Fall 2010

Protecting, preserving and promoting the natural integrity of Radnor Lake

through land acquisition, environmental education and park support

Love the Lake

Art Show November 5th-7th

F riends of Radnor Lake and The Chestnut Group will host

“Love the Lake”, a fall art show to benefit Radnor Lake. The
art show will be held at the Radnor Lake Visitor’s Center on Fri-
As Jean Gauld-Jeager, President of The Chestnut Group
explains, “Plein air” is French for “outdoors.” The painter finds
a well-composed landscape scene and works quickly – amid
day, Nov. 5 through Sunday, Nov. 7 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. changes in light and wind – to capture the natural moment.
Chestnut Group artists have been painting through all of Ideally, the work is completed at the scene or, nearly complete,
the seasons of Radnor, capturing the snow covered hills, the in the studio. The urgent immediacy of the plein air tradition,
Redbuds in spring, the greens of summer and the amazing fall even as it creates enduring artistic forms, reminds us of how
colors. Just a few weeks ago, Radnor Lake invited the artists to quickly our unspoiled lands can vanish.”
a Full Moon Paintout. The weather was perfect as the moon rose The Chestnut Group is a nonprofit alliance of landscape artists
over the lake, holding still just long enough for the artists to cap- who are dedicated to the conservation of wild and open spaces in
ture it on canvas, plein air style. Middle Tennessee. Fifty percent of the funds earned from the sale
of artwork will be donated to Friends of Radnor
Lake for the preservation of the State Natural Area.
What a wonderful opportunity to purchase an origi-
nal piece of art depicting Radnor Lake. Love the
Lake. Support the places you Love!

Sherrie Russ Levine painting on a snowy day at

Radnor Lake.
www.radnorlake.org 1
 Friends of Progress through
Radnor Lake
Partnership
Board of Directors A letter from the Board
Charley Hankla
President Dear Friends, a conservation easement over
Greer Tidwell If you’ve been to Radnor the property to make sure it
Vice President Lake since the infamous May would be protected. Slated to
flood, you know we’ve been be a residential development,
Don Shriver
Treasurer as challenged as our neigh- the land now will be forever
bors throughout wild. We’ve also
Diane Hayes Nashville. “Hike a trail; acquired an addi-
Secretary
While these bike the road tional acre from Charley Hankla
Nan Adams ‘bumps in the The Galen Foster
and enjoy the family which we President
Andrew Amonette road’ (literally in
Kim Barrick Friends of Radnor Lake
Radnor’s case) wonderful truly appreciate.
Karen Bird come along from When the
Lee Boggs time to time, the natural area of flood hit, our volunteers to get the trails
Paul Buchanan back in shape and reroute the
Friends of Radnor Radnor Lake.” friends, neighbors
Kent Cochran
Lake have not and partners all South Cove Trail. On the hori-
Ed Cole
Robin Conover wavered from stepped up with zon is the South Cove Bridge
Martha Cooper our mission. In contributions of project and road repair with
Douglass Johnson fact, working with the Land time, talent and money. We state and federal funds.
Jeff King Trust, Civic Bank and the are especially grateful to one So no excuses. Hike a trail;
Saul Komisar generous partnership with the of our wonderful partners, bike the road and enjoy the
Amanda Little City of Oak Hill, the Friends The City of Forest Hills, for wonderful natural area of
Patsy Luckett group acquired property total- an extremely generous dona- Radnor Lake.
Rob Robinson ing just over 10 acres along tion for flood relief that has
Patty St. Clair Granny White Pike and placed enabled all of these willing Charley Hankla
Dan Surface
Ann Tidwell
Lester Turner, Jr.
Elizabeth Wagster
Lauren Stone
Young Leaders Board Intern W e thank each of you for
purchasing and renewing
your license plate in support of
Board of Advisors Radnor Lake. The monies raised
from the sale of the Radnor
Martha Ann Caldwell
Buddy Caldwell
license plates play a crucial role
Vince Gill in the preservation of the Natural
Amy Grant Area. Of the $35.00 fee, FORL
John Hardcastle receives $15.38, raising more than
Rep. Beth Halteman Harwell $393,000 since the fall of 2003 to
Sen. Douglas Henry benefit Radnor Lake.
Margaret Henry Joyce Please support this program,
Chris Karbowiak
and share Radnor’s beauty
Will Martin
Jeanie Nelson everywhere you go. If you are
John Noel renewing in the Green Hills area,
Mack Prichard Radnor plates are on hand at the
Dan Smith County Clerk’s branch at 4009
Phil Vassar Grace’s Plaza.
For general information, call
FORL Staff
(615) 862-6050 ext. 77109.
Emmie Thomas
Executive Director
Victoria Jackson
Executive Assistant
www.radnorlake.org
 Introducing Board Member Program
Amanda Little Announcements
By Victoria Jackson While we are rebuilding
trails after the flood, pro-

