Category: What’s New @ UMW

Curious about sustainability? Join local experts and learn about recycling, composting, plastics in the environment, use of native grasses, stormwater effects and proper planting at Sustainability Day at UMW on Saturday, October 8. The activities will run from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Jefferson Square and are free and open to the public.

Bring your questions and unidentified pests to the Plant and Insect Clinic offered by Master Gardeners and the Stafford County Extension agent.

At 10:30 a.m., UMW staff will demonstrate dividing perennials, spring flowering bulbs and proper tree planting, followed by a presentation by  volunteers from Tree Fredericksburg at noon.

Sponsors include the University of Mary Washington, Friends of the Rappahannock, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Rappahannock Group Sierra Club, Master Gardener Association of the Central Rappahannock Area, the Rappahannock Regional Solid Waste Management Board and the UMW Ecology Club.

For more information, contact Joni Wilson at (540) 654-2088 or jwilson@umw.edu.

The annual James Monroe Lecture is coming up on Monday, October 3 at 7 p.m. in the Great Hall! This year’s speaker is Susan Kern, professor at the College of William and Mary, and author of the important new book The Jeffersons at Shadwell. Merging archaeology, material culture, and social history, Kern’s talk will reconstruct the fascinating story of Shadwell, the birthplace of Thomas Jefferson. Located in present-day Albemarle County, Shadwell was at the time considered “the frontier.” The Jeffersons’ role in settling Virginia provides a new perspective on Thomas Jefferson and on others – including James Monroe – who extended social and political power across Virginia as they moved west.

The free talk will be followed by a book signing and dessert reception. The annual JM Lecture is sponsored by the Board, Friends and staffs of the following UMW departments: James Monroe Museum; Center for Historic Preservation; Department of Historic Preservation; Department of History and American Studies. Call (540) 654-1043 or e-mail auphaus@umw.edu with questions.

The UMW Jazz Ensemble is providing live entertainment for the Starlight Social on Thursday, September 29. The social, which benefits the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, will be held from 7 – 9 p.m. at the Spotsylvania Town Centre on the Village Green near Bravo. Tickets are $10 per person or $20 per couple and are available at www.virginiacapitalredcross.org or (540) 735-0500.

The event will feature complimentary hors d’oeuvres from Bravo! Cucina Italiana, Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, Splitsville and The Greene Turtle. Denim-n-Lace, a country rock band, also will provide live entertainment. Wine from Potomac Point Winery will be available for purchase.

The UMW Dahlgren campus, in support of the Rappahannock United Way’s second annual King George Days of Caring, invites you to join Team UMW Dahlgren as a volunteer on Thursday, October 20. You’ll join other UMW volunteers who will invest their time and energy to assist a Rappahannock United Way member agency complete a project that is valuable to the agency and meaningful to the agency’s clients.  Classified staff, with supervisor approval, may take one day (8 hours) of paid School Assistance and Volunteer Leave. Administrative/Professional Faculty, with supervisor approval, may take one day (8 hours) of Leave to Provide Community Service.

To volunteer or for more information, contact Mark Safferstone, executive director of UMW’s Dahlgren campus at msaffers@umw.edu or (540) 286-8013.  Volunteers will be accepted on a first-come basis until 5 p.m. on Thursday, October 13th and Team UMW Dahlgren will be limited to a maximum of 10 team members.

Go to http://umweagleeye.wpengine.com/2011/09/15/umw-staff-volunteer-at-day-of-caring/ for the recent EagleEye article and photos of UMW’s participation in this year’s Days of Caring on September 15th.

For more information, go to the United Way’s website – http://www.rappahannockunitedway.org/daysofcaring.html.

A woodland hike will take place on Sunday, Sept. 25 at 2 p.m. at Gari Melchers Home and Studio at Belmont.

Virginia Master Naturalist volunteers lead this informative hike that covers a mile of trails in both woodlands and fields and touches on the historic ruins of Belmont’s past.  Please wear sturdy footwear as the terrain in uneven.  Meet outside the Visitor Center. Free.

For more information, contact Gari Melchers Home and Studio at (540) 654-1015.