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The Waterford Concert Series
invites
you to
September
Heartstrings:
A
Benefit
for the
Old
School
Saturday,
September 8th, 2007
wine,
appetizers, and music
at
Greystone
16158
Clarkes Gap Road
Waterford
Parking
across the street at the swimming pool
5 to
7:30 pm
Concert
at 6:30 by marcolivia
Marc Ramirez and Olivia Hajioff, violin and
viola
Proceeds
for the enhancement of the New Old School auditorium
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More
Open Space Preserved in the Waterford
National Historic Landmark
It's official. The 25-acre
parcel in the Waterford National Historic Landmark purchased from the Hutchison
family last year was recently resold to a conservation buyer with a
conservation easement and restrictive covenants limiting density on the parcel
to one home site.
This parcel was originally part
of the John S. and Lelia M. Hutchison farm in Waterford. John S. Hutchison arrived in Waterford in 1925 and was
farming 1700 acres on the west and north sides of the village at the time of
his death in 1980. Many of those same
acres are still being farmed today.
The Hutchison family will
reduce the density on an adjoining 25-acre parcel to two home sites. They wrote recently to the Foundation: "We
want to thank you for taking the time to advise us of the sale of the property. We
are glad that you were able to find a buyer who was willing to work with
the Foundation to accomplish their conservation goals."
James Behan, former Waterford
Foundation President remarked, "We have enjoyed working with the Hutchisons to
protect these two parcels from development that might harm the rural setting of
the village. We are grateful for their
support of our efforts."
The Virginia Land Conservation Foundation recently awarded
the Waterford Foundation a grant to help with the easement costs involved with
this project. Despite this grant, the Foundation has spent more than $120,000
on expenses and easement costs to protect this open space in the Landmark.
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Congratulations
to Stacy Thompson, Miss Nickens Scholarship Winner
Stacy Thompson of Aldie is the
2007 recipient of Waterford Foundation's Miss Aura L. Nickens Scholarship for
Education. This $1,000 annual scholarship is given to a Loudoun County
high school senior who has maintained a 3.0 grade point
average and who has been accepted into an accredited college undergraduate
program to prepare for teacher certification.
Stacy, a graduating
senior at Freedom High School, came to Loudoun as a senior, having recently moved from Texas. Undaunted by the
difficulty of switching schools at such a critical time, Stacy not only faced the challenge head on, but she excelled, becoming
president of the National Honor Society and
secretary of the Future Educators of America. She has demonstrated maturity,
natural leadership, and strong organizational skills. She displays an
extraordinary work ethic in tutoring and mentoring younger students. This generosity is certainly an indicator that
she will make a caring and inspiring teacher. Her many extracurricular
activities include Dance Team, Environmental Club, Student Council, German, Art
and Knitting Clubs. She has been accepted at Schreiner
University, Baylor University
and Virginia Tech.
The Miss Nickens Education
Scholarship was established by the Waterford Foundation to honor the commitment
of the early residents of Waterford
to the education of young people of all races. It is named for an early
African-American teacher at the village's Second Street
School.
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Dear Friends of Waterford,
Please drop by the Foundation offices and say hello to our
new executive director, Nancy Doane, who started on Monday with a big smile on
her face and warm welcomes from staff. We are absolutely delighted to have her
on board.
Since the Foundation's Rebuild
the Old School Public Forum on May 20, the Steering Committee has been working
very hard to collect the surveys developed to collect public comment and
analyze them along with the suggestions received during the forum (read the
minutes from that meeting at www.waterfordva.org). More than fifty surveys were
submitted with general agreement that the new Old School auditorium be used
much in the same way as its predecessor for cultural and community events and
be rebuilt in an architectural style reminiscent of its past, though many
seemed willing to consider a new design in keeping with the guidelines of the
Virginia Department of Historic Resources (which holds the easement on the
building).
A majority of those surveyed were open to the idea of
relocating the auditorium. Adding amenities like a basement, improved kitchen, better
audio/visual equipment, improved stage and facilities for performances, were
all favored. In addition, the surveys included many very thoughtful comments
that the Foundation will certainly consider in its planning.