F riends of Radnor Lake

Board of Directors
includes some very gifted and
Setting out to investigate
the vulnerability of the elec-
tric grid and the political
grams will be temporarily
suspended. If you would
like to volunteer to help
accomplished people who implications of our oil usage, repair and rebuild, please
serve our mission to protect, Little’s 2009 book, Power join us.
preserve and promote the Trip, chronicles a journey that
Volunteer Days
natural integrity of Radnor she took after she had a reve-
4th Saturday of the month
Lake through land acquisition, lation about the role of energy
Meet at the Visitor Center.
environmental education and in her life.
8 a.m. — noon
park support. Amanda Little As author and keynote infrastructure. It gave us mass
(née Griscom) has served on speaker, Little asks: “How production, freedom of move- Check www.radnorlake.
the board since 2006. do we make mainstream ment, it defined our politics org for any updates.
Little has published widely Americans care about clean and our very identity. Now our
on the environment, energy tech? How do we excite folks greatest strength — cheap oil
and technology for more around these technologies, and coal — has become our
Staying Connected is
than a decade. She wrote conveying their extraordinary greatest vulnerability, given as Easy as 1-2-3!
“Muckraker,” a long-running benefits and encouraging the extraordinary environmen- 1) Join the FORL email
syndicated weekly column Americans to adopt them in tal and political costs of these list powered by Emma®.
on Grist.org and Salon.com, their daily lives?” fuels.” Sign up for our email list
and “Code Green,” a monthly Little explains, “Energy is “Clean-tech gives us the at www.radnorlake.org to
column on green everything: It grows power to transform a tragedy- receive the newsletter and
innovations for our crops, fights in-the-making into the greatest volunteer updates.
Outside magazine, our wars, makes our comeback story of all time. Friends of Randor has part-
where she was plastics and medi- It’s American ingenuity that nered with Emma email
a contributing cines, warms our got us into this mess, and it’s marketing, so watch for our
editor. Her work homes, moves our American ingenuity that will new email format.
has appeared in products and vehi- get us out of it. As much as And, thank you, Emma, for
the New York cles, and animates we need to change our tech- planting 5 trees in honor of
Times Magazine, our cities.” nologies, we have to change Radnor Lake!
Vanity Fair, “Energy in our mind sets.”
Rolling Stone, America is the most Amanda lives in Nashville, 2) Join Facebook Group.
Wired, New York, exciting story of our Tennessee with her husband Stay up-to-date with our
InStyle, Men’s Journal and the time. It has the narrative arc Carter Little, a composer, and Friends of Radnor Lake
Washington Post. She is the of Greek Mythology: Energy their daughter. For more infor- Facebook group.
recipient of the Jane Bagley built the American superpower mation, check out Amanda’s
Lehman Award for excellence — our cities, our military, website at www.amandalittle.
in environmental journalism. our major industries, our com.
3) Sign onto the FORL
Website. Get the latest
REI Awards FORL Grant for Volunteerism updates and information at
www.randorlake.org.
F riends of Radnor Lake is excited to announce that it has received a
$14,000 grant from REI. REI is committed to promoting environmental
stewardship and increasing access to outdoor recreation through education, It’s easy to be Green
volunteerism, gear donations and financial contributions. The grant is the Help us save money and
result of a nomination made by the Brentwood store, with whom we partner paper by joining the Radnor
on many occasions. e-mail list at friendsofradnor-
The funds will go directly to Radnor’s Dig it. Hike it. Love it. program [email protected] or www.
which supports volunteerism at Radnor Lake. REI was very generous in their radnorlake.org.
funding of this program and wanted to make a significant impact Please recycle this newslet-
on Radnor Lake after the May floods. As a result, Radnor has been able to utilize ter, or, better yet, pass it on to
a friend!
the skills of over 800 volunteers this summer!
Printed on recycled paper.

www.radnorlake.org 3
 Board Members (and Friends) Rebuild
Observation Deck
By Raffi Friedman

