Supporters arrive for a rally outside the County Administration building. 

CROW'S NEST SUPPORTERS RALLY
Board of Supervisors Meeting, September 20, 2005

      Well over 200 people attended a rally organized by the Crow's Nest Preservation Coalition (see list of members at bottom of page) before the Board of Supervisors meeting on September 20, 2005.  As people arrived, they were treated to musical entertainment from Bruce Callander.   Anne Little then welcomed the large crowd that had gathered, led people in chants to "save Crow's Nest," and then introduced the line-up of speakers from Coalition groups.  A variety of speakers went on to highlight some of the many reasons Crow's Nest should be saved.
     The plan was then to attend the Board of Supervisors meeting and take part in the public comment period which normally begins these meetings.  However, the Board of Supervisors suspended its rules and instead pushed the public comment period to nearly the end of the meeting--after brief ceremonial presentations and a much longer public hearing on several ordinances.  People waiting in the hall were not informed of what was going on.  Because of the prolonged wait, many Crow's Nest supporters had to leave, often to attend to family responsibilities.  The action by the Board, combined with the legal limits of the room capacity, meant many Crow's Nest supporters were not able to participate in the public comment period.  Those who remained had to wait in the hall, on the stairs, and outside for their chance to address the Board.
     Once inside, numerous speakers called on the Board to act to save Crow's Nest before it is too late.
    After hearing the speakers, the Board took several actions.  First, Supervisor Kandy Hilliard introduced a resolution for the County to obtain an appraisal of the fair market value of the Crow's Nest property.  The resolution passed 7-0.
    Next, Supervisor Hilliard introduced a resolution instructing staff to prepare an amendment to the Chesapeake Bay ordinance to require critical resource protection areas (buffers) to include intermittent streams, steep slopes, and highly erodable soil.  It passed 7-0.
   Finally, Supervisor Gibbons introduced a resolution to seek financial assistance from Fredericksburg and nearby counties to pay for the purchase of Crow's Nest.  It passed 7-0.
     Photos from the evening are posted below.

THE RALLY...

Early arrivals enjoy some musical entertainment from Bruce Callander.

Supporters begin arriving in earnest, examining the material about Crow's Nest 
and signing up as new members. 

An organizer of the rally, Anne Little, welcomes the crowd.

Patrick Coady of the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust speaks about Crow's Nest.

Other speakers at the rally included (top left) local conservationist Cessie Howell; (top middle) John Mitchell, Trust for Crow's Nest; (top right) Abby Lindsay, University of Mary Washington Ecology Club; (bottom left) Doris Whitfield, Voters to Stop Sprawl; (bottom middle) Scott Howson, Battlefields Sierra Club; (bottom right) Vince Staley, Falmouth Flats Fly Fishers.

 
Brad Gates, president of the Falmouth Flats Fly Fishers, presents Cecelia Kirkman
of Save Crow's Nest with a check for $500 to support the work of Save Crow's Nest. 

THE LONG, HOT WAIT... 

A large number of Crow's Nest supporters turned out for the rally 
and then proceeded inside to the public comment period of the Board of Supervisors meeting.

Students from the University of Mary Washington head to the Supervisors meeting. 

The Board chambers were full and the Board suspended the rules to move the public comment period towards the end of the meeting.  This left Crow's Nest supporters stranded, crowding the entryway to the building waiting to get in.

With a full house, fire and law enforcement officials monitored the door allowing Crow's Nest 
supporters inside only when other people left the chambers.

The line of supporters waiting to get in snakes out the door to the unseasonably hot and humid exterior. 

Closed doors meant a long, unexpected wait in the hall for many Crow's Nest supporters.  
Many people were never able to get in because they had to leave for other commitments. 

These folks took to the stairs for the long wait.

This teacher used the waiting time to grade student papers.

THE FILM AND MEETING

Finally, Crow's Nest supporters make it inside and begin filling the chambers.

Supervisors and audience members watch the Crow's Nest documentary.

As the film ended, the audience rises for a standing ovation.

Appropriately, the first speaker in the public comment period was 
Archer DiPeppe, one of the filmmakers of the Crow's Nest video.

Joe Lerch, from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, explains to 
the Board of Supervisors the regional importance of saving Crow's Nest.

Just a few of the many people who encouraged the Board to act to save Crow's Nest.

Aquia district Supervisor, Kandy Hilliard introduced two resolutions regarding Crow's Nest.

After a long night, these heron statues in the hallway outside the 
Board of Supervisors chambers (left over from the recent Salute Stafford Day) 
continued to deliver the message.

     Thanks to everyone who came out to support saving Crow's Nest.  If you couldn't make the event, or couldn't make it inside because of the long wait, you can still contact members of the Board of Supervisors and let them know of your support for Crow's Nest.  Let the public know, too, by writing a letter to the editor of the Free Lance-Star and the Stafford County Sun.

NOTE: The Crow's Nest Preservation Coalition, organized for the rally, includes (in alphabetical order):

Audubon Society of Northern Virginia
Battlefields Sierra Club
Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Citizens to Serve Stafford
The Daniels Family
Falmouth Flats Fly Fishers
Friends of Huntley Meadow
Friends of Lake Anna State Park
Friends of the Rappahannock
Friends of Stafford Creek
Northern Virginia Conservation Trust
Prince William Conservation Alliance
Save Crow's Nest
Sierra Club, Virginia Chapter
Stafford County Democratic Party
Trust for Crow's Nest
Virginia Association for Parks
Virginia Bluebird Society
Virginia Native Plant Society
Voters to Stop Sprawl