FriendsTHE NEWSLETTER OF THE FRIENDS OF MCCONNELL SPRINGS

Volume 14 Issue 3Fall 2008

Inside: Dear Friends from board chair, Thanks to our supporters. Upcoming events

McConnell Springs Water QualityWetland Pond

The Friends of McConnell Springs have been invited toparticipate in a water quality project at the park in the areaof the pond on the eastern side of the park. This would bethe water body to the left as you walk down the trail fromthe visitor center. The project is formally known as a 319Non Point Source Grant. The overall objectives of theproject are to reduce non point source water pollutionwithin McConnell Springs Park and the streams thatreceive its flow. That would be the water resurgence atPreston Cave Park that flows to Wolf Run Creek. Nonpoint source means water flow other than from a pipe.

This is an exciting half million dollar project that willtransform the pond into not only a functioning water qualityfeature but will also allow year round water to exist in thepond.

dissolved oxygen, sediment control, debris collectionmosquito control and a host of other environmentalconcerns. The BMP will be utilizing a year round pool witha marsh/wetland environment, enhanced vegetation on theside slopes and a buffer strip planted with native watertolerant, low maintenance grasses, shrubs and trees.

An environmental education component of this project isto allow easier access to the pond for students andeducators to familiarize themselves with state of the artnaturalistic environmental water quality and quantitycontrols and to develop a series of written materials on theprocess.

This summer should see the selection of a consultant/contractor to undertake the project. More information willbecome available at the Springs and on The Friends’ ofMcConnell Springs website as the project progresses. Thecompletion date is scheduled for Nov. 2009. By Jim Rebmann

The overall objective in general terms is to providestormwater control from off site water that flows into thepark. BMP’s or Best Management Practices will beutilized to provide reduced erosion potential, increase

Preliminary Plan

Mayor Jim Newberry, Cheryl Taylor, and Rita Keysat the Grant Announcement Press Conference

Board of Directors

Executive CommitteeIsabel Yates, Chair Emeritus,Rita Keys, ChairJim Rebmann, Vice ChairBill Allen, TreasurerJames Kemper Millard, Secretary

Standing Committee ChairsJ Kiefer, Ph.D., EducationRita Keys, FundraisingB.J. Webb, NominatingAnnette Mathy, VolunteerReneé Williams, PromotionsJames Kemper Millard, Site DevelopmentAnnette Mathy, Events

Newsletter EditorDick Mathy

Members At LargeDiana BurkeKristan CurryWin MeekerDoug McLarenGreg PadgettMarc RolandCheryl TaylorA.W. Turner Jr.B.J. Webb

Park NaturalistLaurie Taylor Thomas

Parks RepresentativeEvelyn Bologna

Advisory CommitteeHelen C. AlexanderMira BallJessica BellRose Mary C. BrooksAlice Headley ChandlerHelen B. CheneryBruce CottonMrs. Norwood Cowgill Jr.Lou DeLucaThomas P. DupreeLillian B. GentryTeresa A. IsaacTim KellyFreda KlotterJames KlotterAnne LattaGloria MartinJennifer MattinglyPam MillerRoy W. Mundy IICarolyn Murray-WooleyH. Foster PettitLinda Griffin SlagleCharles W. StewartBetty Anita WebbPhilip T. Weissinger

Dear FriendsRita Keys, Chair

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Friends of

I hope you have marked Friday, Sep-tember 26, 2008, on your calendar andplan to attend the second annual FallFling at the Springs. This event is ourmajor fund-raising activity of the yearand also a “major good time” for all thepeople who attend. “Branching Out atthe Springs” is the theme for this year’sevent and is appropriately named giventhe numerous activities at the Springs -past and future. We always need itemsfor the silent auction, so if you have abusiness or hobby and would be willingto donate an item, please e-mail me assoon as possible(ritakeys@insightbb.com). More detailsabout the Fall Fling are available else-where in the newsletter.

Since the last newsletter, we have beenvery busy. “The Story of McConnellSprings” premier was held at theKentucky Theatre on April 24th withapproximately 300 people in attendance.The film received rave reviews and is forsale for $10.55 (plus $5.00 mailing fee ifapplicable). AND ...The Friends hosteda reception for sculptress, ErikaStrecker, donors for the sculpture(Taking Flight), and The Friends ofMcConnell Springs Advisory Commit-tee. AND... Founders Day in May wasbetter than ever; the third Saturday inMay turned out to be a glorious springday. Over 800 people attended thisyear. Thanks again to all who broughttheir crafts and music to the Park.

