0 | 49 | 28 | 32 | 60 | |
| Section 20 | 500 Block William St. (rt side) | 33 | 64 | 0 | 97 | 79 | 28 | 1 | 107 |
| TOTALS | 6 | 2414 | TOTALS | 8 | 1584 | ||||
1 By Youth in Manassas Garden’s for Good!
Impact of Keep Virginia Beautiful Grant for 1 By Youth Manassas 2011 Reaches from Richmond to Washington, DC
On May 14, 2011, in Manassas, Virginia, 800 volunteers joined in a “one day, one community, one impact” neighborhood revitalization effort called 1 By Youth. Volunteers repaired homes, cleaned streets, parks & waterways and transformed a three-acre field in the Point of Woods 1 & 2 and 3 neighborhoods into a thriving community garden and gathering place with the help of a Keep Virginia Beautiful grant, Habitat for Humanity, the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service and many local businesses and faith-based organizations. In September 2011 in Williamsburg, the City of Manassas and community partners won the Virginia State Neighborhood Conference’s State Neighborhood Youth Group Effort of the Year 2011 for the 1 By Youth project that Keep Virginia Beautiful helped to fund with the $1,000 grant. In October 2011, in Richmond, the City of Manassas and community partners won the prestigious Virginia Municipal League President’s Award for the city’s five years of neighborhood revitalization projects, including the 1 By Youth project that Keep Virginia Beautiful helped to fund. In December 2011, in Washington, D.C., City of Manassas Neighborhood Services Manager Kisha Wilson-Sogunro was called to the White House to participate in the President’s Champions of Change program, a weekly panel and networking discussion with ten Champions, ranging from educators to entrepreneurs to community activists from around the U.S., who were being recognized for the work they are doing to better their communities. She took the four AmeriCorps VISTA members with her who are working in the G
eorgetown South Community, site of the city’s 2010 1 By Youth project that preceded the one in Point of Woods. The 1 By Youth project in the Point of Woods 1 & 2 and 3 neighborhoods last May has had a lasting impact. A couple was married in the memorial gazebo that was dedicated to the city’s only fallen police officer, Sergeant John D. Conner III. The 30-plot community garden has had fall plantings and is now being protected over the winter, thanks to a continuing relationship between residents and the Master Gardeners from the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service, and plots are in the process of being rented out to residents for the 2012 spring planting season, as well as expanded. The community also held several outdoor family movies in the gazebo area this past summer, so the project has generated much community building. Between now and May 5, 2012, City of Manassas Neighborhood Services is recruiting community partners and volunteers for the Big Day of Serving Manassas on May 5 in the Bristoe Station neighborhood – moving the successful 1 By Youth model to the next area in need of revitalization. For more information, contact Kisha Wilson-Sogunro at [email protected].
