GAINSWave Therapy in Lake Barcroft, VA

WAMU/John Hines

Lake Barcroft, Virginia

Unless you know where the Fairfax County neighborhood of Lake Barcroft is located, you might miss it. If you happen to be driving along Columbia Pike past Seven Corners where it begins to feel more wooded and suburban you might notice a big concrete dam. The Lake stretches beyond the dam, but the lake itself is hard to see because of the trees and homes that line its shores and surrounding hills.

Originally created by the City of Alexandria as a reservoir, the neighborhood has evolved into a desirable enclave of working professionals and their families.

“Lake Barcroft is located on two streams — Holms Run and Tripps Run — and these streams were dammed to make the Alexandria City Reservoir about 1913, and so this was used as a reservoir for Alexandria. The wooded slopes and hillsides around the neighborhood were preserved for that purpose. They abandoned the reservoir in the ‘30’s, I believe, and developers bought the land and developed it in the early 1950s,” according to 62 year-old resident Betsy Washington.

It may have begun as a municipal reservoir, but the wooded slopes and hillsides of Lake Barcroft have proven to be an ideal setting for an impressive collection of mid-century homes.

“We have a lot of the mid 50’s early 60’s split level houses. Many have been renovated and updated and become quite contemporary, but it’s really a wonderful mix. It’s not one style of house,” says Washington.

As impressive as the architecture might be, the Lake itself is the main draw of the neighborhood. Washington says that the Lake often serves as a soothing tonic for its residents.

“The lake is the heart of the community. So you come home from work, and you’re stressed and you have had a hectic day, and you look out your window and your neighbors and friends are out on the lake kayaking. They’re in these battery operated barges cruising around, and all your cares go away. It’s just a fabulous neighborhood,” effuses Washington.

With all of the water-based activities and its powers of relaxation, Lake Barcroft has an enduring allure. For Washington, leaving Lake Barcroft would be like a bad dream.

“I could never leave Lake Barcroft. I moved in wondering if it would ever get old or I would get tired of looking out the window at the lake, and it’s never happened. And occasionally I have nightmares that I’ve moved to a bigger, fancier house with more amenities. And I wake up just longing for Lake Barcroft,” Washington explains.

Fort Washington Estates, Maryland

Tucked behind the mighty fort above the Potomac River in Fort Washington, Maryland is the neighborhood of Fort Washington Estates. The cozy neighborhood of 1960’s vintage homes is ideal because it’s close to Washington, D.C. but surrounded by forest and parkland, according to 52-year-old resident Jay Krueger.

“The community is located about 15 miles due south of D.C. along the Potomac River almost directly across from Mt. Vernon and adjoining Ft. Washington National Park,” Krueger explains.

Being so close to Washington, the neighborhood’s location is a powerful lure for an increasing diverse—and increasingly more youthful—population.

“Predominantly, I think our demographic is African American but also we have an Ethiopian and Korean make up, as well, in the area. Community is sort of changing, I think, from being an older retirement community that was established originally back in the 1960’s and is now turning over again where we are getting younger families again moving into the area.”

Change may be coming to Fort Washington Estates, but historic Fort Washington stands nearby as a bastion of a bygone era. Today, the Fort remains as a reminder of past threats and wars — including the War of 1812.

“Fort Washington Park was originally built as the protector of Washington. It was the sole fort at the time it was built to protect it. Fort Washington Park was destroyed in the War of 1812, not due to any enemy fire or anything, but for the fear of losing the fort to the enemies at that point, and it was subsequently rebuilt,” says Krueger.

The foreign enemies and their wars are no longer threats for the fort to defend against. Instead these days, the fort and its surrounding forest land defend deer, bald eagles and other wildlife which help make Fort Washington Estates enjoyable.

“Something that you would notice right away and you would be surprised given our close proximity to the city is the abundance of wildlife. Deer everywhere. They are not fazed by contact with us. They are walking down the streets of our neighborhood in our community. With the abundance of park land that we have surrounding us here in Fort Washington Estates, I would say wildlife is something that we really do notice everyday—bald eagles flying overhead from some of the bald eagle nests that are close by here,” Krueger effuses.

For Krueger, it’s hard to beat the combination of location and nature in Fort Washington Estates.

“It’s a wonderful place to live here in Fort Washington Estates with proximity to our nation’s capital but seeing the wildlife that we have here.”

Music: “No, Girl” by Title Tracks from It Was Easy / “Go Your Own Way” by Hit Co. Masters from Instrumental Hits of the 1970s

At a virtual community meeting Feb. 15, Fairfax County officials explained why the dredging project that had been proposed to save Lake Accotink is no longer feasible.

County public works staff are recommending that “Lake Accotink not be dredged due to significant community and environmental impacts and excessive costs.”

