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2000 News Archive
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Apr 21 2000

AGENDA FOR APRIL 24 FTAS MEETING
- Speaker Doug Pickford, NoVa Planning District Commission.
- Joan McGurrin to discuss possible logos for FCCT, FTAS
- Chuck Sloan reports on opening of American Discovery Trail
- Trail news update

PLANS FOR NATIONAL TRAILS DAY JUNE 3-4 OPENING CEREMONY: FAIRFAX CROSS-COUNTY TRAIL WHITE HOUSE MILLENIUM TRAIL STATUS for Accotink Creek Trail For the first time, the Cross-County Trail will be identified by name with signposts, nine of which will be erected by the Fairfax County Park Authority and unveiled during the four separate events. For ALL events, plans are rapidly evolving; please consult www.mindspring.com/~potomacgreenways for late details. The Sunday morning event ("PART 2") will specifically celebrate the status of the Accotink Creek Trail (the southern half of the FCCT) as a White House Community Millennium Trail, sponsored by the FCPA. The Sunday midday event ("PART 3") is also a part of the annual Springfield Days festival, which plans to offer "I hiked the Cross-County Trail" buttons for participants, and to mention the event in its ads in the Washington Post and the Journal. PART 1: Saturday June 3, 9 am. Ceremonies to unveil 3 "Cross-County Trail" signposts in Great Falls, Reston and Oakton (carpools), then easy 7-mile hike back along the new trail (mostly natural surface). Meet at Colvin Run Mill Park, Route 7, 4 miles west of I-495. Three Fairfax Co. supervisors, Stu Mendelsohn (Dranesville), Cathy Hudgins (Hunter Mill) and Mike Frey (Sully), will perform the unveilings. Short (<5 min) speeches will discuss, respectively, Colvin Run Mill (the FCCT's most historic site and best access point on its northern half), Reston's visionary trail system (without it there would be no FCCT), and the role of equestrians in developing local trails. Call John Taggart (H) 703 533 0655 (W) 703 228-5261 or Jtagga@co.arlington.va.us. Sun, June 4, 9:15 am. PART 2 WHITE HOUSE MILLENNIUM TRAIL EVENT Ceremonies to unveil 2 "Cross-County Trail" signposts. Mile-plus hike along the bike trail. Please call FTAS' Bob Jordan ( 703 556 4887, robert.jordan@pressroom.com), or Jenny Pate at FCPA (703 324 8726, jenny.pate@co.fairfax.va.us). At 9:15, Fairfax County Supervisor Gerry Connolly (Providence) will unveil one of nine new signposts marked "Cross-County Trail" at Eakin Park, along Accotink Creek. We will walk to a second signpost at King Arthur Road, which will be unveiled by another Fairfax County Supervisor, Penny Gross. Sun, June 4, 1:30. PART 3 Ceremonies to unveil 2 "Cross-County Trail" signposts at Wakefield Park and Lake Accotink, during a 5+ mile circuit hike of the lake. The lake will be temporarily drained at the time--though less beautiful, it will be more intriguing to see! Directions: take Braddock Road west from I-495, first right into Wakefield Park. This event is part of the annual "Springfield Days" festival. Please call Tony Matos (adm2715@hotmail.com, 703 922 0889) Sunday June 4, 6 pm PART 4 Ceremonies to unveil 2 "Cross-County Trail" signposts at Hooes Road and Alban Road along Pohick Creek (carpool), then 3-mile hike back along this little-used, scenic section. A brief speech (<5 min) will discuss future extension of the FCCT through the Lorton Reformatory property to the Occoquan River. Directions please call Jim or Sue Wakefield at 703 250 3242.

FTAS TESTIMONY TO BOS APRIL 3 Twelve representatives from FTAS (including a good turnout from Great Falls Trailblazers and Hunters Valley Riding Club) appeared at a public hearing before the Fx Co BOS April 3 to support full funding for the FCCT and the general trails fund. Two of the FTAS group spoke that evening (Bill Niedringhaus and Bev Dickerson). The next evening, Brian Junkins of MORE testified as well. The vote is expected by the end of April.