The Steering Committee, in
consultation with its advisory group, will now be developing a preliminary
scope of work and interviewing architects and general contractors, with the
hope that renovation of the Old School classroom building will begin by
summer's end. The Foundation has already approved a fire sprinkler system to
serve both buildings, as well as air conditioning and electrical updates for
the classroom building. Once the architect has been selected, he or she will
start the design process on the Old School auditorium.
Keep tuned for information
about our fun "Musical Chairs" fundraising events coming this summer: August 5
a family musical picnic on the lawn of the Catoctin Presbyterian Church (a
joint church-Old School fundraiser) with a fabulous trombone group and
September 8 the Waterford Concert Series invites you to September Heartstrings
(see invitation in this newsletter). Both
these events and more to follow will help us fund the enhancements not covered
by insurance for our New Old School.
Thank you to all our generous
friends and supporters. We welcome your help and suggestions!
Kathleen Hughes
President
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From the Executive Director:
Have you ever noticed in a storefront window a pair of
everyday, comfy shoes that perhaps you don't really need at the moment, but boy
they sure look appealing? You pop in the
store to get a closer look, and of course the clerk is very encouraging - you
simply must try them on. With
encouragement from those with you, you take off your old reliables, slip on the
new, and-despite the unworn leather and untrodden soles-you immediately sense
that these are the perfect fit. Simply
put, they're an opportunity not to be missed.
That's exactly how I feel about stepping into the shoes of
Executive Director for the Foundation.
So far, stepping out of the role as Foundation Board member and Vice
President to that of Executive Director feels like a perfect fit, like new old
shoes. I was extremely fortunate to have
worked for six years, as Staff Assistant to Catoctin District Sally Kurtz, with
someone as tireless, caring and supportive of community concerns as she. And had it not been for this opportunity, I
happily would have continued in that position.
But now that I'm here, it inherently feels good, really good. There's just no other way to put it.
For those who have so graciously sent me notes of support
and gifts of greeting, I sincerely thank you.
And to those whom I have never met, please stop by the Corner Store and make
yourselves known.
The Foundation is very dear to my heart. Our support in the past to the Waterford Foundation
and all its accomplishments meant a great deal to my husband, Logan. And I know he, too, would have been
incredibly pleased to see me now contribute in this way. I truly look forward to the challenges and
opportunities we will be facing and, with your help and continued support, advancing
the mission established by our founding directors.
And yes, I do love shoes - but not quite as much as this
precious landmark we have the good fortune-and responsibility-to call
home.
With warmest regards,
Nancy |
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Thanks
to Ben Jordan and Boy Scout Troop 761!
The Foundation is deeply grateful to Ben Jordan and Boy
Scout Troop 761 of Ashburn for erecting a footbridge across the Lower Tannery
Branch on the Phillips Farm in Waterford.
This was Ben'sEagle Scout
Project. A year in the making, Ben has been meeting with the Waterford Foundation's
Land Use Committee to present his ideas and then settle on a
project that his scout master would approve and that would serve a community
need.
School groups, wildlife
organizations, and other visitors have been using the Phillips Farm as a
"classroom" since its purchase by the Foundation in 2003.Crossing this small creek on the designated
footpath was difficult for most walkers. Now that there is a footbridge, the
farmland is more accessible to visitors who come to learn about the history,
agricultural use, and wildlife on the 144-acre property.
Permission was granted for this
bedstead truss bridge by the easement holder, Virginia Outdoors Foundation, and by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources and the
Loudoun County Design Review Committee, who described the project as one they
were delighted to see come before them.Ben went before the Committee to seek their approval with
representatives of the Waterford Foundation.
In order to complete the
project, Ben was successful in soliciting the assistance of the Loudoun Lumber
Co. in Purcellville who donated all the materials for the project.T.W. Perry agreed to loan Ben the equipment he
needed to dig the holes for the support system.Ben then did some fundraising to earn additional monies for the project.
"The Waterford Foundation is
thrilled with this generous gift to the community and to one of their important
educational outreach programs.We are extremely grateful to this young Eagle
Scout candidate. We cannot thank him
enough for his generosity," said Foundation board member, MaryAnn Naber.
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