A new analysis found the project would cost $395 million, a huge increase over the $30 million price tag projected earlier. That cost includes maintenance dredging every five years, as well as an initial dredge.

An in-person meeting covering the same information will be held this evening, at 7 p.m., at Kings Glen Elementary School in Springfield.

A final decision on the future of Lake Accotink will be made by the Board of Supervisors. The new recommendation, along with input from the public, will be presented to the BoS this spring after the public comment period ends on April 1.

Comments can be emailed to F515@Publicinput.com. A survey will be posted Friday on the project website.

A big disappointment

“We’re very disappointed. We’ve been working on this project for a lot of years,” said Board of Supervisors Chair Jeffrey McKay.

“There are folks angry about what they’ve heard. I’m angry, too,” said Braddock Supervisor James Walkinshaw. “We can’t sugarcoat it. The prognosis for this project is not good. The amount of sediment and cost is not a matter of opinion.”

Walkinshaw addressed a rumor that the county will sell the lake to a developer. “That is not going to happen. We don’t sell parkland to developers.”

Chris Herrington, director of the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES), said he’s heard about “the deep connection people have had with Lake Accotink.”

The latest recommendation “will be extremely disappointing to you,” Herrington said. But “we cannot proceed with a full dredging of Lake Accotink.”

To fund the nearly $400 million cost of dredging, the county would have to raise taxes, he said. And there won’t be money for other more effective projects elsewhere to reduce flooding and retain stormwater.

The project would not be in line with policies adopted by the BoS on greenhouse gases, sustainability, efficient government, safety, and the environment, he said. The dredging project would require 50,000 greenhouse gas-emitting truckloads of sediment removed from the lake.

A future wetlands park

In lieu of dredging, county staff recommends the Park Authority carry out a new Master Plan development process for Lake Accotink Park.

The property will remain a park, said Charles Smith, the branch chief for stormwater planning at DPWES.

The lake will remain for the foreseeable future, but vegetation will gradually take over the margins and the lake will transform into wetlands, Smith said. He wouldn’t speculate on how soon that would happen, as it would depend on the severity of storms in future years.

A wetlands would dramatically increase the wildlife diversity and abundance in the park, Smith said. The lake currently has poor water quality and is not a good environment for fish.

Related story: Lake Accotink dredging project not likely to happen, due to increased cost

Both the original and updated studies looked at solutions to increase the depth of the lake to eight feet to ensure its viability for recreational uses. The depth currently ranges from one to four feet.

The dredging project called for building a pipeline to transfer the dredged material to a dewatering site and transporting the dried sediment by truck to an offsite location, explained environmental engineer Amanda Kohler of Arcadis, the consulting company that carried out both studies for the county.

A new analysis

Several community members at the meeting questioned how the cost estimate could have soared from $30 million to nearly $400 million.

“Some of the critical assumptions have changed,” said Herrington. “The initial analysis included low-cost disposal options and underestimated the amount of sediment.”

The latest study found 500,000 cubic yards of sediment would have to be removed during the initial dredging. The initial estimate was 360,000 cubic yards. Another 150,000 cubic yards would have to be removed every five years.

Among the two sites identified as the best options for dewatering, use of the maintenance facility in Wakefield Park would require clearing seven acres, Kohler said. That’s much larger than originally estimated. The other site, on Southern Drive, would require 190 trucks a day through neighborhood streets carrying sediment out of the area.

No good alternatives

Arkadis reconsidered one of the other initial options for saving the lake – creating a new offline smaller lake in the park.

According to county staff, that is “not a suitable alternative for lake management due to significant community and environmental impacts, unreasonable risk for long-term safety and maintenance, and high project costs.”

Creating a new smaller lake – about half the size of Lake Accotink – would require dredging 825,000 cubic yards of sediment from the existing lake, importing 340 cubic yards of fill dirt to construct an earthen berm, rechanneling Accotink Creek, removing part of the existing dam, and building a new dam. Kohler said.

That would cost about $192 million, not including maintenance, and might not be sustainable over the long term.

Without the dredging project, Smith said the county will still carry out stream restoration projects throughout the Accotink watershed.

The county would not be fined by the Environmental Protection Agency for sending more sediment to the Chesapeake Bay, he said. “Fairfax County is not compelled to maintain Lake Accotink.”

The vast majority of sediment is flushed out into flood plains in the system, he said. “We are not seeing a tremendous impact from sediment on downstream estuaries.”

“Given what we know now, managing this lake is extremely difficult and expensive,” he said. “It’s like digging a hole on the beach with water constantly coming in and filling it up.”

Here’s where to see them:

July 1 – Lake Fairfax Park, 1400 Lake Fairfax Drive, Reston. The Fairfax County Park Authority is hosting fireworks at 9:15. Ticketed entry to the park begins at noon, and the park will close to new arrivals at 8:45 p.m. Parking is $15 per vehicle in advance and $20 at the gate. Food trucks will be there 12-9 p.m. Live music starts at 4 p.m.