Yet another exciting future “branch” forMcConnell Springs is the 319 Grant fordevelopment of a Wetlands area at thePark. Read about the details of thisproject in the column written by JimRebmann.

We hope you will join us for the FallFling and get involved in the “BranchingOut at the Springs! It is an excitingtime at the Springs!

New Advisory CommitteeMembers

We are so please to welcome the following peopleto The Friends of McConnell Springs AdvisoryCommittee: Tucker Ballinger, Bo Henry, BarbaraHulette, Susan Lancho, Jacqueline Noonan, SusanRidenour, and Franklin Thompson.

Thanks to all of you for actively supporting theFriends of McConnell Springs!

Special Donor Recognition!We are so fortunate to have members of ourcommunity who give generously to the Friends ofMcConnell Springs, a 501(c)(3) not for profitorganization. Donations have allowed us tocontinue to achieve our mission and make theSprings an interesting, fun and educational place tovisit.

“The Story of McConnell Springs” DVD produc-tion by Michael Breeding and the creation of theSculpture “Taking Flight” by Erika Strecker werepossible due to the special donations made by theindividuals and organizations listed below andelsewhere in this Newsletter:

The Story ofMcConnell SpringsDonors - Thank You

J. P. Morgan ChaseLexington Convention & Visitors

BureauLexmark International, Inc.

Pepsi Cola Bottling Companyof Lexington

Vulcan Materials Company

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Park Calender Dates: Weekend Workouts - 4nd Saturday of every monthSept. 6 - Late Summer Wildflowers 20 - Tree Identification 26 - McConnell Springs Fall Fling (5:30 p.m.)Oct. 6 - Fossils & Geology 18 - History of McConnell Springs 25 - Little Goblin Galore (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.)Nov. 1 - Wildlife of McConnell Springs

- Sweet Potato Santa Carving 15 - Little Explorers Nature Walk (1 p.m.)Dec. 6 - Winter Wildlife Treats (11 a.m.)All starting times are 10:00 a.m. unless otherwise notes.Call the park for more details.

Friends Calender Dates:Sept. 11 - History to Chew On 26 - Second Annual Fall Fling at the parkOct. 9 - History to Chew OnMar. 28, 2009 - Barrel Tasting FundraiserMay 16, 2009 - Founder’s Day and Colonial Festival

Would you like to give?If you would like to become a Friend of McConnellSprings, simply send your tax-deductible donation to:

The Friends of McConnell SpringsP.O. Box 12196Lexington, Kentucky 40581-2196

A minimum donation of $25 is suggested, but any amountis welcome. Make checks payable to The Friends ofMcConnell Springs. An envelope is enclosed for yourconvenience.

Your support assists The Friends with special McConnellSprings projects and purchases, educational initiatives andevents, the production of this newsletter and more.

We appreciate your interest and support.

A Special Friend!The Friends of McConnell Springs would like togive a most sincere thank you to JosephineAbercrombie. Our community has greatly ben-efited from her kindness and philanthropy.

She discovered the Bluegrass during a JuniorLeague event at the Red Mile in the early 1950s,telling her father it was the most beautiful countryshe had ever seen. She describes her beloved PinOak farm as the only place she could possible live.Josephine stated, “Here you have the beauty ofthe green, rolling land; the fences; the trees; thepeace. I adore it all. I wouldn’t want to liveanywhere else.”

Over the years, Josephine has generously sup-ported McConnell Springs. This support mostrecently manifested itself in a donation for thepark’s sculpture, “Taking Flight”, which the boardcommissioned and received a matching grant fromLexArts. This sculpture references “walking into anatural place and flushing out nesting birds”. Theartist intended this piece to be hopeful, joyful,playful, and uplifting.

Josephine’s generosity has continually helped theFriends support McConnell Springs, to make thepark a serene and peaceful place for all to learnand enjoy.

