During the holiday season the Dulles Greenway employees usually exchange gifts as a gesture of friendship and camaraderie.  However, for the past two years the employees decided to make a donation that would improve the lives of so many Loudoun County families who are without food during the holiday season.  During our holiday luncheon, employees had the opportunity to contribute to the Loudoun Interfaith Relief and are pleased to say that $670 was raised to help feed the hungry.  In addition to our cash donation an employee food drive was held in the month of December which netted 292 lbs of food for this worthy organization that benefits Loudoun County residents.

The traffic quality ratings are presented by segment, hour, and direction for each highway surveyed, and are a composite reflecting all ratings for a particular road.  Ratings effected by incidents or other unusual events were segregated and excluded from ratings consideration.

The results charts from the survey are below.

The new toll rates for a 2-axle vehicle is noted below.

Greenway motorists traveling onto or from the Dulles Toll Road will continue to pay the applicable Dulles Toll Road toll currently $.75 for a 2 axle vehicle; bringing the total collected to $4.75 and $5.55 respectively. 

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL TOLL SCHEDULE.

For the past six years, the Greenway has been a sponsor of the America’s 9/11 Ride.

The Dulles Greenway was honored to donate $4,721.20 to cover their toll expenses.  The Greenway  has been a sponsor of the America’s 9/11 Ride for the past 6 years and we support those who answer the 911 calls every day!

For more information on America’s 9/11 Foundation visit www.americas911ride.org.

Thomas Sines builds toll roads. Joe Coleman is a passionate conservationist. It’s doubtful that in their professional lives these two men could find common ground, yet as they gaze at the steady stream of vehicles zipping down the Dulles Greenway, they both see a means for saving countless acres of wildlife in Loudoun County.

Sines, CEO of Toll Road Investors Partnership II (TRIP II), and Coleman, president of the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy, met back in the mid-1990s shortly after construction of the Dulles Greenway. Under a federal mandate, TRIP II was required to replace a comparable portion of natural wetlands compromised by the new road. The firm identified a parcel of land buffered between historic Oatlands and Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve and bordering Goose Creek. It was double the size of the mitigation requirement and seemed like a natural place to build a wetlands area.

“We invested considerable time and expense into the wetlands project, but it was a terribly dry and hot summer in Loudoun,” Sines recalls. “Everything we planted just died.” It would be two more years of working arduously with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and numerous environmental consultants to build an intricate network of dikes and weirs to coax the water to a wetlands-worthy level. Meanwhile, Coleman, who had recently cofounded the LWC, was watching closely.

“What we saw convinced us that the Greenway folks were genuinely interested in developing the wetlands into healthy wetlands,” Coleman says. “Too many companies do the bare minimum in wetlands mitigation and call it a day. And not all manmade wetlands work well, because it’s a fairly new science,” he adds. “Tom wants to do it the right way.”

Simple suggestion spawns common goal

By 1997, the wetlands began to thrive and attract new wildlife. The site was so active that Coleman approached Sines about getting permission to take groups of bird watchers and nature lovers to the site for organized hikes. Sines, an avid outdoorsman who often visits the wetlands in hip waders with field glasses, eagerly agreed. “Being among nature is a wonderful release from the hectic pace of Northern Virginia,” Sines admits. “I feel like I’m worlds away and am pleased to share that experience with others.”

LWC led a group to the site the following December for its annual Christmas bird count. While tallying the cardinals, warblers and chickadees, Coleman also took note of various aspects of the wetlands that were not quite up to snuff — such as a family of beavers creating a water hazard to surrounding habitat. He shared his observations with Sines and suggested some alternative, humane remedies to preserve the beavers while regaining harmony in the wetlands. Sines recognized he had a valuable partner in the LWC.

“The more I got to know Joe, the more I realized we could greatly benefit by his continual involvement with the wetlands,” Sines says. Coleman was already on board. “We knew all the consultants that the Greenway was paying to do a lot of things we could offer for free,” Coleman says. Not only that, LWC could do it better. The 800+ all-volunteer organization, after all, plays a key role in protecting, preserving and conserving wildlife habitats throughout the county. In addition to leading free educational programs for all ages, the group has restored untold acres of habitat and has protected water quality through its vast monitoring program among other endeavors to raise awareness about Loudoun’s natural resources.

