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TextCooperator of the Year and Other Awards
Charles Smith and Chuck Craft Recognized
with
2012 Cooperator of the Year and Special Appreciation Awards
There are many unsung heroes of Fairfax County staff. Two of them - Charles Smith, Natural Resources Branch Manager for the Park Authority, and Chuck Craft, General Superintendent for the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services - have been recognized by the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District. Charles Smith was named the 2012 Cooperator of the Year, an award that recognizes partnership to protect and conserve soil, water, and related natural resources in Fairfax County. Chuck Craft was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation for his outstanding partnership over many years.
Smith has collaborated with NVSWCD
staff on many projects over the years, including rain garden projects at
the Packard Center, as well as Audrey Moore, Mt. Vernon and Cub Run
Recreation Centers. He also facilitated a stream restoration at Wakefield
Recreation Center. NVSWCD staff frequently relies on Smith’s expertise
and assistance. Jean Packard, chairman of the NVSWCD Board of Directors
said, “Charles is so easy to work with. He is collaborative and has what
it takes to get the job done. He is a very deserving recipient of this
award.”
Smith told those gathered that, "The staff at Soil and Water makes
it very easy to cooperate." He added, “I have been honored to work
with them on so many projects over the past years that have been truly
collaborative efforts.” NVSWCD staff has worked with Smith to provide
soils information and technical assistance reviewing site plans.
Craft has partnered with the NVSWCD staff to organize the Annual Land Conservation
Awards program. Under his leadership, the entire program runs
smoothly, from the nomination of projects and the semi-annual site
judging to the culminating awards ceremony. Craft has also assisted with
numerous issues associated with land development and construction during
his tenure at the County. Packard said, "Chuck, we value your wisdom,
your judgment and your partnership."
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The Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District annually recognizes individuals or groups who work in partnership with the district to protect and conserve natural resources in Fairfax County. Other recent honorees include:
The Fairfax Master Naturalists is a cadre
of volunteers that has been growing since 2007. Their 138 active
naturalists (as of 2011) are trained in the field and classroom and have
contributed countless volunteer hours to environmental projects. Fairfax
Master Naturalists have partnered, volunteered and taken a leadership
role with a number of prominent environmental programs with the Soil and
Water Conservation District. The group was a co-sponsor and partner of
the Watershed-Friendly Garden Tour. Members have served as organizational
judges for the Fairfax County Science and Technology Fair. Master
Naturalist volunteers are long-term biological stream monitors, sampling
stream bugs and critters at a number of sites around the county to
measure stream health. They have also led neighborhood storm drain
labeling projects to educate residents about the watershed they live in
and the importance of keeping local streams, rivers, and the Chesapeake
Bay clean.
Jeanette Stewart is education director
for EcoStewards Alliance and president of Yorktowne Square Condominium
Association. Stewart not only is an advocate for the environment, she is
a model for environmental stewardship. NVSWCD staff has taught Stewart
much about stream restoration, stormwater management concepts, and rain
gardens. In return, she has enhanced the district’s visibility by giving
us design and implementation opportunities and expanding our outreach and
education programs. Some of our cooperative projects include the large
rain garden at Yorktowne Square, smaller rain gardens at Daniels Run
Elementary School, and nonpoint source pollution education materials.
Stewart has influenced thousands of school children and teachers in
Northern Virginia who have participated in her original Sharing Our Space
earth-based educational lessons. Stewart also created a 10,000 square
foot certified backyard wildlife habitat at Yorktowne Square.
In 2003, Diana Handy was the Reston
Association’s Watershed Manager. As a certified stream monitor, she
promotes the district’s monitoring program in the Reston area,
coordinating sites and training and certifying other volunteers. Handy
launched the Reston Watershed Action Group, leads watershed cleanups, and
assists the district in many educational and outreach programs at public
events and in high schools. In 2003, Handy worked closely with district
staff in restoring a highly eroded 200-foot stretch of Snakeden Branch.
This project marks the start of the implementation phase of the Reston
Association’s new watershed management plan. Handy was a key figure in
the development of that plan.
- Charles Smith, 2012 Cooperator of the Year
- Fairfax Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalists, 2011 Cooperator of the Year (see description above)
- B.J. Sistani, Code Analysis, DPWES, 2010 Cooperator of the Year
- Angler Environmental, 2009 Cooperator of the Year
- Jim McGlone, 2008 Cooperator of the Year
- Fairfax County Public Schools - Maintenance Division, 2007 Cooperator of the Year
- Resource Management Division, FCPA, 2006 Cooperator of the Year
- Maintenance and Stormwater Management, 2005 Cooperator of the Year
- Jeanette Stewart, 2004 Cooperator of the Year (see description above)
- Diana Handy, 2003 Cooperator of the Year (see description above)
- Laura Grape, 2002 Cooperator of the Year
- Steve Aitcheson, 2001 Cooperator of the Year
- Norma Hoffman, 2000 Cooperator of the Year
- DPWES Utilities Planning and Design, 1999 Cooperator of the Year
- Judy Okay, 1998 Cooperator of the Year
- Sherry Penney, 1997 Cooperator of the Year
- Friends of Sugarland Run, 1996 Cooperator of the Year
- Walter Hamilton, 1995 Cooperator of the Year
- Shep Oliver, 1994 Cooperator of the Year
- Supervisor Gerry Hyland, 1993 Cooperator of the Year
- Cindy Zimar; James Frazier, 1992 Cooperator of the Year
- Mrs. Hiu Newcomb, 1991 Cooperator of the Year
- Bernie Parsons, 1990 Cooperator of the Year
- Lake Barcroft Watershed Improvement District, 1989 Cooperator of the Year
- Union Camp Corporation, 1988 Cooperator of the Year
- Bill Sheads, 1987 Cooperator of the Year
- Mike Wagner, 1986 Cooperator of the Year
- Col Spalding, 1985 Cooperator of the Year
- John Koenig, 1984 Cooperator of the Year
- Joe Flakne, 1983 Cooperator of the Year
- Arlington-Fairfax Chapter of the Izaak Walton League, 1982 Cooperator of the Year
- Col. Bill Smith, 1981 Cooperator of the Year
- Shouse Homeowners Association, 1980 Cooperator of the Year
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