We publish newsletters more or less quarterly but even more often if we can't wait to share a bunch of good news.
Grist from the Mill
July-September 2025
Whiskey tasting and Pride and Prejudice (the movie) with English Country Dancers at the mill, Easter egg hunt, new assistant miller, third graders who think a trip to the mill is "cool," Icelandic rye bread, and a long list of upcoming activities are featured in this news letter. To read all about it, click "Read more" below.
April - June 2025
Spirited grains, movies at the mill, ice cream and games, worms in the garden. So many fun and educational activities are on tap at the mill listed in the newsletter. Also you can find out about the maple syrup boil down, the Common Grains Alliance Fair, a new book on local history, the Park Authority budget for FY 2026, and a dreamy, rich recipe for corn bread. To read more, click on "Read more" below.
January - March 2025
Look what's happened at the mill: Santa has visited; grains were transformed into loaves; old time trades and crafts were performed; the Ship's Company cooked and sang like it was 1812; we were honored with the visit of Supervisor Bierman; a SPOOM outing in Northern Virginia opened our eyes to activities in other mills; and the shed renovation was completed. And more to come. Read about past and upcoming events by clicking on "Read More" below.
October-December 2024
Walkway renovations underway to improve accessibility; historic crafts & trade, cider pressing days, and cooking and singing Ship's Company on tap; Colvin Run recovers from Route 7 widening construction; shed renovation begins; staffing new and current; county budget season kicks off; and a list of wonderful activities are all covered in the October-December newsletter. To be informed and entertained, just click "Read more" below.
April-June 2024
The mill gets in motion, maple sap to maple syrup, hillside cleanup and shed restoration, the miller's ring, names of the enslaved associated with Colvin Run mill owners, update on the tunnel under Route 7 to join the two halves of the park, NOVA Wood Carvers classes, and a list of wonderful, fun, and educational activities are all covered in the April - June 2024 newsletter. Click "Read more" to read the whole thing.
January-March 2024
From the mill to the still: getting into the grinding spirit; Get ready for the "Mill in Motion;" Santa graces Colvin Run with his presence and charms girls and boys; Applause applause: Julie Gurnee is Fairfax County Park Supervisor of the Year and Friends Board Member Bob Coblenz is Volunteer of the Year; Ships Company bakes like its 1812 in the kitchen of the sea; Tunnel night vision; Friends receive Sally Ormsby Environmental Award; Mingle at the Mill donation; and upcoming events. Read all about it by clicking "Read more" below.
October-December 2023
Mingling at the Mill by Celebrate Great Falls with food, drink, music; summer camps, new programs for pre-schoolers, engineering then and now; school program coordinator Meighan Foster Williams, and upcoming events including the annual meeting, apple cider and tamale making, fighting climate change, lantern tours, local chocolate, AND Santa at the mill for two days! Read all about it by clicking "Read more."
July - September 2023
The election of FoCRM's board of directors is scheduled to take place at the annual meeting on October 17. 2,455 students learned about simple machines - can you name them? (the simple machines, that is). Harvest from the newly planted medicinal garden will be used to make oils and vinegar this fall. New plant labels identify the 35 different plants now thriving in the family garden, and new benches have been ordered so you can sit in to enjoy the blossoming space. SPOOM's visit was enriching and the "Engineering Then and Now" program was fun and educational. Read about these and other developments, like an update on building trails to make use of the new tunnel under Route 7, by clicking on "Read More" below.
April - June 2023
Folks mingled at the mill, maple syrup was boiled down, SPOOM is coming to Colvin Run, and the program "Engineering Then and Now" on May 20 is sure to delight young and old. It is budget season in Fairfax County and parks need support. Some progress on creating a trail on the south side of the new tunnel under Route 7, but there is a need for speed. Read all about these and other stories and upcoming events at Colvin Run by clicking on "Read more" below.
January-March 2023
Making apple cider, replanting the family garden, refurbishing the snake fence, touring by candlelight, and hosting Santa filled the last months of the year at the mill. On tap for the New Year are preserving history, including your own family history, discussing history books, and boiling down maple sap into syrup. Click on "Read more" for details.
Summer-Fall 2022
Our outstanding miller was recognized by the Fairfax County Park Authority for his Outstanding Performance (congrats, Steve!); Dan Dyke is our volunteer of the year (congrats Dan!); Bob Coblenz reports on a SPOOM conference; academicians research the mill and learn more than they expected; tunnel to nowhere; report on wood carving activities; tea tastings; special events; and the mystery of the millstone.
Spring-Summer 2022
School kids return! Miller's house dedication. Meet the new staff. Carvers class activities. New Alliance of Park Friends Advocate for more resources for park operations and maintenance. Update on the tunnel being constructed under Route 7. Huge list of upcoming events, including cooking and crafts camps, ice cream and games, simple machines, and bugs naturalist!
Winter-Spring 2022
Activities at the mill begin to pick up including maple syrup boil-down, wood carving lessons, and tea tastings; good time for young and old when Santa came to town and the mill; Route 7 tunnel and adjacent trails update; Girl Scouts wood carving experience; grinding grain in old Morocco; election of new officers; message of out-going President; financial statement; Friends honored with Eakin Philanthropic Award.
Fall-Winter 2021-2022
Introducing the new Colvin Run Mill site manager, Julie Gurnee; message from the FoCRM president on the Friends being honored with the Eakin Philanthropy Award; widening Route 7 news; automating the hopper boys; making cider; shout out to National Charity League volunteers; and upcoming events (flour mills in War of 1812, Santa at the mill, yoga at the mill, book club, and many others).
Summer-Fall 2021
Grand opening of new waterwheel and flume; upcoming events (back in business: grinding, blacksmithing, opening of miller's house, cider making, and Santa will be back!); Temporary site manager; Changes in Friends' membership dues; Roads around the mill - Route 7 widening in historical context; Carper of Carper Farm's Way.
Spring-Summer 2021
Reflections of FOCRM President, progress report on replacement of the water wheel and flume, Fairfax County Park Authority in the process of selecting a new site manager, Treasurer's 2020 report, activities of the Friends of Colvin Run Mill, report on the wintry maple syrup boil down, and more.
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