Today, the Dulles Greenway wetlands project is a model for other manmade habitats. On a recent LWC monthly nature walk led by Coleman and Mary Ann Good, a group of early risers spotted nesting Bald Eagles, Great Egrets, Green Herons, Yellow-Billed Cuckoos, Willow Flycatchers, a pair of Cedar Waxwings, and both Yellow and Prairie Warblers, along with hordes of butterflies, tiny tree frogs, deer, and other flora and fauna of note.

“The reward for me is seeing birds and animals that had left the county come back to make our wetlands their home,” Sines says. Coleman and his fellow naturalists are equally thrilled by the thriving wetlands community. On a recent visit to monitor the group’s bluebird trail, LWC vice president Nicole Hamilton spotted a Hooded Merganser leading her ducklings across the pond a rare sighting in Virginia. “I couldn’t believe what I was seeing,” she says excitedly. “The duck wasn’t even on my roster of birds found in Loudoun County.” Coleman confirms that the sighting of the Hooded Merganser is a first for Loudoun County, and the phenomenon likely would not have been possible without TRIP II’s commitment to the wetlands.

Drive for Charity

Sines took his support of LWC’s efforts beyond the wetlands when the TRIP II launched its annual Drive for Charity fundraiser on the Dulles Greenway for local nonprofits six years ago. LWC, naturally, topped the list of beneficiaries. “I’m constantly amazed by the volume of volunteership they have and the number of things they are accomplishing to benefit our community,” Sines says. “From stream maintenance to summer nature camps, we knew they would get a really big bang for the buck.”

Indeed the ripple effect of nearly $200,000 of support over the years has been widespread throughout the LWC. The funding has allowed the group to expand its field trips, habitat restoration and monitoring projects as well as the publication of its quarterly Habitat Herald magazine. “We use all these outreach measures to educate citizens about what we see as our biggest challenge: diminishing habitat,” Coleman explains.

Last year, LWC used Drive for Charity funding to develop a rain garden to control runoff pollution at Freedom Park and planted more than 1,000 trees and shrubs along the south fork of Catoctin Creek at Phillips Farm in Waterford — a conservation and restoration partnership between the LWC and the Waterford Foundation. Both endeavors were community efforts and excellent teaching opportunities, Coleman notes. “We try to teach people to not only love nature but how to live with nature.”

Nurturing next gen naturalists

Drive for Charity funding also supports LWC’s two young naturalist camps at Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve, as well as a school-based young naturalist program run by Tuscarora High School environmental science teacher Mimi Westervelt in honor of her late stepfather, renowned naturalist Roger Tory Peterson. The program culminates each June with the presentation of scholarships funded by Drive for Charity. “The awards are a way to recognize and encourage future naturalists,” Westervelt explains. “Roger spent a lot of time alone in nature, meticulously cataloging what he saw. Everyone thought he was a strange kid until his 7th grade teacher recognized his gifts and inspired him to follow his calling to become an environmental educator.” Peterson went on to develop the highly regarded 55-volume Peterson’s Field Guide series, in publication since 1934.

“The need to educate children about our natural environment is crystal clear when you take them outdoors and they don’t know the names of the things they see or understand how they relate to the resources upon which they depend,” Westervelt laments. “If we don’t engage children in our natural world, they won’t feel compelled to protect it.”

Coleman and his LWC cohorts take this concern to heart by frequently sponsoring school field trips and encouraging youth to volunteer in the group’s stream, bird, amphibian and mammal monitoring programs. Emily Bzdyk took the bait at age 9 when her grandmother signed her up to be a stream monitor at a nearby creek. “It was something we would do together, and I loved wading in the water and collecting insects,” says Bzdyk, who is entering her third year of graduate school to become a professional entomologist. “Working with the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy instilled from an early age the importance of insects as an indicator of environmental quality and taught me to identify insects.”

At age 14, Bzdyk became captain of her stream monitoring team and remained active in LWC as a summer intern and contributing writer to the group’s Habitat Herald long after graduation from Loudoun Valley High School. “LWC definitely kept me engaged, encouraging me to continue studying insects,” she says. “It was a wonderful way to spend time with other adults who became mentors. I learned so much — and had a great time!”

That child-like wonder and excitement are something both Coleman and Sines hope to foster in future generations. “I remember the thrill of being outdoors and fishing in the cold streams as a kid,” Sines says. “Respecting nature was a big part of my upbringing, and I want other children to have that experience. Joe and the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy are helping us offer this gift to people not only in Loudoun County but all over our region.”

