CELEBRATION MARKS 50 YEARS OF W&OD TRAIL: Gerald and Betty Ford were the new occupants at the White House. “The Rockford Files” and “Little House on the Prairie” were about to make their debuts on television. Jimmy Fallon was born and the last surviving Keystone Kop (Robert Cox) died.
September 1974 also brought the opening of the first segment of the Washington & Old Dominion Regional Trail. To mark the occasion, NOVA Parks (the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority) held a special event Sept. 7, unveiling a permanent sign about the history of the W&OD Trail and its many enhancements over its first half-century.
“More than 2 million people per year use the trail for recreation or to commute to work,” NOVA Parks officials said.
Built on the right-of-way of the defunct Washington & Old Dominion Railroad that was acquired from what is now Dominion Energy, the first paved section of the trail was located in Falls Church.
The linear park now runs 45 miles from Arlington’s Shirlington neighborhood west to Purcellville, and what was one of the earliest “rails-to-trails” conversions nationally is now one of about 2,400 across the U.S.
NOVA Parks is “continuously enhancing the trail to ensure it is user-friendly for its wide variety of uses,” the agency said. “Many intersections have been ‘grade separated,’ with vehicles and trail users on different levels. The vision for the trail continues with enhancements [started in 2021] to create dual parallel trails – one for pedestrians and one for cyclists.”
Founded in 1959, NOVA Parks’ service area encompasses Arlington, Fairfax and Loudoun counties and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax and Falls Church. The regional agency manages 35 parks with 12,380 acres of parkland, including waterparks, golf courses, campsites, historic sites, event venues, boat launches, annual holiday-light shows and a high-adventure ropes course.
I-66 EXPRESS OPERATOR AIDS FOOD FOR OTHERS: Employees and associates of I-66 Express Mobility Partners (I-66 EMP), the builder and operator of the 66 Express Outside the Beltway, recently packed a grand total of 660 Power Packs for the area’s school-aged children through an initiative from the safety-net provider Food for Others.
The donation of time is in addition to I-66 EMP’s contribution of $10,000 to the organization, also made in early September.
The Power Pack Program sends backpack meals home with students who, without their school-provided meals, do not get enough food on the weekends. Power Packs consist of two items each for breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus two snacks and two healthy beverages.
The program assists approximately 3,600 students at 52 schools throughout Fairfax County, helping them alleviate hunger over the weekend and return to school each Monday ready to learn.
(For information on the initiative, see the Website at https://foodforothers.org/get-help/power-packs-for-kids.)
“We talk about making a difference, and EMP’s donation of time and funding truly makes a significant difference for kids around Fairfax County,” said Deb Haynes, executive director of Food for Others. “The Power Pack Program is among our most impactful programs, so we’re pleased to receive this help from EMP. We consider the 66 Express Outside the Beltway to be one of our strongest partners.”
On-site packing of Power Packs for kids is the latest collaboration between Food for Others and I-66 EMP.
“It’s hard for a child to learn when they’re hungry. That’s why fighting against food insecurity among our area’s schoolchildren is crucial to our support of local public education and school readiness,” said Nancy Smith, corporate-affairs director for I-66 EMP. “We enjoyed working with Food for Others to put together these Power Packs, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with Food for Others for a long time to come.”
Food for Others is one of the largest providers of emergency food assistance in Northern Virginia. The organization serves 2,600 families per week and distributes weekend meal packs to roughly 3,700 students weekly.
ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF N.VA. SELLING WHITE HOUSE ORNAMENTS: The Assistance League of Northern Virginia is selling 2024 White House ornaments to raise funds in support of its mission.
The 2024 ornament honors President Jimmy Carter. Designed by the White House Historical Association, the ornament is shaped like an anchor, symbolizing President Carter’s service in the U.S. Navy, and includes other elements that reflect his accomplishments before, during and after his presidency.
The cost is $23, and all profits will support the Assistance League’s philanthropic activities benefiting children and families in need.
Orders will be hand-delivered by members to those living in Northern Virginia; for those outside the area, shipping charges will apply.
To place orders, see the Website at https://alnv2024.square.site. For information, e-mail ornaments@ALNV.org.
FAIRFAX OFFICIALS TO LOWER LAKE ACCOTINK’S WATER LEVEL TEMPORARILY: Fairfax County officials are planning to lower the water level at Lake Accotink in Springfield to conduct a planned assessment of the dam structure.
The lake drawdown is expected to lower the water level by up to 5 feet, depending on visible lakebed condition, county officials said, and will expose the muddy lakebed in many areas.
The Park Authority has specifically selected this timeframe to minimize any impact to lake activities, officials said. Residents are asked to keep off the muddy lakebed to avoid getting stuck in the exposed mud. Warning signs will be posted around the lake’s perimeter during the project.
The dam assessment is expected to be completed by Thanksgiving. Water levels may take up to two months to return to their normal levels, depending on precipitation.
VALE ARTS FALL SHOW AND SALE SLATED: The ValeArts Fall Art Show and Sale will be held Sept. 27-29 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day at 3124 Fox Mill Road in Oakton.
“From contemporary realize to abstract, you are sure to find a work of art that’s just your style,” organizers said.
Artists will be on hand to discuss their techniques and inspirations at the family-friendly event.
For information, see the Website at www.valearts.com.