July 1 – Workhouse Arts Center, 9518 Workhouse Way, Lorton. Fireworks start at 9:15 p.m. Gates open at 6 p.m. Live music, DJ, food trucks. Reserved parking is $40 per vehicle. VIP admission – including a wine-tasting reception, VIP lounge, and premium reserved seating, is $120 per person.

July 2 – Falls Church Independence Day Celebration and Fireworks, Meridian High School, 121 Mustang Alley, Falls Church. Fireworks start at 9:20 p.m. Live music starts at 7 p.m. Parking is extremely limited.

July 2 – Fairfax High School Stadium, 3501 Lion Run, Fairfax. Evening show hosted by the City of Fairfax features live music and fireworks, 6:30-10-30 p.m. Fireworks start at 9:30. Independence Day Parade on July 4, 10 a.m.-noon in downtown Fairfax.

July 2 – Vienna Independence Day Celebration and Fireworks, Yeonas Park, 1319 Ross Drive SW, Vienna. Fireworks start at 9:30 p.m. Kids activities 4-7 p.m. Live band at 7. Several food trucks and a concession stand.

July 2 – Langley High School, 6520 Georgetown Pike, McLean. Fireworks start at 9:15 p.m. Food trucks available at 6:30. Free parking and shuttles from nearby locations.

July 4 – Bready Park, Herndon, 814 Ferndale Ave., Herndon. Fireworks at 9:30. Live music and family games start at 6:30 p.m.

July 4 – National Mall, Washington, D.C. Fireworks start at 9:09 p.m. The Capitol Fourth concert starts at 8 at E. Capitol Street and First Street NW.

Other good spots to see the D.C. fireworks include the Kennedy Center Terrace, the Iwo Jima Memorial in Rosslyn, Hains Point at East Potomac Park, the U.S. Air Force Memorial, and Washington National Cathedral.

July 8 – The City of Alexandria’s Annual USA and City Birthday Celebration, Oronoco Bay Park, 100 Madison St., Alexandria. Fireworks start at 9:30 p.m. Live music starts at 6 p.m.

Justice High School's theatre cast and crew have pride in their upcoming musical as theatre recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.

LAKE BARCROFT, VA — Before high school students dazzle audiences with a musical or play each fall and spring, it takes a lot of preparation and rehearsals well in advance of the shows. The challenges of preparing for a production became harder during the COVID-19 pandemic, from decreased participation in extracurriculars to dealing with tighter budgets. In Fairfax County, Justice High School's Wolfpack Theatre hasn't been immune to those impacts.

But students say participation has grown as Justice High School prepares for its fall musical, "Disney's Beauty and the Beast." The cast and crew of about 90 people will put on the production from Nov. 9 to 11 as they hope to attract larger audiences to keep its theatre program afloat.

"Many theatre and performing arts departments across the county are working to restore our programs to pre-pandemic conditions," theatre teacher and director Jewel Schrader Orem told Patch. "But, [I am] happy to say this is by far the biggest show we have done in the last three years."

Schrader Orem said preparation for the fall musical began last spring when tech students developed designs for sets and program participants began collecting costumes. Over the summer, the teacher met with musical director Emi Eiting and choreographer Kendall Huheey to start planning the play. Casting took place in time for rehearsals to start in August.

"This is a joyous show to do, and it is wonderful to see the students coming together to create this wonderful production," said Schrader Orem. "It feels like theatre is finally back and here to celebrate life."

Find out what's happening in Falls Churchwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Kyle Aylward, a sophomore, is making his musical debut as the Beast. He says preparing for the musical takes hours of rehearsal after school and practices the songs in his head other times. Working with his cast mates has been a positive experience, since they don't yell at each other when mistakes are made.

"It is my first musical and my nerves are off the charts. But I’m excited to try something new," Aylward told Patch.

Laura Stoker, who plays Lumiere and is also in charge of the TikTok account for the theatre program, has enjoyed making new friends and playing alongside her friend Maggie playing Cogsworth.

"I grew up watching this movie and I was actually the one who recommended we do this show so the fact that we're able to do it and make it happen is amazing," said Stoker.

Senior Elias (Elijah) Kassa, who is playing Gaston and is building crew supervisor, knew he wanted to play Gaston because it would be a fun role.

"For myself I spent almost my entire summer studying the music of the show, watching the original 1991 and live action movies, and watching an onstage performance of the very show at Chicago Shakespeare Theater," said Kassa. "I wanted to see the creative choices other people had made to see what I liked, what worked, and of course what didn’t work; then integrate the parts I liked while also bring my own flair as to not plagiarize an entire show or character portrayal."

Stephen Blackadar, an assistant stage manager and member of the crew, explained how it is "harder than one may expect" to prepare for performances.