E.Thomas Sines, Chief Executive Officer
Toll Road Investors Partnership II, L.P.
45305 Catalina Ct. Suite 102
Sterling, VA 20166

Dear Mr. Sines:

The Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy would like to thank you and the TRIP II Board of Directors for again choosing us as one of the Drive for Charity recipients.  Your donations to our organization have allowed us to successfully expand our efforts to preserve wildlife habitat throughout Loudoun County and to educate the public on the importance of doing so.  We firmly believe that people will not protect what they do not cherish and your donations have helped make many more adults and children aware of the importance of Loudoun County’s natural beauty.

We have used your donations to expand our operations in a number of areas and introduce people to the many beautiful natural areas that are scattered throughout Loudoun County.  One of the most valuable for us is the Dulles Greenway Wetlands Mitigation Project which, because of your excellent stewardship, has become a wonderful place to introduce people to nature and its incredible diversity.

Your donations to the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy have been had an impact throughout our all-volunteer organization and enabled us to reach many more people and make a much greater difference in our ability to preserve wildlife.

We greatly appreciate TRIP II’s support of the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy.  The tremendous success and growth we have experienced in the past few years would not have occurred without your donations.

We look forward to working with you in the future and appreciate your support.

With thanks,

W. Joseph Coleman, Jr.
President

July 11, 2011

Dulles Greenway
45305 Catalina Ct. 102
Sterling, VA 20166

Dear Terry,

It is with our deepest gratitude that we offer our thanks for your support of the 2011 inaugural Ringing In Hope Walk, Run & Fun summer race!  The weather was picture perfect, allowing participants to “ring in hope” for the charities supported by the race, including American Red Cross, National Capital Area, Jill’s House, and Loudoun Habitat for Humanity.

We worked harder than ever to spread the word prior to the race, using every opportunity possible to feature you as a valued sponsor. Publicity efforts included tens of thousands of e-blasts, locally-placed advertisements, brochures, signage (including the Dulles Greenway!), flyers, and promotional efforts though each of the participating charities. 

We had a lot to compete with this summer, including other area races, graduations, the start of summer vacationing, and more.  Yet, the race drew in more than 580 registrants!  Plus, we had great feedback from runners regarding the race course, the service they received at the finish line (service on a silver platter!) and the overall organization of the event. 

We are proud to share images from the Ringing In Hope event and race with you.  We were very fortunate to have an on-site photographer who chronicled the day’s activities, Thara VanDeerver Photography.  Please check out all the great photos at http://www.tvphotography.net/

Again, we are privileged and honored to have had the opportunity to have your support of the Ringing In Hope Walk, Run & Fun and hope that we can again count on your support in the future. Your generosity helped benefit and bring awareness to multiple area charities and their services. Our next race is set for December 31^st, 2011, and planning is already underway for the 2012 races!

Our heartfelt thank you for this opportunity to Serve Those Who Serve Others.

Sincerely,

Ringing In Hope Co-Directors
Kathy Hatem
Diane Brown

P.S. – Thanks again for helping us out last minute!  As always, we’re so thankful! 

July 1, 2011

Ms. Ann Huggins-Lawler
PO Box 433
Sterling, VA 20167

Dear Stephan Lee Mace Scholarship Committee,

Thank you so much for selecting me for the Stephan Mace award.  I truly am inspired and honored to receive the award.  I will continue to serve others and put forth my best effort in all areas of my life.  I will never forget the sacrifice he made and will always work to make the world a better place.  Please express my gratitude to the Mace family. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Benjamin Walker
Loudoun Valley High School
Class of 2011

June 28, 2011

Tom Sines
TRIP II
45305 Catalina Ct, 102
Sterling, VA 20166

The Western Loudoun 13U & 14U Travel Baseball teams are very grateful for your sponsorship for the 2010-2011 baseball seasons!  Please accept the enclosed gift(s) as a token of our appreciation.  A T-shirt was given to those companies that supported our teams with a contribution of $100.00 or more, a plaque was given to those companies that gave $250.00 or more and a WL jacket was given to those companies that gave $500.00 or more.

We sustained a rigorous practice schedule this winter by practicing twice a week.  We worked on hitting, fielding, throwing, pitching, running, and many other aspects of the game of baseball.  We talked with the players about the importance or commitment, team building, character, and leadership qualities displayed on a baseball team.

