Absolon Kent

FAIRFAX, Va. — The Omicron Zeta Theta Scholarship Foundation hosted its Sapphires and Pearls Jazz Brunch on June 1 at George Mason University. The event showcased performances by the Too Much Talent Band and served as the presentation ceremony for the chapter’s 2024 Scholarship recipients.

Established in 2002, the Omicron Theta Zeta Scholarship Foundation annually grants scholarships for academic achievement, financial need, and textbook expenses to eligible students graduating from Fairfax County high schools. Recipients must demonstrate excellence in academics, participation in extracurricular activities, engagement in community service, and display leadership qualities. Since its inception, the foundation has awarded over $120,000 in scholarships to deserving African-American female students.

📸: absolonkent.net/photogallery/index.php?/category/558

#FamilyTime #TeamKent #KENTCANDO

ANNANDALE, Va. — Nestled in the heart of Annandale, Va., Annandale Community Park is a picturesque green space that offers scenic walking trails and shady picnic areas. The park includes playgrounds, sports fields, and tennis courts and is the home of the Hidden Oaks Nature Center.

📸: absolonkent.net/photogallery/index.php?/category/523

#TodaysAdventure #FairfaxCountyParks #MyDMV #GetOutside #OutdoorAdventures #FamilyTime #TeamKent #KENTCANDO

ANNANDALE, Va. — The Manassas Gap Railroad Historic Site Park in Annandale, Virginia, offers visitors a glimpse into the region's rich railway history. Set amidst serene natural surroundings, the park showcases remnants of the Manassas Gap Railroad, a planned transportation route linking the Shenandoah Valley to Northern Virginia.

Construction of the Manassas Gap Railroad began in the 1850s to transport agricultural products from the Ohio and Shenandoah Valleys to markets in Northern Virginia. Merchants in Alexandria opted to construct the Independent Line of the Manassas Gap Railroad to circumvent high rail rental charges imposed by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. The proposed railroad would span 34 miles from Bull Run, traversing the city of Fairfax before veering east near the village of Annandale, proceeding into Indian Run Valley, and terminating at the rail yards of Alexandria.

Although the filling and leveling necessary for the rail bed's construction were completed, funding shortages halted progress, and the rails never extended beyond Alexandria. The rail beds became notable earthworks during Civil War battles and skirmishes in Annandale and Fairfax.

Today, the Manassas Gap Railroad Historic Site Park and the Annandale Community Park encompass 1,870 feet of railroad bed, two historic culverts, and substantial masonry work, preserving the legacy of this ambitious but ultimately unrealized railway project.

📸: absolonkent.net/photogallery/index.php?/category/522

#TodaysAdventure #FairfaxCountyParks #MyDMV #GetOutside #OutdoorAdventures #FamilyTime #TeamKent #KENTCANDO

ANNANDALE, Va. — The Eileen Garnett Civic Space opened in October 2023 and serves as a new community gathering space in downtown Annandale. The park is located on the remaining portion of the former Annandale Elementary School. Situated in the heart of downtown Annandale, a second phase of park improvements is scheduled to occur in 2024.

📸: absolonkent.net/photogallery/index.php?/category/521

#TodaysAdventure #FairfaxCountyParks #MyDMV #GetOutside #OutdoorAdventures #FamilyTime #TeamKent #KENTCANDO