PIMMIT RUN CLEANUP APRIL 1 (ROUND 2: APRIL 29) The April 1st Pimmit Run cleanup went quite well, with about 30 large bags of litter removed. Supervisor Mendelsohn showed up with event leaders Steve Dryden, Harvey Sachs and Carolyn Triplett for photo ops at our new "Adopt-A-Stream" signs with local journalists. Some sections were scoured so well that volunteers had trouble finding litter. At least 30 large bags of trash were removed. One section east of Great Falls St. unfortunately was still badly littered. Carolyn has taken the initiative to organize Round 2 to finish the job--on Saturday, April 29th at 9:00 am at Great Falls St. and Lemon Road. Everyone is welcome to come help, please bring your own bags. Contact Caroline Triplett (caroline.triplett@juno.com, 703 893-3062) for more information.

SOUTH-COUNTY CHAPTER ORGANIZING Shiela Roy Peck intends to organize a new FTAS chapter focusing on the southern end of the FCCT-the area from Hooes Road to Alban Road along Pohick Creek in Springfield. Sheila's goals for the group are to: 1. analyze and assess needed trail improvements from Hooes Road to Alban Road 2. work with the County Supervisors (McConnell and Highland) for their support of the Fairfax Cross County Trail 3. plan and schedule regular hiking outings to conduct improvements as possible along this route Please contact her at VP135@aol.com if you are interested in joining or co-chairing this new South County chapter.

May 14 2000

AGENDA FOR MAY 22 FTAS MEETING
- Speaker: Judy Okay, of the Virginia Dept. of Forestry, will discuss the Difficult Run Riparian Restoration Project, which is intended to improve water quality and wildlife habitat.

FTAS WINS AMERICAN HIKING SOCIETY'S 1999 TRAIL DEVELOPMENT AWARD The purpose of the award, established in 1993, is to recognize a trail club or organization for their work toward completing a major trail project. One other group, Tennessee's Cumberland Trail Conference, shares this year's award with FTAS. AHS will present the award to us at our National Trails Day event at 9 am Saturday, June 3 at Colvin Run Mill Park (see below). More information is available at http://www.americanhiking.org/inside/awards/ahstrail.html

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROVES ADDITIONAL $300,000 FOR CROSS-COUNTY TRAIL. The vote was in April. During the autumn a plan will be developed for applying these funds (e.g., whether to focus on one geographic section, land acquisition, etc.) FCPA will soon hire a consultant to coordinate design of the Cross-County Trail. This spring, Congressman Moran requested enough additional federal funding for FY2001 to complete the volunteer-maintained, lower-cost version. The Board also voted $1 million for the general trails and walkways fund. This matches the level of 3-4 years ago, but is down significantly from the $2.5 million level voted last year.

LATEST SCHEDULE FOR NATIONAL TRAIL DAY JUNE 3-4
Event 1: Saturday June 3, 9 am. SIGNPOSTS UNVEILED in Great Falls, Reston and Oakton HIKE 6 miles, mostly flat, natural surface woodland trails AWARD: American Hiking Society presents its Trail Developers Award to FTAS DIRECTIONS: I-495, west 4 miles Route 7, right to Colvin Run Mill Park CONTACT: John Taggart (H) 703 533 0655 (W) 703 228-5261 or Jtagga@co.arlington.va.us.
Event 2: Sunday June 4, 8:30 am. SIGNPOSTS UNVEILED at King Arthur Road and Prosperity Ave. HIKE: 2 miles, flat, along the Accotink Creek bike trail. DIRECTIONS: I-495 west Rte 236 › mile, right K. Arthur Rd. 1/4 mile. Additional parking: Eakin Pk, Tobin Pk. CONTACT Bob Jordan 703 556 4887, robert.jordan@pressroom.com
Event 3: Sunday June 4, 1:30 pm. SIGNPOSTS UNVEILED at Wakefield Pk and Lake Accotink Pk HIKE: 6 miles, mostly flat, circuit of Lake Accotink. Part of "Springfield Days" festival DIRECTIONS: I-495 west Braddock Rd, immediate right to Wakefield Park, main parking lot CONTACT Tony Matos, adm2715@hotmail.com, (W) 703 922 0889
Event 4: Sunday June 4, 6 pm. SIGNPOSTS UNVEILED at Hooes Rd and Alban Rd along Pohick Creek HIKE 3 miles, mostly flat, wooded streamside trail DIRECTIONS: Fx Co. Pky, south Rolling Road 1.5 mi, right Northumberland Rd 1/4 mile to Saratoga Elem. School CONTACT: Sue and Jim Wakefield, 703 250 3242 The FCPA has prepared a handout for the NTD event with a map of the Cross-County Trail on one side and a description on the other. This handout, and a copy on which FTAS has marked the nine signpost locations, will be available at all the NTD events.