Josephine Abercrombie

From The Park:McConnell Springs will host a new event at the park onOct. 25, 2008. Youth ages 12 and under are invited to thefriendliest Halloween event in Lexington – Little GoblinsGalore. This is a new location from past years, children areencouraged to wear their Halloween costume as they trick-or-treat along a friendly trail. There will also be hayrides, apetting zoo, face painting, carnival games and specialentertainment. Food and soft drinks will be available forpurchase throughout the day. The admission charge is $5per child with parents/guardians admitted for free. LittleGoblins Galore is brought to you by Parks and Recreation,FOX56, Mix 94.5 and Cricket Wireless. For more infor-mation, call 288-2900.

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The perfect gift idea!Are you looking for a unique way to celebrate a specialoccasion? Consider giving a present that will last – anengraved paver in the Garden Spring at McConnell Springs.When you give someone this unique present, you also helpMcConnell Springs, because $85 of each $100 paver is atax-deductible donation to The Friends of McConnellSprings.Help support educational programming at McConnellSprings with the purchase of an 8-inch by 8-inch brickpaver. The permanently inscribed paver will be placed in thecentral plaza of the McConnell Springs Visitors’ Center.

Clip this form and return it with $100 payment to:Friends of McConnell Springs, P.O. Box 12196,Lexington, KY 40581-2196. Yes, I want to support McConnell Springs bypurchasing a paver. I have enclosed $100.Name:___________________________________Address:_________________________________City, State:________________________________Phone:___________________________________E-mail:___________________________________

Complete boxes below with message to be inscribed on paver.Please print carefully, with one letter per box. Each space presentsone character.

Already generously givingin 2008Many thanks are extended to the following organizations andindividuals who have already contributed to The Friends ofMcConnell Springs this year.

We are especially grateful to those Friends who continue tosupport McConnell Springs year after year!

Trailblazer ($1,000+)Mrs. Josephine E. Abercrombie Kentucky American WaterKentucky Utilities Co.(E.ON U.S.) Mr. & Mrs. John R. GainesMr. and Mrs. Ben Kaufmann Waterwild Farm, LLCWalter L. Gross Family Foundation

Builder ($100+)Dr. & Mrs. Joseph P. BarkBank of the BluegrassBarrett Partners, Inc.Ms. Anne M. CombsMr. Thomas M. CooperMs. Evelyn CornishMr. and Mrs. Chauncey S.R. CurtzLaw Office of Charley W. CurryMr. & Mrs. John E. DarnellMrs. Holiday K. GlennMr. and Mrs. Robert M. Hewett

Homesteader ($50+)Ms. Agnes L. BlackDr. & Mrs. Peter P. BosomworthMs. Diana L. BurkeMr. Norman Chrisman Jr.Ms. Linda CarrollMrs. Lorette G ClarkMr. Charles W. CurryMr. Bruce FergusonMs. Arline FlorenceMs. Talitha R. FreemanMr. & Mrs. Alfred J. Gajda Jr.Mr. Virgil W. HaysMr. & Mrs. Walter A. HehlDr. and Mrs. Hunt B. JonesMrs. Dorothy W. Karnes

Friend ($49 and under)

We apologize if there are any any errors or omissions in this list, andwould appreciate hearing about them. Please send corrections to RitaKeys at ritakeys@insightbb.com.

Mr. William M. JohnstonMs. Karen Sue KaylorMarlendale FarmMr. & Mrs. James C. McGaryDr. Jacqueline A. NoonanMr. & Mrs. H. Foster PettitMr. & Mrs. Charles C. PriceRepublic BankDr. & Mrs. David StevensMr. Franklin D. ThompsonMr. Mark H. Wallace

Mr. and Mrs. James C. KlotterMs. Zee Faulkner KurfeesLanark FarmMr. & Mrs. W. L. MontagueMr. Thomas MartinMs. Pam MillerMs. Bernice PedersonMr. & Mrs. John R. RhorerMr. & Mrs. James RileyMr. & Mrs. George Dale

RobinsonMs. Ada SimmsMrs. Anne P. TurnerMs. Mary F. VaughanMr. & Mrs. Fred Wachs Jr.Mr. & Mrs. Albin C. Whitworth

Mr. Merl BakerMs. Colette CardwellMs. Cora Spence CarrickMr. Edward E. GageMr. & Mrs. Bryan HollingsworthMs. Evelyn B. KemperMs. Carolyn Murray-WooleyMr. Jack Miley

Dr. & Mrs. Tom PennDr. & Mrs. Donald M. SouleMr. & Mrs. Robert ScharaMr. & Mrs. Theodore R. TauchertDr. & Mrs. Ronald F. TuckerDr. Francis B. WellsMrs. Jack WoodruffMr. Charlie Young