"We've had to build many new set pieces for this show, purchase elaborate props and costumes, and prepare challenging lighting and sound situations, in addition to the many hours put into practicing each scene," said Blackadar. "Regardless, it is a very rewarding experience, especially as the show comes together at the end of the production."

Nour Abbas, a senior, playing Marie/Plate as well as crew roles, said "this show in particular has been putting us all to work." Parents and teachers have also contributed their time to help.

"Acting wise we have multiple days a week dedicated to vocal, dance, or blocking rehearsals," said Abbas. "Other than rehearsals we have our dedicated tech crews who have spent hours building and painting the set, making and finding props, sewing our amazing costumes, and stage management keeping us all in check and making sure everything runs smoothly."

For these students, theatre is a crucial school program helping them work toward career aspirations. For instance, Kassa is applying to collegiate acting programs and conservatories, including Juilliard.

"Theater, and more so the art of storytelling, has intrigued me from a young age and grown exponentially with age," said Kassa. "Through acting, through being in these stories, every show leaves a lesson, an imprint on what it means to be…human."

Schrader Orem said theatre teaches students how to present themselves confidently, speak to be heard, produce something from start to finish and work in groups. Students have the chance to learn specialized skills like graphic design, painting, set and lighting design and more.

"There's a lot of people in theater right now who want to peruse theater as their career so having this experience and opportunity to act is helping them build up their acting background and grow in all aspects of musical theater," added Stoker. "At the same time, theater is helping a lot of people who want to go into other careers by building communication and confidence skills and just having an experience of working on something big and putting hard work into it."

"Many students here at Justice are looking to pursue theatre as a professional career, and their unique dedication to the shows are very impressive to witness," added Blackadar. "From what I've seen, theater truly makes all those who participate better people."

The skills learned in theatre don't just benefit students pursuing theatre careers. Abbas, who wants to become a teacher, has experienced a confidence boost.

"Being a part of theatre really benefits you for life after high school. It gives you beneficial speaking skills and allows you to think critically and creatively," said Abbas. "Through acting and tech you learn fundamental skills of confidence, collaboration, and leadership. The work you produce is more than your own, it’s the dedication of a group."

The students encourage support for theatre and the arts. That starts with attending the fall musical.

"Supporting the arts is very important in schools because it gives kids a way to express themselves," said senior Sophia DePasquale. "It gives kids an automatic friend group and support system."

"It’s so important to have an outlet to hang out, be yourself and feel safe in school," The theatre gives that space," added Magdalena Briggs. "It allows students to be themselves and creative, and really create the character they want to be."

Kassa is excited to make "Beauty and the Beast" his final high school musical performance, as it is filled with "amazing songs," fun for adults and kids, and "Disney magic."

"I love this show to death and the fact that it’s my final musical in my high school career is a wondrous send off to what has quite possibly been the most fundamental and important part of my life this far," said Kassa.

To learn more about Wolfpack Theatre's "Disney's Beauty and the Beast," visit wolfpacktheatre.org.

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Not far from the heavy traffic of Timberlake Road sits a peaceful neighborhood lake - the road's namesake.

"It's just an oasis for those of us who live here," said Denise Gillett, president of the Timber Lake Homeowner's Association.

Timber Lake was built in 1925, but in recent years it's been on the verge of extinction.

When its dam collapsed in 1995, homeowners rallied to build a new, concrete structure in its place. That event was just the beginning of a much longer struggle to ensure the lake's survival.

"After 1995 when the dam broke, this community recognized the need for a watershed improvement district," said Gillett.

Watershed Improvement Districts give homeowners in a designated community the ability to tax themselves for the purpose of making watershed improvements.

Earlier this week, people who live around Timber Lake voted by referendum to create only the second Watershed Improvement District in all of Virginia. The first was established by residents of Northern Virginia's Lake Barcroft in the mid-1970's.

138 residents of Timber Lake, approximately 83% of all the votes cast, chose to allow the new improvement district to levy a tax. A similar amount chose to give the district power to take on debt or issue bonds.

"The watershed improvement district affords us the ability to tax ourselves at a little bit higher rate, so that it is fair and equitable to everyone who lives and has shoreline on the lake," Gillett explained.

Money from the tax increase will be used for dredging, something homeowners say is desperately needed to eliminate the buildup of sediment. In some areas of the lake, so much sediment has washed downstream that sandbars have developed.

Dredging will cost half a million dollars. With the new tax district in place, the work is scheduled to begin in February.

Having spent nearly 25 years working toward the create of their new tax district, Gillett said the homeowners of Timber Lake are ready to offer advice to other interested groups who might see a similar arrangement as beneficial to the preservation of their own lakes.

"If you are a lake community and you are having conservation issues, get your community together and look into this process," Gillett said. "It's only going to be helpful and beneficial toward maintaining the conservation of your lake."