BILL CUTTLER LEAVES FCPA Bill Cuttler joined the Fairfax County Park Authority last summer. He has worked hard to plan for the Cross-County Trail and has encouraged volunteer trail activism. He recently resigned from the Park Authority, and we will miss him.

May 18 2000

FTAS MEETING MAY 22, McLEAN GOVT CENTER 7:30
- Speaker: Judy Okay, Difficult Run Riparian Restoration If you have a SLIDE PROJECTOR, please bring it for Judy!!!!!
- Dryden on Historical Map of Pimmit Run Valley
- New FCPA / FTAS Maps of Cross-County Trail and the 9 new signposts

Great Falls Trailblazers meet May 31, 7:30 pm at the Old Schoolhouse

REPORT: PIMMIT RUN CLEANUP - ROUND 2 APRIL 29 Caroline Triplett, one of the leaders of FTAS' April 1st Pimmit Run litter cleanup, organized a followup volunteer effort April 29 to attack the toughest area that we had not finished April 1st. It's one of the largest remaining wetlands along the Run, between the Dulles Road and Great Falls St. Caroline reports that the Round 2 cleanup effort "was a great success...We really hauled some trash!" The area collects litter from the culverts above Olney Park and the group will be back at it when the leaves come down in November.

HISTORICAL MAP OF THE PIMMIT RUN WATERSHED At FTAS' May 22 meeting, Steve Dryden will discuss his plans to apply for a "Kodak American Greenways" grant. Sponsored by the Conservation Fund in Arlington, this annual grant is for projects related to Greenways. Steve says, "I have been working on an historic map of the Pimmit area, using research that I, John Weiler and others have done. What I'd like to do is get a grant of $2,000 or so, to have it illustrated by a local artist I know, then printed up. We could then sell these to raise funds for FTAS, and spark further interest in the Pimmit Run Trail. We could also get the maps framed and give to school libraries for their walls, etc. The deadline for applications is June 1 [and I] decided to give it a shot."

CLIFTON HORSE SOCIETY'S CONTRIBUTIONS This e-newsletter credited several groups who testified in favor of increased trail funding to the Board of Supervisors April 3. We'd also like to credit (belatedly) another group that participated, the Clifton Horse Society. CHS members have also been active in some of our trail maintenance activities over the past year. CHS's Jim and Sue Wakefield are helping to lead the Pohick Creek portion (Part 4) of the FCCT Opening Ceremony, at 6 pm Sunday June 4.

BLAZING (YOU CAN FIND YOUR WAY ON THE CROSS-COUNTY) The Cross-County Trail has been "blazed" this spring in both directions between Colvin Run Mill Park and Leeds Road in Oakton, using 2-inch wide yellow "duck" tape. The effect is very much like real (painted) blazes, but conforms to our trail-marking guidelines (nothing permanent, no penetration of trees, till the final route is officially approved by the FCPA). It is a big improvement over the markers we used last year, orange surveyor's tape, which people (perhaps fearing loggers) often tear down. Double blazes, the top one slanting left/right, indicate a left/right turn.

POTOMAC REVIEW's "WINDING TRAILS" ISSUE, SUMMER 2000, TO FEATURE FTAS TRAILS The Potomac Review's summer issue will be devoted to trails in the metropolitan area. Three related articles concern FTAS activities. One describes Pimmit Run and its history, ecology and trails. Another describes how the Cross-County Trail came into being, and a third describes the Difficult Run segment of last November's Cross-County Hike. It should be on newsstands by the end of June.

FAIRFAX JOURNAL TO PUBLICIZE OUR NTD EVENT Rob White of the Fairfax Journal will write an advance article about our National Trails Day opening ceremony June 3-4, 2000, for the Fairfax Cross-County Trail. Back on June 22, 1999, he wrote "Steps Taken to Explore Countywide Hiking Trail" in that newspaper, reporting on our Cross-County Hike; this article is accessible from FTAS' website.. Be looking for White's new article toward the end of May.

