Please feel free to post your photographs of the county to the Treasures site. We have quite a collection submitted by members and would love to see more.
http://rlep.omeka.net
On Sunday the 15th April a Lyme Forum was held at the Theater in Washington. Speakers included Dr. Tom Connally, retired internist, Sam Quinn, RLEP Board Member and ecologist, and Leah Card, researcher at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, and with Rick Kohler (RLEP president) performing the opening and introductions. 
Sam provided the audience with an overview of the biology of various ticks in the Rappahannock area and identified the "Blacklegged (or commonly Deer) tick" as the culprit for Lyme. He also added some good studies on vector populations and comments on the track Loudoun County is taking which is controversial and not environmentally friendly.
Dr. Connally gave a good history and background information on Lyme and good information on precautions, signs early treatment and current research.
Leah Card gave an interesting presentation on a study at SCBI aimed at measuring tick populations and disease incidence. This added a nice environmental science ending.
Many thanks go to Kaye and Rick for organizing the event and Aleta for organizing Joyce Nutz from the Fauquier Chapter of the National Capital Lyme Disease Association for providing a display and hand out materials for the audience.
The Lyme Forum on Sunday April 15 will involve presentations from a number of experts in specific area -
1) Dr. Tom Connally, a retired internist, from Arlington, practiced for over 30 years as a doctor in Washington, DC, with 20 years on the staff at Sibley Hospital. Immediately before retiring he was a Clinical Associate Professor of Internal Medicine at the Georgetown Medical Center. Dr Connally is a Board Member of the Northern Virginia Health Foundation and is affiliated with the Arlington Free Clinic and is deeply committed to health care advocacy. Dr Connally will be discussing the definition of the Lyme organism, the spirochete and its relationship to syphillus, the harm the spirochete can cause, symptoms and diagnosis, and prevention.
2) Sam Quinn, an RLEP Board Member and ecologist, will be speaking about types of ticks, the life cycle of the tick, the role mice play, and more.
3) Leah Card, works at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and is conducting a study of ticks and the prevalence of Lyme Disease in our region. She will be presenting information about the study and you will have a chance to see how you can be involved.
SCBI, the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, in Front Royal is conducting a study to count tick populations and identify the ticks carrying lyme disease. RLEP is forming a group of volunteers to learn the procedures. If you are interested in joining the list, please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and give us your contact information.
The Board has voted to make membership a fixed rate of $25/family. Please contact us if you are not sure if your membership is current. Call 540-675-RLEP. Or email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Other dollar amounts of support are accepted. We have an annual fundraising drive nearer the end of the year. Thank you!