During the spring and summer seasons we entered our teams in local and out of state tournaments.  We also competed in the Northern Virginia Travel Baseball League and the Virginia Elite Travel League.  In July, our teams will be competing in the Summer Nationals Triple Crown Tournament in Myrtle Beach, NC.  It has been fun to see the tremendous amount of improvement these boys have made on the baseball field!

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions pertaining to the Western Loudoun Travel Baseball program.  Our program has teams competing at the 19U, 10U, 11U, 12U, 13U, and 14U levels.

Thanks again for all your support!

Rick Meyer
President
Western Loudoun Travel Baseball

June 18, 2011

Toll Road Investors Partnership II, L.P
45305 Catalina Ct. Suite 102
Sterling, VA 20166

Dear Terry Hoffman,

Thank you for your donation to the Broad Run High School Project Graduation. Project Graduation is an all-night, drug, alcohol and tobacco free celebration for the 2011 BRHS senior class. There has never been a fatality of a graduating senior on graduation night in Loudoun County in large part due to Project Graduation. This year we had over 200 students celebrating their graduation at the Ashburn Village Sports Pavilion, Ashburn, VA. Your gift made this event possible.

The students, parents, teachers, and administrators of Broad Run High School thank you for your participation in this event. Thank you again for your generous donation.

Sincerely,

Kelly Nutwell, Chairperson
Broad Run High School Project Graduation Committee
 

June 17, 2011

Toll Road Investors Partnership II, L.P
45305 Catalina Ct. Suite 102
Sterling, VA 20166

Dear Friends:

Words do not seem an adequate way to express our gratitude for your donation of $42,453.65 on June 6, 2011.  We are thrilled to be a recipient of these funds from your Sixth Annual Drive for Charity!  Your gift will be used to provide direct services to help victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse in our community break the cycle of violence to live safe, happy and productive lives.

Throughout our 26 years of service to the Loudoun Community, the staff and volunteers at LAWS have been dedicated to empowering women so that they may have the choices in their lives that were denied to them by the abusive behaviors of their partners.  Countless women and children have been provided with safety, advocacy and support as they found the strength to break the cycle of violence and learned that they are as deserving of peace and security.  Without the continued support from generous donors, such as you, we would never have been able to successfully help so many families.  On their behalf, we thank you.

Again, we thank you for your continued support and send our best wishes for a healthy, happy and peaceful summer.

Sincerely,

Susan M. Curtis
LAWS Executive Director

June 11,2011

Dear Dulles Greenway,

Thank you very much for the scholarship.  I will be sure to put the award money to good use in my educational endeavors.

Sincerely,

Melissa Ryan
Briar Woods High School

June 11, 2011

Dear Dulles Greenway,

It is a great privilege to be selected as a winner of the Dulles Greenway Citizenship Award.  I truly appreciate the financial assistance as  I strive to obtain a higher education.  Due to the foundation’s generosity I can pursue my dreams in becoming a doctor or a psychiatrist.  I can ensure the committe that your investment in my education will not be on with regrets.  I hope to go on and do marvelous things at the University of Virginia, as well as later on in life.  I would love to keep in touch with the organization.  Thank you so much for the opportunities you’ve provided me.

Sincerely,

Tru Shelly Nguyen
Broad Run High School

June 8, 2011

Mr. Thomas Sines
CEO
Dulles Greenway
45305 Catalina Ct.
Suite 102
Sterling, VA 20166

Dear Mr. Sines,

Thank you for your generous donation of the proceeds from the Drive For Charity to five of Loudoun’s charities.  This money will allow them to help families in Loudoun County with summer camps, hospital family support, transportation, legal and other services.

Your continued support for this worthwhile event is greatly appreciated and guarantees its continued success.

Sincerely,

Kelly Burk
Supervisor, Leesburg District
Loudoun County Board of Supervisors

June 2, 2011

Terry Hoffman
Dulles Greenway
45305 Catalina Ct. 102
Sterling, VA 20166

Mr. Hoffman,

On behalf of the 57 participating artists, organizing partners and community volunteers, thank you so much for your support of the 2011 Western Loudoun Artists Studio Tour.  Allowing us to place our banner on the post at the Dulles Greenway main toll plaza helps promote the Tour by advertising it to the hundreds of people driving the Greenway.

Hundreds of vistors from all over Loudoun County, from across the region and from out-of-state attend this event.  In addition to exposure and sales for the artists, this program offers audiences quality visual arts in a wide range of media and the opportunity to make personal connections with the artists.  It helps raise awareness about the creative art process, as well as the cultural and economic value of Loudoun’s remarkable arts community.