Jun 01 2000

FINAL UPDATE: NATIONAL TRAILS DAY JUNE 3-4 We will hold the signpost unveilings rain or shine. The hikes will proceed so long as the streams don't get too high to use the crossings. At the moment the forecasts look good both days.
Event 1: Saturday June 3, 9:00 am. SIGNPOSTS UNVEILED - 9:00 am Colvin Run Mill Park, Great Falls - Guests Supv. Stuart Mendelsohn (Dranesville Dist); Tom Johnson and Susan Crosby, American Hiking Society - 10:00 am corner of Twin Branches and Glade, Reston - Guests: Supv. Catherine Hudgins (Hunter Mill Dist.); Robert E Simon, founder of Reston - 11:00 am equestrian ring near corner of Leeds Rd and Hunters Valley Rd, Oakton - Guests: Supv. Michael Frey (Sully Dist.); Paul Pearson of Hunters Valley Riding Club HIKE: 6 miles, mostly flat, natural surface woodland trails AWARD: American Hiking Society presents its Trail Developers Award to FTAS, 9am REFRESHMENTS: 11 am, courtesy of Hunters Valley Riding Club DIRECTIONS: I-495, west 4 miles Route 7, right to Colvin Run Mill Park CONTACT: John Taggart (H) 703 533 0655 (W) 703 228-5261 or Jtagga@co.arlington.va.us.
Event 2: Sunday June 4, 8:30 am. SIGNPOSTS UNVEILED - 8:30 am Accotink Stream Valley Trail at King Arthur Road, Annandale - Guests Supv. Penny Gross (Mason Dist); Bo White, Fairfax Co. Park Auth. Board (Mason Dist). - Approx 9:15 am Eakin Park at Prosperity Ave - Guests Supv. Gerry Connolly (Providence Dist); Joanne Malone, Fairfax Co. Park Auth. Board (Providence Dist). HIKE: 2 miles, flat, along the Accotink Creek bike trail. DIRECTIONS: I-495 west Rte 236 › mile, right King Arthur Rd. 1/4 mile. Additional parking: Eakin Pk, Tobin Pk. CONTACT: Bob Jordan 703 556 4887, robert.jordan@pressroom.com
Event 3: Sunday June 4, 1:30 pm. SIGNPOSTS UNVEILED - 1:30 pm Wakefield Pk (start at snack bar) - Guest Supv. Sharon Bulova (Braddock Dist) - Approx 2:45 pm Lake Accotink Park, trailhead at south end of parking lot - Guest Tawney Hammond, Site Administrator, Lake Accotink Park HIKE: 1:45 - 4 pm, 6 miles, mostly flat, circuit of Lake Accotink. PART OF "SPRINGFIELD DAYS" FESTIVAL DIRECTIONS: I-495 west Braddock Rd, immediate right to Wakefield Park, main parking lot CONTACT: Tony Matos, adm2715@hotmail.com, (W) 703 922 0889
Event 4: Sunday June 4, 6:00 pm. SIGNPOSTS UNVEILED (limited parking; please carpool to Hooes Rd from Saratoga) - 6:15 pm at (Old) Hooes Rd along Pohick Creek - Approx 8:00 pm at Pohick Road and Rolling Rd, along Pohick Creek - Guest Neil McBride, who will discuss trails in southern Fairfax Co., and his efforts to help convert much of Lorton Reformatory into parkland HIKE: 6:30 - 8:30 pm, 3 miles, mostly flat, wooded streamside trail DIRECTIONS: Fx Co. Pky, south Rolling Road 1.5 mi, right Northumberland Rd 1/4 mile to Saratoga Elem. School CONTACT: Sue and Jim Wakefield, 703 250 3242

PLANS FOR RIPARIAN RESTORATION ALONG PIMMIT RUN At FTAS' May meeting, Judy Okay of --- spoke about her efforts over many years toward restoring trees along Difficult Run. FTAS requested that she walk with us along Pimmit Run to determine areas where it would be appropriate to plant new trees. We hope to do this walk in June; date TBA.

NEW SECTION OF FCCT UNDER CONSTRUCTION Jenny Pate reports that the section of the Cross County Trail east of Pickett Road (Thaiss Park) in Fairfax City is now under construction, using Park Bond funds. It includes a fairweather crossing of Accotink Creek. On the Cross-County Hike last year we used a natural-surface trail here and scrambled across the creek at a rough ford. This new link will connect Fairfax City with the bike trail we are hiking at Event 2 on Sunday morning, with Supervisors Gross and Connolly.

NEXT MEETING JUNE 26 Our next monthly meeting is the usual date and place, the 4th Monday at 7:30, June 26, in the McLean Govt. Center. We expect to have an officer of the American Hiking Society as speaker. We will discuss whether to meet in July and August, or take a summer break. The history of the Pimmit Run Valley will be the topic of our September meeting.

