Woodlawn Baptist Church Presents 'Christianity Explored'

The informal course is open to all.

Christianity Explored is an informal 7-week course for people who'd like to investigate Christianity, or just brush up on the basics. Looking at Mark's gospel, it explores who Jesus is, why he came, and what it means to follow him.   Rico Tice, along with Barry Cooper and Sam Shammas, originally developed Christianity Explored (CE) in the late 1990s, under the tutelage of John Stott and Richard Bewes at All Souls Church, Langham Place in Central London. The course was developed over a ten year period and has been updated and revised to reflect lessons learned during these years.  From the beginning, the aim of the course was to 'let the gospel tell the gospel.'   The course will be presented during the Sunday evening worship gathering in …

Supervisors Take Vote on Rt. 1 Road Widening

Sept. 25 public hearing nixed for vote taken Tuesday.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the revised bypass option Tuesday for the widening of Route 1 near Fort Belvoir. The board voted on the bypass as an action item, so it was not open for public comment. The Board of Supervisors was originally going to vote on the bypass on Sept. 25, but it was moved to Tuesday in order for the project to proceed on schedule. The alternative bypass option proposed by the Federal Highway Administration, VDOT, Fairfax County, and the Army in August relocates the barn and indoor arena to the same side of the realigned roadway as the pastures. The alternative bypass will also avoid impact to the historic cemetery at Woodlawn Baptist Church.  The bypass will widen the road in place …

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Federal Highway Administration Offers Alternative Route 1 Widening Option

Alternative widening option is a result of public comments.

The Federal Highway Administration has offered an alternative Route 1 bypass proposal that would preserve more acreage at Woodlawn Stables and build new barns, and mitigate impact to the historic cemetery at Woodlawn Baptist Church. This decision comes after a well-attended public meeting in June and public comment period that ended early last month. The public comment period generated nearly 300 comments that support preserving Woodlawn Stables and the historic cemetery. The FHWA was recently awarded $180 million for Route 1 widening improvements near Fort Belvoir. "It's a big deal in the sense that the FHWA would not normally do that," Save Woodlawn Stables cofounder Shelley Castle said. "It's a good response to the public." The …

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Last Chance: Comments Due on Route 1 Widening Plans

Comments must be submitted by Friday.

Public comments regarding the Route 1 widening plans are due to the Federal Highway Administration on July 6. The three widening options — widen-in-place, southern bypass, and no-action — were discussed at a public hearing at Hayfield High School in early June. Hundreds of concerned residents attended the hearing to voice their concerns about the options. The widening options will affect a historic cemetery at Woodlawn Baptist Church and the day-to-day operations of Woodlawn Stables. Comments may be submitted via the Eastern Federal Lands website.

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Church Fights to Preserve Historic Cemetery

Local church wants to preserve its cemetery, but current plans to widen Route 1 threaten its plans.

One hundred burials could be exhumed from the Woodlawn Baptist Church cemetery if current plans to widen Route 1 come to fruition. There are 177 graves in the church's cemetery, some dating back to the 19th century. For four years, the church has been battling the Federal Highway Administration to preserve the cemetery — and its land. Pastor Travis Hilton says the church received its first proposition for Route 1 widening from the Federal Highway Administration during the fall of 2008. Church leaders started dealing with the possibility of road widening and how it would affect the cemetery. Hilton said the church did not sign the proposal. “That’s when things really started to accelerate, realizing that we were going to be dealing with it…

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IMHO

Can the Stables Be Saved?

Route 1 widening options will affect Woodlawn Stable's day-to-day operations.

Over the years here in Mount Vernon, we’ve heard a number of rallying cries.  Who could forget “Save the Mount Vernon Hospital” or “Save the Gum Springs Pool?”   Then there was my personal favorite:  “Save Wanda’s Nail Salon!” And now there is a new cause to rally around:  “Save Woodlawn Stables!”      The issue is that the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has plans to widen Richmond Highway near Fort Belvoir to help alleviate an expected increase in traffic because of the Base Realignment and Closure Act (BRAC).  There are three options on the table: a no-build option, a southeast bypass option, and a widen-in-place option. The southeast bypass option is attracting the most attention because it would construct a road right through …

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Don Carr

7:27 pm on Friday, June 15, 2012

The idea that BRAC brought any significant number of new employees to the part of Belvoir straddled by Route 1 is most often touted by those who simply have not been paying attention. Only 3,400 jobs were moved there. That is well WITHIN the 3,000-6,000 limit VDOT has said for years by which Belvoir could grow without putting Route 1 at "Level F." The more important consideration is with patient …   more ›

Richmond Highway Development May Spare Woodlawn Stables

Three plans under consideration would enable business to continue.

This is the second in a multi-part series from Patch about the economic and other impacts of the declining equestrian industry in Fairfax County. Part 1: Fairfax County Losing Equestrian-Related Revenue Due to Lack of Planning was published Tuesday, Feb. 21. Part 3: Laurel Hill Equestrian Facility Moves Forward was published Thursday, Feb. 23. Part 4: Fairfax County Equestrian Opportunities was published Friday, Feb. 24. -------------  Woodlawn Stables, a horseback riding institution near Fort Belvoir, may be spared by upcoming road improvements to Richmond Highway after all. The stables, at 8907 Richmond Hwy., have been in continuous operation since 1979, when the area had fewer commercial developments and significantly less traffic. …

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Susan Larson

10:13 am on Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Via email continued: This is an excellent opportunity for the county and state to enter into a Public-Private partnership for the on again/off again equestrian center at Laurel Hill less than 7 miles away which could double the size of the Woodlawn Stables providing for all residents of Fairfax County and not just those in the Woodlawn area. Regards, D. Glen Taylor Burke, Virginia Hampstead, NC   more ›