A program on this scale simply could not be produced without strong community support.  Aid from sponsors like you have enabled us to continue to improve and expand our promotion for this year’s event.

We extend our deep appreciation to Dulles Greenway for its contribution to the success of the 2011 Western Loudoun Artists Studio Tour.

Sincerely,

Jeanne Niccolls
Planning Committee Chair
Western Loudoun Artists Studio Tour

The highlight at the of the two walks on Wednesday was definitely the HOODED MERGANSER ducklings, a first for Loudoun County.  When the Gold Book was published there were only four records of nesting Hooded Mergansers in the Piedmont so this is a really nice addition to the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy’s five-year birding atlas.
 
The other highlights for the 11 participants at the Dulles Greenway Wetlands were the nesting BALD EAGLES with at least one nestling visible, Great Egrets, Green Herons, Yellow-Billed Cuckoo, Willow Flycatchers, a pair of Cedar Waxwings, and both Yellow and Prairie Warbler.  Terry Hoffman uploaded his photos from the walk to share here.
 
The highlights for the 8 participants at Banshee Reeks walk were a flyover Cooper’s Hawk, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Willow Flycatcher, Northern Parula, both Yellow & Pine Warbler, Ovenbird, Louisiana Waterthrush, and a couple of Yellow-breasted Chats.
 
See below for the complete list of birds seen at both walks.
 
For information on the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy’s many free programs and field trips visit www.loudounwildlife.org.

Dulles Greenway Wetlands Mitigation Project, Loudoun, US-VA
48 species

Canada Goose, Wood Duck, Mallard, Hooded Merganser (mother with four ducklings), Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Green Heron, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Cooper’s Hawk, Killdeer, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Chimney Swift, Belted Kingfisher, Downy Woodpecker, Willow Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Blue Jay, American Crow, Fish Crow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, House Wren, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, Gray Catbird, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Yellow Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Field Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Indigo Bunting, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird, Orchard Oriole, American Goldfinch

Less than three weeks after the annual fund raising event, Greenway gives out $236,354 to five local charities

A record number of drivers passed through Greenway toll booths May 19, and the sixth annual Drive For Charity, even taking into account a struggling economy and a rainy day (that usually drives rider numbers down), collected $235,354.87 — $10,000 more than the then record setting $226,246 collected in 2010.

For 2011, the benefiting charities are The March of Dimes National Capital Area chapter, Every Citizen Has Opportunities, the Loudoun Abused Women’s Shelter, FreshAir/Full Care and the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy.

“The things we’re doing here are really good for the community,” Greenway CEO Tom Sines said. “And that’s what it is really about.”

The 2011 Drive for Charity raised $236,354.87 from tolls that were collected on the Dulles Greenway May 19. The five charities each received a check during a luncheon Monday. The money, each said, is very important to allowing them to continue doing business.

“This makes such a difference for the charities that receive the money,” Joe Coleman, of the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy, told the audience. “This really represented a sea change for us…it made a tremendous difference in what we do.”

Coleman also noted that partnering with the Greenway has allowed LWC to go out into the Greenway’s wetlands, a more than 200-acre property preserved and protected by the Dulles Greenway corporation. The money will help fund all of LWC’s programs, including its summer camp for children.

The March of Dimes uses the money to fund the NICU Family Support project at Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children, which provides comfort and information to families in need. That program, representative Sara Donohue said, would not exist without the money raised by Drive for Charity.

“It has enriched our lives and the lives of the families we serve,” Donahue said.

The Loudoun Abused Women’s Shelter is more than just a shelter for women and children, Board of Directors Chairwoman Brenda MacEoin said. The money will provide support to a number of programs, including the Child Advocacy Center, domestic violence and sexual assault services, programs to prevent teen violence and the Resourceful Woman Thrift Shop.

The money provided to Fresh Air/Full Care, a Loudoun-based all-volunteer charity, will be used to help low-income parents to pay for the cost of a summer camp for their children. ECHO will be using the money to purchase a fourth bus that it will use to transport its workforce.

“We provide daily transportation for our clients,” CEO William Haney said. “That’s a lot of gas, a lot of maintenance, a lot of parts and tires.”

Adding a fourth van to its fleet will help ECHO gets its workers up and down the Greenway to their jobs at a faster pace, and will expand its reach into the community.

For more information about the Drive for Charity, or the five organizations who benefited from the money, visit http://dullesgreenway.com/drive-for-charity.