Jun 02 2000

Final NTD schedule Resending what I sent yesterday. Several people did not receive it 24 hrs later (including me). Apologies if you get it twice. Hope to see many of you tomorrow or Sunday - Bill

Jun 11 2000

OPENING CEREMONY FOR CROSS COUNTY TRAIL DRAWS 6 SUPERVISORS At this National Trails Day event nine new signposts along the FCCT were unveiled, in four separate events combined with hikes. Attending supervisors were Mendelsohn (Dranesville), Hudgins (Hunter Mill), Frey (Sully), Connolly (Providence), Gross (Mason) and Bulova (Braddock). Merilee Pierce from Kate Hanley's office attended three unveilings and hiked from Sully to Colvin Run Mill. Representatives from the Fx Co Park Authority Board included Frank de la Fe (chair), Bo White (Mason) and Joanne Malone (Providence). There were five representatives from the Countywide Trails Committee, as well as hikers from FTAS, PATC and the No Va Hiking Club. The largest turnout, about 40, was at the Sully signpost, organized by the Hunters Valley Riding Club. They provided refreshments--drinks, pastries and a Cross-County Trail cake-and a huge dose of enthusiasm. At Colvin Run Mill, the American Hiking Society formally presented FTAS with its Trail Development Award. This engraved plaque can be viewed at our June 26 meeting, at which there will also be a more complete report on the opening ceremony.

JUNE 12: MT VERNON TRAIL EXTENSION MEETING Dennis Frew writes > The National Park Service is having a meeting to discuss the upcoming study > of extending the Mt. Vernon Trail to I 495. The meeting will be held at the Turkey Run HQ of the NPS on Monday from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. . Dennis will attend; others are invited to as well

JUNE 17 AM: DIFFICULT RUN WATERSHED MEETING Nina Kwartin writes: You Are Invited to a Difficult Run Watershed Meeting and Stream Walk: Come and learn about the Difficult Run Community Conservancy (DRCC). DRCC is a community-based group dedicated to conservation, environmental education, and community building in the Difficult Run watershed. At the meeting, we'll be discussing our goals and plans for the next year. We would like to hear your ideas about what we can do to improve the Difficult Run watershed. WHERE: Room 232 of the Fairfax County Government Center Building 12000 Government Center Parkway Fairfax, VA WHEN: Saturday, June 17th, at 8:00 am AFTER THE MEETING: we'll be taking a stream walk along the headwaters of Difficult Run at the Fairfax County Government Center. Please bring sneakers or hiking boots and binoculars. Come with any maps you have of your favorite trails or trail easements along Difficult Run and its tributaries, we'll all compare notes! RSVP: Nina Kwartin RKwartin@aol.com or (703) 757-7519

JUNE 17 PM: LOCAL HIKING/TRAIL ADVOCACY GROUPS TO MEET Tom Johnson of PATC has organized a meeting of all the local hiking and trail advocacy/maintaining groups. It starts at about 2pm Sat. June 17 at the PATC cabin in Blackburn. There is an option of doing a lot of hiking there and staying overnight at the cabin (bring sleeping bag). Tom says that at this point, PATC, AHS, AMC local chapter, Sierra Club MWROP, Capital, Center, Wanderbirds, Mountain Club of Maryland, Northern Virginia Hiking Club, and Washington Women Outdoors, will all be represented. There will be three trail maintaining groups PATC, MCM, and FTAS. This would be a good opportunity to network with just about everyone around here who hikes or builds trails. Please contact Tom Johnson of PATC, at johnts3@juno.com, if you would like to attend.

JUNE 26 FTAS MONTHLY MEETING American Hiking Society President Mary Margaret Sloan will speak. It's at the usual time and place: 7:30pm McLean Govt Center, 1437 Balls Hill Rd, McLean

Jun 24 2000

AGENDA Monday, June 26
7:30 pm McLean Govt Center, 1437 Balls Hill Rd McLean
MAIN SPEAKER: Mary Margaret Sloan, President, American Hiking Society
- Proposed 501 (c) 3 role for Potomac River Greenways Coalition for the new Potomac Trail Council (directed toward completing the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, see below) --- Discussion led by: Phil Hocker, Tom Johnson and Dave Lillard
- News re the Mt Vernon Trail Extension (thru McLean) --- Discussion led by: Dennis Frew
- Giant new map of all existing on- and off-road trails in McLean --- Discussion led by: Wade Smith
- Application filed June 1 for grant to develop historical map of Pimmit Run valley --- Discussion led by: Steve Dryden (unconfirmed)
- Report on: - the June 3-4 Cross-County Trail opening ceremony
- the first summit of 11 local hiking groups held June 17 at the Blackburn Trail Center
- the June 17 meeting of the Difficult Run Community Conservancy
- the 2000 Fairfax Cross-County Hike and other planned FTAS events
- new progress / contacts with landowners along Pimmit Run and Difficult Run --- Discussion led by: Bill Niedringhaus
ON VIEW at the meeting will be FTAS' new National Trail Development Award and FCPA's new map of the Cross-County Trail.

