Happy New Year!
It is exciting to note that the revitalized College Terrace Neighborhood Association held its one year anniversary at its Quarterly meeting on Saturday, January 25th. We thank Anne at Christ Lutheran Church for making these meetings possible.
At that meeting, we reviewed all that we did over the year. It was fun to think of the picnic, PorchFest on Franklin Street, the home & garden tour and street tours, and our work towards presenting the concept of a Conservation District to City Council for all neighborhoods in FXBG, not just ours.
We had two speakers. The first was Dylan Kowal from Convert Solar. He shared how the solar panel systems work, let us know that they cannot be placed on slate roofs, and shared upcoming changes that suggest you may want to get solar now, rather than later, in order to get the best deal. They have a referral incentive that we would use towards CTNA activities. His contact number is 804-501-8915 or you may contact him at Dylan@convert-solar.com if you have questions.
Our second speaker was our own neighbor, City Council at-large representative Will Mackintosh, who gave the City Council presentation on why and what Data Centers are being considered in Fredericksburg. We appreciated his taking the time to do so.
It was great to have a chance to talk about what we want to do this upcoming year. Another picnic, continued tours, informing more neighbors about CTNA, a native plant swap and other ideas were shared. The Conservation District committee will work on a petition and possible oral histories. John Copenhaver distributed signs to make people aware that we are working to become a Conservation District. (Want one? Contact us at our email!) Bill Trueman agreed to be our treasurer; (we still need a secretary). The important job of block/street captains was discussed as a way to get the word out to others about CTNA. Anyone willing to take on the job for their block or a couple of blocks, please email us at college.terrace@yahoo.com. Also, if there is an activity you’d like to lead sometime this year, let us know that, too!
The website is now online! Thanks to Dan and Bobbi Baker for all of their hard work getting this very classy website up this week. Check it out: collegeterrace.life Donations were given at the meeting which covered the cost of setting it up – thanks to all who contributed.
Mark your calendars:
January 29th Data Center Forum – Dorothy Hart Center from 6:30 – 8:30
February 10th FAMPO bridge meeting with City Council
February 11th City Council meeting
February 21st from 6 – 8 p.m. UMW University Center. Free. 5th Climate Action Summit Celebration with neighbor Keith Mellinger’s band playing, a college graduate speaking of how the participation in these conferences impacts one’s life, a panel including a Howard University student and her UN report on Mayfield, the Sierra Club on data centers, a UMW alumni environmental author, and a representative from Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project discussing youth and climate change. A reception sponsored by the VA League of Conservation Voters Education Fund and a drawing sponsored by the Rappahannock Group Sierra Club will finish off the evening. Go to Eventbrite.com for more information!
February 22nd from 11 – 3:00. 5th Student Climate Action Summit at UMW. Free. James Monroe, Fredericksburg Academy and (for the 5th year! ) Stafford’s Colonial Forges High schools and UMW students will present their research and studies on topics of their choice. Refreshments are served at the tables representing local environmental groups; a late lunch is also served. This is very encouraging and inspirational – will give you hope for the future!
February 25th at 7:30 p.m. City Council meeting: Voting on Data Centers
March 25th. Black Businesses & Entrepreneurship in Fredericksburg, 1787 – Present. Tickets must be purchased at famva.org. Tour will begin at HFFI, 1200 Caroline Street.
Have a lovely Valentine’s Day!