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Focus Project Dedication ... in the News!
 It’s a wrap! The 2013-2014 Headwaters Master Naturalists Focus Project’s ribbon cutting ceremony was held on August 16th.
A highlight of the morning was a flag-raising ceremony provided by the Boy Scout Troop 30 of the Stonewall Jackson Area Council who added a real sense of decorum to the event.
Delicious food and beautiful wildflower arrangements adorned the breakfast table. The garden looked great.
Over the course of a year, 32 of us made this project happen. Thank you to all those who gave of their time, supplies, money and expertise. Financially, the Wildlife Center contributed $1581, the Headwaters Chapter contributed $200, donors contributed $3320. The total value of the project was $5100.
Special guests to the celebration included the Virginia Master Naturalists State Program Coordinator Alycia Crall, and Lauren Berg of The News Virginian who covered the morning’s proceedings in an August 17, 2014, article: Wildlife Center now home to certified refuge.
 Watch Kate and Sandy's virtual tour of the completed project here.
More photos of the ribbon cutting party here.
Please think of ways you can get involved with the new upcoming Focus Project of 2014-2015 focusing on Monarch Butterflies!
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Click above for a full sized view of this Focus Project Summary with Pictures by Kate!
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Upcoming ...
 VMN Continuing Education webinar: Bites and Stings: Avoiding Virginia's Creepiest Animals, Friday, September 5, 9:00 - 10:00 AM. Register here. The presenter is Kristin L. Wenger, Education Coordinator, Blue Ridge Poison Center, University of Virginia Health System.
 Entomology Event: Night-time Bug Dance, Friday, September 5, 7:45 PM. S'mores at 7:00 PM. Rescheduled from August 22. Along the North River, Bridgewater. Come to find, identify and discuss our area night flying insects. With entomologist Edie Kretsch. Contact RoxAnna to attend.
 Exploring Maple Flats Ponds, Sunday, September 7, 2 - 4:00 PM. The HMN Projects Committee would like to share this special place and its unique sinkhole pond ecology with area residents. Botanist/Ecologist Eric Jones and Entomologist Edie Kretsch will be on hand. More here. Contact Sandy Greene.
 South River Cleanup with Paul Bugas, Saturday, Sept. 13, 8:30 AM. Meet at the Dominion Pavilion of Constitution Park in Waynesboro for this annual collaborative effort. "Bring a canoe and a partner. I will round up trash bags and gloves. I am working on breakfast, too!" - Paul Bugas. Details here. Directions here.
 Virginia Master Naturalists Statewide Conference, Friday, September 26 - Sunday, September 28. Virginia Living Museum, Newport News, VA. More information and registration here.
 Annual Middle River Cleanup Day, Saturday, September 27, with Friends of Middle River and the Valley Conservation Council. Watch their websites for upcoming details.
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Entomology Evening ...
 Scheduled for August 22 at Wildwood Park, the "Night-time Bug Dance" was officially cancelled due to weather concerns but unofficially happened anyway! RoxAnna tells us about it here.
So far we have a fairly good weather forecast for tomorrow evening, Friday, September 5, when we'll try again to learn from entomologist Edie Kretsch about the many nocturnal flyers attracted to mercury vapor lamps.
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Cricket Crawl
 Also scheduled on August 22 was this year's Washington DC Baltimore Cricket Crawl ... an annual summer phenology event hosted by the groups Discover Life, Audubon Naturalist Society and the Natural History Society of Maryland. HMN Stephanie Gardner has been participating for the last three years. Read her post about it here.
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Volunteer help needed at the Augusta Forestry Center!
From Nursery Forester Josh Mclaughlin:
 We are always looking for volunteers to help with weeding. And still do need the help. [As described earlier, I know it is not an exciting event! We usually meet early in the morning to beat the heat (around 6 am). This does involve sometimes being on your hands and knees pulling weeds in between the seedlings.]
We also need help with picking acorns and other hard mast. Some of the collection happens on site and other collections happen off site. This would be a great group project.
 We will also need some help planting some seed in the fall (around October 15th).
People that are interested can contact me directly or my administrative assistant Julia Fitzgerald. - Thanks!
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Mark your calendars ...
The Headwaters Chapter 3rd Annual Membership Meeting is scheduled for:
 Saturday, November 1, 2014
2:00 PM - around 8:00 PM
Buck Hill Farm, Mt. Solon
You can expect:
- advanced training opportunities
- annual meeting
- potluck
- 50/50 raffle
- book swap
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 Board Changes
Many thanks to Tom Long who has been President of the Headwaters Chapter Board of Directors since November 2013! A member of Cohort II, he has provided an experienced and able hand in guiding the board this year. We regret that he has recently resigned from the board and chapter.
For the moment the Chapter is being run by the Executive Committee of Ann Murray, Gretchen Achenbach, Kathy Romig, and Paul Bugas. The board is attempting to find a new president to act in Tom's position until an election can be held at the annual meeting on November 1st.
With luck, we will each be able to work with Tom in the future as he focuses his attention on environmental stewardship projects outside of our chapter.
There was no board meeting in August.
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Headwaters Chapter Board of Directors Meeting
Thursday, September 18, Noon- 2 PM
 @ Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Office
517 Lee Highway, Verona, on odd months
Click on image at right to find directions through Google maps.
An informal bag lunch at 11:30 will precede the meeting. BYOB: Bring Your Own Bag :)
Board members please let Ann know if you can not attend (phone 540 363-5304). We will follow the agenda set for last month adding discussion on the recommendations of the training committee and executive committee concerning new class beginning dates.
All board members strongly urged to attend. All members welcome!
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