Friend ($49 and under)

Homesteader ($50+)

Preservationist ($250+)Law Office of Julie A. Butcher Ms. Janet L. ZusmanMr. & Mrs. Richard A. Mathy Mr. William T. Young Jr.Stout Printing

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The Friends of McConnell Springsinvites you to

The 2008 Fall FlingA Fall Celebration

“Branching Out atthe Springs”

September 26th at 5:30 p.m.Music by Sassafras

Silent AuctionBuffet by South Van Events includes:

Fresh Spinach Salad - Hot Bacon DressingRoast Round of Beef

Apricot Glazed Chicken Rosemary New Potatoes

Vegetable MedleyCorn Pudding

Fruit Salad Yeast Rolls

Bread Pudding & Tarts

Tickets: $50Reserved Tables Available

Rain or ShineReservations and pre-payment are required

Casual Fall AttireContact Rita Keys at 859-278-4615

for more informationFall Fling 2008 Sponsors to date

Gold Elm SponsorsToyota Motor Mfg., Kentucky, Inc.

Kentucky American Water

Silver Bur Oak SponsorsAlex Campbell, Jr.

G. F. Vaughan Tobacco CompanyMiddlebrook Farm

C&R Asphalt

Bronze Hawthorne SponsorsClay-Ingels Company

Isabel YatesRepublic Bank

The Sculpture “Taking Flight”Donors - Thank You

The Abercrombie FoundationLexington Arts Council

Michael BreedingRosemary Brooks

Kate EvertBen Kaufmann

Rita KeysJoan Gains

Dick & Annette Mathy Jamie & Madelyn Millard

Linda MorganIsabel Yates

William T. Young, Jr.Janet Zusman

Save the dates:

The 2nd annual “Barrel Tastingfor McConnell Springs” at ourlocal bluegrass wineries, will beon Saturday, March 28, 2009.This fundraiser offers you an

outing in the spring to several oflocal wineries for a taste of new

wine in the final stages of production. Hope to see

you there!

FRIENDS is published by theFriends of McConnell Springs

Editor: Dick MathyContributors: Rita Keys, Laurie Taylor Thomas,Reneé Williams, Jim Rebmann

McConnell Springs is a natural and historic site at416 Rebmann Lane in Lexington, Ky., in the heart of anurban industrial area off Old Frankfort Pike. This park waspart of a 1200 acre tract selected by William McConnell asa grant from Virginia when he and his party came to theLexington area in 1775 to select and survey land for theirown use and the future establishment of a town. This tractwas ultimately divided among his heirs and has seen manyuses since that time.

To learn more about McConnell Springs, call(859) 225-4073 or visit www.mcconnellsprings.org.

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Our missionThe Friends of McConnell Springs, an independent not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) organization, works in a partnership with theLexington-Fayette Urban County Government Division of Parksand Recreation, dedicated to the restoration and preservation ofMcConnell Springs as:

• a national historic site, recognized as the pioneer encampmentin the naming of Lexington, Kentucky;

• an environmental and eduational resource; and

• a passive recreational park.

Need a speaker for your club or group? McConnell Springs Speakers Bureau

Provides an interesting program on this vital and keyplace in the founding of Lexington.

Call 225-4073 to reserve a speaker. No cost within Fayette County.

Find Friends at: www.mcconnellsprings.org.

History to Chew OnThe series next offering on September 11, 2008 at 6 p.m.,will be featuring Dr. Robert Peter portrayed by WilliamM. (Drew) Andrews Jr. Dr. Peter was one ofKentucky’s greatest scientists and leaders of the 19thcentury. The October 9, 2008 program will feature Dr.John Keifer discussing the problems occurring with waterresources in the Bluegrass and around the world. Thisseries is scheduled for the second Thursday of the month.This is a brown bag series where you bring your snacksand learn about the past. Water and soda will be provided.

Make this your Christmas gift to afriend!!!

“The Story of McConnell Springs”is now available on DVD. The cost is $15.55 which

includes Kentucky sales tax, and shipping and handling.

Send your payment by check or money order to Friendsof McConnell Springs, P.O. Box 12196, Lexington,

Kentucky 40581-2196.

We will have direct sales at the Fall Fling for $10.55,which includes 6% Kentucky sales tax.