The Arlington Green

Mike Is Moving On

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 09:50:46 GMT

This will be Mike's last “Arlington Green” column for the Arlington Mercury. A new job draws him away. (Thanks, Mike! You will be missed. --Steve Thurston)

Major Faiths Have Similar Ecological Views

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 07:00:00 GMT

Importantly, each of the faiths compiled its own summary of its beliefs about the environment and these so-called “ecology statements” are reproduced in their entirety in this one handy volume.

Is Pope Francis the New "Environmental Pontiff"?

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 07:00:00 GMT

Many of us “Conservation Catholics” wonder if the environment will be high on the Pope Francis' agenda. Certainly, there are positive signs that this pope will bring a renewed emphasis on the stewardship of God’s Creation in his ministry.

Phosphorus and Nitrogen, Watch Out! The Gov't Will Get Ya!

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 10:56:02 GMT

A state permit may require 4,000 new trees to Arlington's green spaces (public and private) over the next five years to fight "Pollutants of Concern" in state waters. The public can weigh in.

Small Budget Cuts Can Hit Hard

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 07:00:00 GMT

The County Manager proposes a budget for FY14 of over $1B, a 2% increase over the adopted FY13 Budget. All of the economic activities that generate the taxes and fees that support the proposed billion dollar budget have some connection to the land.

Parks Rise When the Economy Dies

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 07:00:00 GMT

As the economy has improved, Americans may be less interested in scouring the internet for cheap recreational activities in their local parks than they are in searching for more exotic (and more expensive) alternatives for their leisure time.

Middle Schoolers Handle Stormwater in Crystal City Competition

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 06:28:00 GMT

I was particularly impressed by the submission from the Mid-Atlantic Regional winners, Kenmore Middle School of Landover, Md. Their entry --- called “Estuaria” --- envisions incorporating pollutant cleaners into all bridge supports over water.

Walter Mess at 100: A Long, Great Life

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 07:00:00 GMT

Walter Mess became the second chair of NVRPA and served a remarkable 25 years as the chairman of the board of directors. During his tenure, NVRPA experienced an extraordinary period of growth, acquiring 10,000 acres of parkland in Northern Virginia.

What Do You Think of E-Trade Park?

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 07:00:00 GMT

How would Arlingtonians feel about selling the name of some of their favorite parks for cash? Some of our parks do not have well established names and could be changed with relative ease.

Trees Are Finite, Oxygen Is Nearly Limitless

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 10:15:24 GMT

Our atmosphere is endowed with such an enormous reserve of this gas that even if we were to burn all our fossil fuel reserves, all our trees, and all the organic matter stored in soils, we would use up only a few percent of the available oxygen.