2000 FAIRFAX CROSS-COUNTY HIKE and other FTAS HIKES, EVENTS We are tentatively reserving the dates of Nov 19 and Dec 10 for this year's Cross County Hike. It would likely be conjunction with the Capitol Hiking Club. CHC hikes use a 47-seat shuttle bus ($15 per hiker, but no carpooling required; bus pickups at several points allow 6-, 10- and 16-mile hiking options). John Taggart has agreed to lead a (free) Difficult Run Loop hike 9am August 5th from Colvin Run Mill Park. We are also looking at other (free) hikes at various points on the FCCT. We also plan a maintenance event sometime in the fall (for the W&OD to Colvin Run Mill section)

POTOMAC TRAIL COUNCIL INCORPORATED, JUNE 23 The new non-profit corporation is intended to help make the federally-designated Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail a reality. Note that the Fairfax Cross-County Trail (with extensions north to the Loudoun line and south through Lorton) will likely form the Fairfax County section of the PHNS trail, while the Pimmit Run Trail is an important side trail. Phil Hocker writes: The [Potomac Trail Council] is organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes. More specifically, it is organized: 1. To conduct nonpartisan research and public education regarding the historic travel routes from the mouth of the Potomac a Chesapeake Bay to the forks of the Ohio River at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and the educational and recreational values of the natural and cultural heritage to be found along those routes. 2. To conduct research on the feasibility, and the advantages, of establishing new publicly-accessible trails and pathways along and parallel to those historic routes. 3. To disseminate the results of its research and studies, and its recommendations, on the widest possible basis consistent with the accomplishment of its charitable and educational purposes. 4. To conduct and/or to sponsor the conduct of educational activities, including seminars, meetings, forums and presentations in the public interest on the value of establishing such publicly-accessible trails and pathways in the Potomac-to-Pittsburgh corridor. 5. To cooperate and support other organizations that are organized and operated for similar purposes and that are exempt from federal income taxes under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and contributions to which are deductible under Section 170 of the Code. Ö [the] Board of Directors is expected to [include] David Lillard, Thomas R. Johnson, William P. Niedringhaus, Philip W. Ogilvie, Douglas A. Pickford, and Karen Zachary ÖIn addition to being legally certified as a DC non-profit corporation, Potomac Trail Council now has its Employer Identification Number issued by the Internal Revenue Service (it's 54-1994205, for anyone who is overcome by the urge to write a big check). With David Lillard's approval and Robert and Dee Leggett's support, the Council also has several Internet Domain Names registered. www.potomactrail.org [is] the main address we would expect to useÖThere is no material posted Ö yet; the plan for the moment is just to put up a page of very basic "Who the Potomac Trail Council is, and how to reach us" info until we get next steps in place. Phil

KAREN LANHAM JOINS FCPA (Trail Coord. Jenny Pate's immediate supervisor) On June 6 she e-mailed Bill Niedringhaus: Bill- I would like to take a minute to introduce myself to you. I have filled a new Planner III position within the Fairfax County Park Authority and will be working on coordination of the Trails and Greenways programs as one of my responsibilities. I will be serving on the NMTC as the Park Authority representative. Jenny Pate will continue to assist as the technical representative, since she is the most knowledgeable on specific details on Fairfax County trails. I would like to meet with you and discuss your goals and objectives with trail development in Fairfax County. I know that you were behind the Cross County trail idea, and I think that this is a fabulous project! I am interested in incorporating as much as I can into our workplan given our current committments with fulfilling the bond referendum projects. I am also interested in investigating the possibility of extending the Cross County trail south past l-95 toward the Occoquan. Please let me know when you might be available next week or the following week. If it would be convenient for you, we could meet for lunch. I'm looking forward to hearing your ideas and working with you in the future! Happy Trails! Karen Lanham