D angerously hot weather

did not deter the Friends
of Radnor Lake board of direc-
cover the cost of materials
needed for the repairs.
“A whole array of things
think about what we can do
as a group to give back and
do something hands-on,” said
mixed concrete, dug holes for
posts and hammered away.
“People are doing things
tors from rebuilding the natural needed to be done, and this Charley Hankla, FORL presi- they’ve never done before,”
area’s Spillway observation was something we felt we dent. “There are so many bet- Thomas said, laughing.
deck, which was damaged dur- could knock out as a group,” ter uses of our time than board One board member, Nan
ing the May flood. Emmie Thomas, FORL execu- meetings.” Adams, was very excited about
Despite a heat advisory tive director, said. Thomas agreed, “This was her new knowledge. “I know
during the weekend of July But the Friends wanted something that was doable what a level is!” she said in a
22, more than 23 board mem- to do more than contribute and fun. It also allowed new sing-song voice, as she handed
bers and volunteers gathered funds to the project – they also board members to get to know the tool to another volunteer.
at Radnor to focus on both wanted to donate time on the everyone and for us to grow as Experts like Park Manager
rebuilding and team-building. ground. a team.” Steve Ward patiently directed
The Spillway overlooks a “During flood cleanup, Playful banter abounded as novices as Junior Rangers
creek, one that is now three our volunteers inspired us to volunteers and board members worked on a trail nearby.
times wider in the aftermath Over the last couple of
of the May floods. Erosion months, hundreds of volunteers
caused trees and other debris have donated their time to
to slide into the stream. Too Radnor Lake. Today, most of
precarious to be fully function- the park is completely opera-
al, the observation deck was tional. Only one trail – South
left teetering on the edge of the Cove – remains closed.
bank and had to be closed to “It’s one thing to write a
the public. check. It’s another to plant
The board took notice, and a seed and watch it grow,”
decided to adopt the Spillway Hankla said, dripping sweat as
as its own project. Within he pushed a wheelbarrow. “We
one meeting, board members do this out of a passion for the
donated enough money to place.”
6 www.radnorlake.org
 Moograss Jam
and
Dyer Observatory
Team Up for Radnor

The Moograss Jam, originally postponed due to Thank you to these wonderful musicians for an
the rain, was rescheduled for May 29 to celebrate amazing day of entertainment!
Nashville’s giving spirit with great music, good
food and water slides for the kids. Emcee Demetria Kalodimos Verlon Thompson
Special thanks to Dan Smith and Debra Pat Flynn Kathy Chiavola
Brawner at the Granny White Market for bring-
Tyler Flowers Kurt Storey
ing this popular bluegrass festival back to the
neighborhood and raising funds for Radnor Lake. Irish Bernadette Rivers Rutherford
On that same night, Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory, The Peasall Sisters Muriel Anderson
held a special open house and collected dona-
tions for Radnor Lake too. pen House fo
er O rR
Thanks to Rocky Alvey for partnering with Dy ad
Radnor Lake on this special event.

no
rL
ake
Flood Damag
May 29, 2010
Sunset - Midnight

e
10 OR
0% A DN
OF D
O N AT I O N S T OR
◉VIEW SATURN
◉SEE REAL METEORITES
◉STUMP THE ASTRONOMER
1000 Oman Drive, Brentwood, TN 37027 - dyer.vanderbilt.edu

www.radnorlake.org 7
 Volunteer
Partners
After historic flooding devastated
sections of Radnor Lake State
Natural Area in May, volunteers
came out of the woodwork to give
back to the park they love. More
than 800 volunteers tirelessly gave
their time, sweat and, sometimes,
tears to help repair the damage.

Thank You! First Response Rangers who came right after the flood and cut 42 trees that has fallen
across the road.
We couldn’t have done it
without you!
4
Months
(May-August)

883
Volunteers
Members of Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical
worked
Fraternity from Lipscomb University College
of Pharmacy.
3115
Hours
which equals

130
Days
which was priceless

Kent Blazy
Performs Benefit
Concert
Thank you to Kent Blazy and the 4 Peace
Band who played on July 30th at Douglas
Corner Cafe for Radnor Flood Relief. Great
fun and great success!

