Greetings from the Hickory Farms President

Dear Neighbors,

As autumn approaches, Hickory Farms enters one of the most beautiful times of the year. The cooler air, changing leaves, and seasonal gatherings remind us why our neighborhood is such a special place to call home. I encourage everyone to take a moment this season to enjoy our tree-lined streets and the sense of community we share.

With that in mind, I want to again stress how important it is that we have strong participation in our community leadership. The Board and our committees depend on volunteers to keep Hickory Farms thriving. If you have ever considered getting involved—even in a small way—now is the perfect time. Your voice and energy make a real difference.

Looking ahead to 2026, we will be placing a greater emphasis on the appearance of our community. We are excited to share that new entrance signs will be installed, and we want to make sure the rest of Hickory Farms looks just as welcoming. Beginning in January, our inspections will pay special attention to lawns, shrubbery, garbage cans, and basketball hoops. Let’s work together to ensure our neighborhood continues to look its best.

For details on our community rules and enforcement guidelines, please visit: rules-and-regulations.

Thank you for your continued commitment to Hickory Farms. Together, we can make this autumn—and the year ahead—one of the best yet.

Warm regards,
Steve Kubrak
President, Hickory Farms Community Association

Hickory Farms Annual Nominating Committee

- By Melissa Stark

The annual nomination process for HFCA Board Members and Officers is now underway! HFCA Board member, Melissa Stark, is the 2025 Nominations Committee Chairperson. If you would like to nominate yourself or a neighbor for a Hickory Farms Board position, please contact Melissa at hfca@hickoryfarms.org. She will add the candidate’s name to the nominations slate to be voted on at our Annual Meeting on Tuesday, October 21 via Microsoft Teams from 7 to 8 PM. Nominations will also be accepted during the Annual Meeting call.

To view the list of HFCA Board positions please go to our website, under board members, to review the positions. It can be found here: board-of-directors. Please note that the following positions will be vacant for 2026: Vice President and Assistant Treasurer.

Not interested in a HFCA Board position, but want to volunteer on a committee? We have lots of committees to choose from, here are just a few to consider:

• Architectural Control Committee
• Common Areas Committee
• Neighborhood Watch
• Social Committee

Dozens of volunteers have stepped forward over the past nearly 50 years to make Hickory Farms the wonderful place it is today to live, perhaps raise a family, and enjoy surrounding attractions. Please consider volunteering this year as a committee member or a member of the Board of Directors in order to keep our record of continuous community service.

Save the Date!

Hickory Farms Annual Meeting

Date: Tuesday, October 21st
Location: From your home and on your computer via Microsoft Teams
Time: 7 pm – 8 pm

Celebrating 50 Years of Community in Hickory Farms

- By Clair Hill, HFCA Secretary

On Saturday, September 13, Hickory Farms neighbors gathered in the upper common area to celebrate a remarkable milestone—the 50th Anniversary of the Hickory Farms Community Association (HFCA).

Thanks to the hard work and dedication of Social Committee Chairs Laura Bucher and Juliette Giordano, along with HFCA board members and volunteers, the event was a wonderful success.

We were honored to welcome James Walkinshaw, the newly elected U.S. Representative for Virginia’s 11th Congressional District, who joined in the celebration and recognized the strong spirit of community that defines Hickory Farms.

The afternoon brought together more than 100 residents who enjoyed a delicious lunch and a fabulous cake in honor of the occasion. Neighborhood children had a blast in the moon bounce and slip-and-slide, while neighbors caught up with friends old and new.

To make the day even more special, the weather couldn’t have been better—a warm, sunny September afternoon served as the perfect backdrop for recognizing five decades of neighborly connection, volunteer spirit, and community pride.

Here’s to the next 50 years of Hickory Farms!

Representative James Walkinshaw speaks at the Hickory Farms 50th Anniversary Event

Hickory Farms to Recieve Fairfax County Environmental Excellence Award

- By Clair Hill, HFCA Secretary

We are proud to share that the Hickory Farms Community Association (HFCA) has been selected as a recipient of Fairfax County’s 2024 Environmental Excellence Award!

The award ceremony will take place on Thursday, October 30, 2025, from 6:00–8:00 p.m. at the Fairfax County Government Center. This county-wide honor recognizes organizations, individuals, and businesses that demonstrate exceptional stewardship of the environment and contribute to sustainability in their communities.

Hickory Farms was nominated by longtime resident Bob Cosgriff, whose thoughtful write-up highlighted the community’s long-standing commitment to preserving and enhancing our natural spaces. From maintaining our tree canopy and common areas to supporting pollinator-friendly practices and sustainable landscaping, HFCA’s efforts continue to strengthen the environment we all share.

A special thanks goes to Common Areas Committee Chair Melissa Stark for leading the initiatives that made this recognition possible, and to the entire HFCA Board of Directors for their support. Melissa, along with fellow Common Areas Committee member Jarrett Stark, will be attending the ceremony, and additional HFCA leaders will join them in accepting this award on behalf of the neighborhood.

Please join us in congratulating everyone who has contributed time, energy, and ideas to making Hickory Farms an environmentally responsible and thriving community. This award is a tribute to 50 years of volunteer spirit and a bright, sustainable future ahead!

The Birds of Hickory Farms

- By Bob Cosgriff

In the September newsletter, I jokingly remarked that it might be nice if a Bald Eagle or some Broad-winged Hawks did an overflight during the 13 September HFCA 50th Anniversary celebration in the upper commons. Well, no eagles or hawks were seen, but as Judy and I were walking up the steps from Still Meadow Road, we saw a Turkey Vulture on the ground near the old swimming pool area. He took off as we approached. You don’t usually see a vulture on the ground unless it is inspecting some carrion, so we were surprised to see this large bird where we saw it since there was no sign of any carrion, not even a dead squirrel. Later, during the festivities two vultures circled over the upper commons at a low altitude. So at least we had some avian activity during what turned out to be a most enjoyable 50th birthday party for Hickory Farms.

The Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) has been given a bad rap as carrion eaters, dark omens of bad news, and basically ugly birds, with their leathery looking ‘naked’ (featherless) heads. This is unfair, because vultures are a vital part of the chain of life in the natural world. They are basically the garbagemen of the bird world, finding and consuming animals killed by predators, disease, or humans. Think “roadkill.” Turkey Vultures are equipped with a keen sense of smell (something most other birds lack) which has been verified by scientific experiments in which vultures could locate dead animals that were concealed from sight. Thus, they are experts at locating carrion as they circle, often at great heights. With their large wingspan (nearly six feet!) and ability to ride thermals and take advantage of any wind available, they conserve valuable energy while searching for food. Once they zero in on a likely meal, more and more vultures seem to be drawn in to the swirl. Often, Turkey Vultures (often referred to by birders simply as “TVs”), are joined by their cousins, the slightly smaller Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus). The sight of multiple vultures of two species circling overhead can be quite dramatic.

The Turkey Vulture is the most numerous and widespread of the three native vulture species in the United States. The Black Vulture’s range is mostly from Virginia south, although it can be found in Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey. The third species is the endangered California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus) found only in a few locations in California and Arizona. It was brought back from the brink of extinction by decades of effort. All wild birds were captured and then captive-bred in the San Diego and Los Angeles zoos. Eventually, some birds were released back into the wild. The largest flying bird in North American with a nearly 10-foot wingspan, it remains one of the world’s rarest and most critically endangered birds, with only just over 550 specimens, both in the wild and in captivity.

In honor of the birthday overflight, Turkey Vulture is our Bird of the Month. Read more about it here: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Turkey_Vulture/overview This article will tell you how to identify a Turkey Vulture from a Black Vulture and both of them for other soaring raptors such as Bald Eagle and Red-tailed Hawk. Since Turkey Vultures commonly soar over Hickory Farms, the next time you look up and see one (or more), give a salute for their work in removing dead animals from our roads and fields and appreciate their consummate flying skill.

September did not turn up any new yard birds for us, although we did see a warbler, which has to remain unidentified (could have been one of possibly four species). Fall warblers are notoriously difficult to ID since many species have much different plumage than in the spring. Additionally, the sighting was near dusk so viewing conditions were not optimum. This is how it goes with birding—as much as you’d love to add a bird to your list, you have to be absolutely certain of the identification to do so. We weren’t, so we didn’t.

Hummingbirds were in evidence up to the time of submission of this article on 20 September. Hopefully when we return in early October, they will still be around. We are keeping records of the last date in each year when we record these little avian jewels.

As the weather cools and leaves begin to change color, I hope you will keep your eyes on the sky, the trees, and the open spaces in Hickory Farms and elsewhere in the area. We will begin to see an influx of backyard ‘winter birds’ such as Slate-colored Junco and White-throated Sparrow by the end of October into early November, and migrating hawks and eagles are also possible overhead. So, enjoy the onset of fall and check in November to get an update on the birds of Hickory Farms.

Early Voting is Now Open

For the November 4, 2025 General Election to elect the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and all of the Virginia House of Delegates. All registered Fairfax County voters are eligible to vote in this election.

And...

Early Voting Opens October 24 for the Special Election for Braddock District Supervisor

The December 9, 2025, Special election for the Braddock District in Fairfax County, Virginia, will fill the office of the Braddock District Supervisor for the remainder of the present term of office. This vacancy was created by the resignation of James R. Walkinshaw on September 10, 2025. Only registered residents of Braddock District are eligible to vote in this election.

Visit https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/elections/office-elections for more information