By Rick Smith Photography

8 www.radnorlake.org
 Trees to Tracks by Chris Armour

T hey came from as far away as Jacksonville; they did a

few calisthenics, and then they started digging.
By the time the dust had cleared on September 18,
more than 100 volunteers had planted 75 trees at Radnor
Lake as part of the CSX Trees for Tracks program.
CSX, which is planting a tree for each of its 21,000
miles of track, provided funding and volunteers for the
reforestation project. Trees Nashville was the local plant-
ing partner.
“It’s a great event. It’s great for the environment, and
it’s great for getting people out here to be part of this pro-
cess,” said CSX chief financial officer Oscar Munoz.
He and other volunteers from the corporate office in
Jacksonville, local CSX employees, and Trees Nashville
supporters planted dogwoods, sweetgums and tulip pop-
lars on 6.5 acres of park property in the Radnor Glen
subdivision. This land was saved from development by
Friends of Radnor Lake in 2004.
“We literally stopped the bulldozers from clearing this
land,” said park manager Steve Ward. “Because the land
was partially cleared, we needed to help nature out by
planting new trees to help restore the natural area.”
The planting will help protect Radnor’s viewshed, said
Trees Nashville president Chris Armour. “When you’re in
the woods, you don’t want to see structures. This planting
will help protect the natural experience.”
The trees also offer real economic value to Nashville.
“When mature, they’ll provide over $12,000 of direct
benefits every year,” Armour said. “That includes energy
savings, carbon storage, cleaner air, reduced stormwater
runoff and a cooler neighborhood.”
“It speaks volumes when a large corporate entity comes
to a state park to invest time, money and energy to help
us preserve the natural integrity of this great park,” said
Charley Hankla, president of the Friends of Radnor Lake
board. “It is a wonderful partnership we hope to continue
long into the future. The transformation is amazing.”
Alliance for Community Trees is the national partner
for the Trees for Tracks
program, and the service
group City Year provides
logistics and volunteer
support.

www.radnorlake.org 9
 Junior Ranger Program 2010
Instilling environmental values in the minds of future leaders

Top 10 things the 2010 Junior Rangers accomplished! 7. Worked in cooperation with numerous volunteers coming out
to help Radnor rebuild from the devastating flood of 2010.
1. Learned how to efficiently use a one wheeled, two handled, 8. Ate enough pizza to effectively cover the 85 acre Radnor Lake
air cooled, apendage powered dumping machine. (aka Wheel in pepperoni.
barrow) 9. Created enough sweat to initiate the National Weather Service
2. Added multiple Official Junior Ranger T-shirts to their ward- to prompt a local flash flood warning for the Otter Creek
robes. watershed.
3. Carried enough buckets of gravel to cover 1/4 mile of trail. 10. Cooperated in total, as a large group, for more than two
4. Pushed enough mulch to cover almost a mile of trail. weeks, to meet formidable rebuilding and conservation goals.
5. Paddled two of Tennessee’s most beautiful rivers. This, in essence, was the basis of the Jr. Ranger Program last
6. Cleaned two of Tennessee’s most beautiful rivers to help keep summer.
them two of Tennessee’s most beautiful rivers.

Session 1
Chris Goodrich
Anessa Scalf
Collin Scalf
Luke Barrick
Mark Irie
Alli Crew
Brian Key
Joey Santoro
Kathryn Pedulla
Hunter Tidwell
Francisco Nunez
Simon Sweetman
Charles Okoreeh-Baah

Session 2
Truman Zumwalt
Charles Okoreeh-Baah
Ryan Barrick
Luke Barrick
Si Deane
Cameron Travis
Richard Hawkins
Laura Wigger
Henry Alexander
Keller Alexander
Charlie Long
Brian Key
Shaun Rainone
Anessa Scalf
Carson Scalf
Collin Scalf
10
F
rida
y,Nov
.5
Friends of Radnor Lake
P.O. Box 40324
Nashville, TN 37204

Monthly
meetings
Radnor Lake State Natural Area hosts envi-
ronmental organizations’ monthly meetings
at the Walter L. Criley Visitor Center.
These educational meetings are open to the
public. Please call the contacts listed for
agendas and other
information. Friends of
Radnor Lake
Cumberland-Harpeth Audubon Society
— First Thursday, 7 p.m. Friends of Radnor Lake was born in
Contact: Sheila Shay, 615-298-5154 1973 when the lake and surrounding
[email protected] hills were threatened with residential
development.
Middle Tennessee Group of the Sierra As the Tennessee State Park system’s
Club — Second Thursday, 7 p.m. Contact
Adelle Wood, 615-665-1010 adelleintn@
oldest and most successful nonprofit
comcast.net support group, FORL has purchased
critical properties and supported pro-
Nashville Chapter of the Tennessee tection efforts in many other ways.
Ornithological Society — Third Friends of Radnor Lake
Thursday, 7 p.m. Contact: Jan Shaw, 615- P.O. Box 40324
331-2231 [email protected] Nashville, TN 37204
* New Invasive Plants 615- 251-1471
TSRA Board Meeting
Fourth Thursday, 6 p.m. brochure available at the e-mail: friendsofradnorlake@
Contact: Trent Ganstine Radnor Lake Visitor Center. yahoo.com
[email protected] www.radnorlake.org